Apple releases iOS 26.4 Beta 1: Here are the new features

Apple has surprised developers by releasing iOS 26.4 Beta 1 earlier than anticipated. While the much-awaited major Siri overhaul did not arrive, the update delivers a substantial collection of new features and enhancements, particularly in media apps, customization, and system polish.

The highlight is a new capability in Apple Music: users can now create entire playlists using simple text prompts. Describe a vibe, genre, activity, or theme, such as “upbeat workout tracks from the 2010s” or “chill evening jazz,” and the system generates a tailored playlist instantly. This feature streamlines music discovery and curation, making playlist building faster and more intuitive than manual selection.

Apple Music also receives visual upgrades. Playlists and albums sport an improved design with cleaner layouts, artwork presentation, and more.

Customization gets attention through changes to the wallpaper gallery. Default wallpapers are no longer pre-installed to save storage space. Instead, they are organized into categorized packs that users can download on demand. This approach allows for greater flexibility while maintaining a lighter initial device footprint.

The Podcasts app sees meaningful improvements with expanded video podcast support. Content creators can now deliver video episodes more seamlessly, including better integration of offline downloads and smoother transitions between audio and video playback.

On the system side, the beta includes numerous smaller tweaks and backend enhancements. Developers gain access to updated frameworks, including new options in areas like advertising attribution, accessibility labels in the App Store, and expanded APIs for health and journaling features. Metal graphics performance receives updates, and SwiftUI sees refinements that pave the way for richer app experiences.

Though some users hoped for early glimpses of advanced AI capabilities in Siri, the focus here remains on practical, everyday improvements. The early release timing has sparked speculation about upcoming announcements, but Apple has prioritized stability and media-centric enhancements. iOS 26.4 beta 1 is now available in beta, and it will be released for all users with the stable rollout.