Apple has unveiled the second beta iteration of iOS 26.3 for public beta testers, representing a major update following the initial beta release nearly a month ago. This latest version arrives after a holiday hiatus during which Apple suspended public beta updates.
Among the most significant enhancements in iOS 26.3 beta 2 is the foundation for end-to-end encryption for Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging within the Messages app. A user on social media brought attention to this development by discovering code references that indicate certain carriers will endorse this encryption feature. The presence of the code string ‘SupportsE2EE’ implies that Apple is gearing up to incorporate complete RCS end-to-end encryption, possibly aligning with the public rollout of iOS 26.3.
Apple has earlier pledged to back end-to-end encryption for RCS in future releases, and while it is still unclear if iOS 26.3 will be the version to provide this feature, the new code is a promising sign of its pending introduction.
In addition to RCS upgrades, iOS 26.3 beta 2 preserves several functionalities first introduced in the initial beta, such as a new option for transferring data from iPhone to Android, enhancements to the wallpaper gallery, a notification forwarding capability for users within the European Union, and various other improvements.
As beta testers delve into the new functionalities, feedback and discoveries from the community are welcomed, encouraging a cooperative atmosphere for improving the iOS experience.