**iOS 26 Developer Beta 9: New Features and Expectations**
The development process for iOS 26 is still in progress, with Apple having recently rolled out the ninth developer beta version. This marks a shift from previous major iOS releases, which only had eight beta versions in recent years. The official release of iOS 26 is expected in about two weeks.
### Main Features of iOS 26
Apple has showcased several improvements in iOS 26, which include:
– An overhauled user interface
– Improved Apple Intelligence functionalities
– New functionalities within the Phone and Messages applications
– Enhancements to CarPlay, Apple Music, Maps, and Wallet
### Significant Changes in Beta Releases
Over the course of beta testing, there have been a number of important updates:
– **Beta 2** introduced visual enhancements for Control Center, better organization in Safari menus, and improved accessibility options.
– **Beta 3** brought additional opaqueness to certain transparent tab bars and featured new wallpaper hues.
– **Beta 4** rolled back some opaqueness modifications and reinstated notification summaries for news and entertainment applications based on user feedback.
– **Beta 5** resolved user issues by bringing back the Select button in Mail and enabling users to revert to the traditional Camera mode swipe direction.
– **Beta 6** eliminated the Camera swipe direction toggle but enhanced application launch speeds and included new ringtones.
– **Beta 7** added a new “drafts” section within the Messages app.
### Compatibility and Update Details
iOS 26 will support iPhone SE (2nd generation) and iPhone 11 and newer devices. The final version to include support for iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max will be iOS 18. Users with older iPhones will still receive security updates, but upgrading will be necessary to access the newest features and design. Importantly, features that utilize Apple Intelligence will necessitate an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any model from the iPhone 16 series.
Keep an eye out for more updates and a detailed list of modifications to iOS 26 as they become available.
