Apple has recently released iOS 26.1 public beta 3, just one day after launching beta 3 for developers. Here’s what’s new in this latest version.
### iOS 26.1 beta 3 introduces a new Apple TV app icon, Local Capture controls, and more
iOS 26.1 continues to be polished and enhanced ahead of its general public release. Today’s public beta 3 includes the usual bug fixes and performance enhancements generally found in later-stage betas, alongside a few significant additions.
The Apple TV app features a new icon, which aligns with the upcoming “vibrant new identity” anticipated with the rebranding of Apple TV+ to simply ‘Apple TV.’ This refreshed icon is now present across all platforms, including iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS. However, within the TV app, there are still numerous references to ‘Apple TV+’ as the rebranding has not completely rolled out yet.
Moreover, the Settings app has added a dedicated menu for Local Capture. Accessible through Settings ⇾ General ⇾ Local Capture, this menu enables users to designate a Files location where audio and video recordings made during calls will be stored.
Another new feature in Settings is the ‘Prefer Single-Touch Actions’ toggle, likely connected to recent modifications in alarms and timers that swapped a ‘stop’ button with a slide gesture. However, initial testing suggests that this setting may not be operating as intended.
Control Center has also received more dynamic animations in beta 3, improving the user experience.
While these are the main visible changes, underneath, iOS 26.1 beta 3 indicates Apple’s plans to introduce more third-party AI integrations alongside ChatGPT. This new integration could arrive as early as iOS 26.1, though a later update such as iOS 26.2 appears more probable.
Have you spotted any other modifications in iOS 26.1 public beta 3? Share your thoughts in the comments.
