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iOS 26 Speculation Thread
- Thread starter Kylo83
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Assuming the new devices need a software update they have until the 22nd to release it.
Probably 26.1 RC and 26.0.2 next week.
Probably 26.1 RC and 26.0.2 next week.
I'm unsure if it's confirmed that the new hardware will have a major new iOS update version, but the X.1 update of iOS almost always comes out mid-late October (18.1 came out 10/28, 17.1 came out 10/25, 16.1 came out 10/24, 15.1 came out 10/25). It would seem odd to me to release the new hardware on 26.0.X only to then give it an update to 26.1 the following week, but I'm sure this has happened with previous hardware releases. I'm just not sure I see them rushing the RC out next week to release iOS 26.1 on 10/22, especially with 26.0.2 looming. I guess we'll see 26.0.2 tomorrow or early next week, and then 26.1 the week of 10/27.
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Regarding 26.1 RC: next week might be a bit optimistic, based upon some of the comments from other beta testers. (I haven't had any specific problems with the current beta myself, but maybe that's just me.)
I don't see a 26.0.2 appearing in MacRumor logs but not being released. My last guess was wrong, let's try this again. I think that either A it still comes tomorrow after a potential Apple TV hardware announcement or B on Monday because Apple likes Monday releases.
This definitely means no iOS 26.1 on 10/22 hardware release day or next week. Probably no 26.0.2 either by next week.
Or maybe 26.1 is further off than we realized, so we need 26.0.2 as a stopgap? Sometimes hardware and software timing isn't perfectly aligned. Perhaps 26.0.1 was prepared for new hardware, but 26.0.2 is waiting in the wings.
It’s an interesting predicament we’re in. Would they really release them only a matter of days apart? A week?
Historically, the .1 update has always come late October
I hope they don’t can 26.0.2 after testing it internally, it would be unprecedented behavior for them and I am more interested in installing that than 26.1
Historically, the .1 update has always come late October
| Year | iOS Version | Release Date | Day of Week |
| 2018 | iOS 12.1 | October 30, 2018 | Tuesday |
| 2019 | iOS 13.1 | September 24, 2019 | Tuesday |
| 2020 | iOS 14.1 | October 20, 2020 | Tuesday |
| 2021 | iOS 15.1 | October 25, 2021 | Monday |
| 2022 | iOS 16.1 | October 24, 2022 | Monday |
| 2023 | iOS 17.1 | October 25, 2023 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | iOS 18.1 | October 28, 2024 | Monday |
I hope they don’t can 26.0.2 after testing it internally, it would be unprecedented behavior for them and I am more interested in installing that than 26.1
Day one update for new hardware is probably similar to current builds of 26.0.1, as they were assembled awhile ago. No impact on 26.0.2 imo. I still believe there is a good chance we can see it.
The last beta wasn't even an "a" build. I guess they will release B4 next week and maybe RC in the same week? If not, we could see 26.1 on 3rd November.
From what I’ve been able to track over several years, at least one dev and public beta get released on the same day before a RC release happens. Based on that, the RC will release in two week at the earliest, with a public release the week after.
No because next week the new products are getting new 26.0.1 update so it means no update unfortunately
Again, the day one update could just be equivalent to current build from whatever they got at the factory which is likely to be older than 26.0.1.
This could be as wrong as right, but one aspect to keep in mind is the reviewers, early access etc.
Apple would want a build out there for reviewers in case they need to restore, etc. so it’s possible this was published in case someone needed it. It’s still viable that we get a 26.0.2 between now and the product release.
Apple would want a build out there for reviewers in case they need to restore, etc. so it’s possible this was published in case someone needed it. It’s still viable that we get a 26.0.2 between now and the product release.