A few days ago Apple released iOS 26.2 beta 2. The update arrived for registered developers, so only Apple Developer Program participants see it in Software Update. Regular users do not receive any notification about it.
Luckily, several members of our team have access to this beta, so we updated our devices and checked everything Apple changed. In this post, we describe the improvements, small fixes, and visible updates in iOS 26.2 beta 2 (Apple adjusted tiny details again, and we noticed them).
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iOS 26.2 beta 2 Adds More Liquid Glass Across the System
The first thing our testers reported after installing iOS 26.2 beta 2 was a wave of interface changes across the system and several apps.
The first clear change noticed in iOS 26.2 beta 2 appears in the menu animations. Pop-up menus now open faster, and the motion shows a more noticeable bounce at the end. Apple first demonstrated this style at WWDC, but the system did not fully adopt it in earlier builds.
The Liquid Glass animation in iOS 26.2 beta 2 is amazing, feels like what was shown off at WWDC pic.twitter.com/J6YruZz4cR
— Aaron (@aaronp613) November 12, 2025
Another visual tweak shows up in Notification Center. The Show Less and Clear All buttons now use the Liquid Glass style instead of the older flat design. The buttons reflect light and change appearance as the user scrolls, so the panel looks more unified with the rest of the iOS 26 interface.
After these interface updates, our testers noticed a change in the Measure app. Apple updated the level tool and replaced its old look with the Liquid Glass design. The bubbles inside the tool now show more depth and shift more smoothly when the device tilts. The functionality remains identical, but the visual update fits Apple’s direction for the rest of the system.
System App Tweaks and New Functions in iOS 26.2 Beta 2
In addition to the visual updates that push iOS closer to the full Liquid Glass style, iOS 26.2 beta 2 also includes a set of functional changes across Apple’s apps and services. Members of our team noticed the following changes:
- The Games app receives new sorting options. You can now sort the game list by file size in addition to the existing filters. This option helps free up space faster, which feels appropriate, because games now eat more gigabytes than entire photo libraries from 2015. Also, the app now allows filtering by genre and type. Apple clearly wants to turn this app into a proper gaming hub, even if half of us still open it only by accident.
- iOS 26.2 allows users to assign an Urgent status to a reminder and turn it into a real alarm. The alert overrides Focus modes and plays a louder tone, so the reminder no longer hides quietly in a notification list. Apple added this option in beta 1, but beta 2 introduces a short explanation screen that appears the first time you open the app.
- Freeform adds support for tables. So, you can now place tables directly on the canvas. This update turns Freeform into a more structured tool, which is great for structuring ideas or collaborative projects.
- CarPlay receives a toggle for pinned conversations. Drivers can now disable pinned chats in the CarPlay version of Messages. CarPlay no longer mirrors every pin from the iPhone, so the message list looks cleaner (Apple finally understood that not everyone wants a giant pinned group chat from home to appear on a car dashboard).
Performance and Stability Improvements
In the previous beta we noticed small animation delays in several parts of the system. Some transitions paused for a split second, and a few elements did not stay fully in sync with the Liquid Glass style. iOS 26.2 beta 2 removes all of that. The system now moves faster, the animations feel smoother, and the interface reacts immediately. We described this beta as “super clean,” which already says enough. Apple clearly polished more parts of the system than it mentioned.
Battery behavior also stays normal. We tracked usage across several devices and saw no random drops, no sudden jumps, and no unusual background drain. All devices held their charge at the same rate as before. Heat levels stayed stable as well. None of the test iPhones reached uncomfortable temperatures, even during longer sessions with apps that usually stress the device. Apple often introduces thermal spikes in early betas, but this build stayed calm, which surprised us in the best possible way.
Final Thoughts
Overall, iOS 26.2 beta 2 leaves a positive impression. Our team feels satisfied with the update, although that reaction already became standard for us after the release of iOS 26. Apple keeps the system fresh, and each beta adds a few more touches that make the interface feel more polished. We never expect dramatic changes in these mid-cycle updates, but Apple still manages to adjust something interesting every time.
We assume Apple prepares beta 3 for release next week or the week after. The company usually follows this pace, so the next build should appear soon. We look forward to it, because we want to see what the company decides to improve next. If the next beta stays as clean as this one, we will have no complaints.
