Apple’s initial iPhone update for the new year will be iOS 26.3, which has recently appeared in beta. Here’s the anticipated release date for iOS 26.3 for all users.
### Expected launch of iOS 26.3 in late January
When it pertains to software and specific hardware introductions, Apple adheres to fairly consistent patterns. Most new software releases arrive with a rhythm that changes little from year to year.
Thus, to determine the launch date for iOS 26.3, we simply need to reference Apple’s past few years of data. Here are the release dates for the previous several iOS x.3 updates:
– iOS 18.3: Monday, January 27
– iOS 17.3: Monday, January 22
– iOS 16.3: Monday, January 23
Each launch date is very closely aligned, with only minor variations in the precise day. However, if you examine the calendar more closely, a definite pattern emerges. Each of the last three x.3 launches occurred precisely one week after Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This year, that date will be January 26.
If Apple continues this established trend, **iOS 26.3 is set to be released in late January**—approximately one month from now. Monday, January 26, stands as the most probable launch date, though it could potentially shift to a later day that same week.
For those eager to experience iOS 26.3 ahead of time, joining Apple’s public beta program will provide early access.
### New features and modifications in iOS 26.3 so far
Generally, Apple’s x.3 updates are not heavy on new features and modifications, and that remains true with iOS 26.3. The first beta version introduced only three smaller updates:
1. Wallpaper modifications
2. Android transfer option
3. Notification forwarding for EU users
In the iPhone’s wallpaper settings, iOS 26.3 separates Weather into its own distinct section, apart from Astronomy. It also introduces a couple of new Weather options to the gallery.
The Android transfer is a fresh setting that results from an Apple-Google partnership. It simplifies the transition from an iPhone to an Android device. Concurrently, Google is launching a similar feature for users migrating to iPhone.
Additionally, for those residing in the EU, it will soon be possible to set up notification forwarding for non-Apple Watch wearables. One of the standout features of the Apple Watch is its capability to receive all notifications from your iPhone. Soon, in the EU, this functionality will extend to third-party smartwatches and wearables.
To date, Apple has only released one beta for iOS 26.3, so we hope additional new features will surface in beta 2 and subsequent versions.
