• 2 min read
Apple ships first iOS 26.6 release candidate
Apple has issued the first iOS 26.6 release candidate for iPhone, with testing underway since late May and only a few changes spotted so far.
Image: 9to5Mac
Apple has released the first release candidate for iOS 26.6, the next iPhone update due before iOS 27 arrives in September.
The iOS 26.6 beta has been in testing since the end of May. So far, 9to5Mac says it has identified two notable changes: an update to the limit on how many contacts users can block, and signs of a new anti-theft feature for the iPhone.
The outlet also reports that the update may help prepare the Spotlight index on iPhone and iPad for the Siri AI features coming in iOS 27. According to the article, today’s RC build includes release notes that confirm that work publicly for the first time.
Apple is not expected to add much else here, with most pre-release attention now shifting to iOS 27. iOS 26.6 will be the next shipping version, following iOS 26 and the updates released since last fall.
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One timing detail stands out: last year, iOS 18.6 beta 1 arrived after iOS 26 beta 1. That makes iOS 26.6 slightly ahead of schedule compared with Apple’s 2025 release cycle.
Gadgets Editor
Eli is obsessed with the tangible future. He reviews phones, wearables, and everything with a battery. Known for his rigorous testing protocols and unabashed teardowns, Eli has broken more review units than he cares to admit, all in the name of discovering the truth about durability and repairability.
via 9to5Mac
