Apple Seeds Second watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 Developer Betas

June 24, 2025 June 24, 2025

Apple Releases Second Beta for watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26

Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26

Apple recently released the second beta versions of watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 for developers. These updates arrive just two weeks after the initial betas debuted following the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote. Developers can download the updates through the Settings app on their respective devices, requiring a valid developer account.

Image showcasing the features of watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 betas

watchOS 26: New Features and Improvements

watchOS 26 boasts a significant visual refresh, adopting the new Liquid Glass design language that debuted with visionOS. This design aesthetic is also mirrored in iOS 26 and macOS 26, creating a cohesive visual experience across Apple's ecosystem. Beyond the visual enhancements, watchOS 26 introduces several noteworthy features aimed at improving user experience and functionality.

One of the key additions is the introduction of an AI-powered Workout Buddy. This intelligent assistant provides users with personalized motivation and guidance during their fitness routines, adapting to individual needs and progress. The Smart Stack, a crucial feature for quick access to information and apps, now incorporates more personalized context, leading to more relevant and helpful suggestions based on user behavior and preferences. This means the Smart Stack will proactively offer more useful information and shortcuts at the right time.

Further enhancing productivity, watchOS 26 includes a new Notes app, allowing users to create, edit, and manage notes directly from their wrist. This streamlined note-taking capability proves particularly useful for quick reminders, jotting down ideas, or capturing important information on the go. Finally, the integration of Live Translation allows for quick and easy translations of text, expanding the accessibility and utility of the smartwatch for users in diverse linguistic environments.

tvOS 26: Enhanced Entertainment and Usability

tvOS 26 also incorporates the refreshed Liquid Glass design, aligning it visually with other Apple operating systems. The update offers several notable improvements focusing on entertainment and usability. A fun new feature is karaoke support, allowing users to sing along to their favorite songs using their iPhone as a microphone. This feature adds a new layer of interactive entertainment to the Apple TV experience.

The update also refines AirPlay functionality, enhancing the user experience when streaming audio to AirPlay-compatible speakers connected to a TV. This improvement ensures smoother and more reliable audio streaming, eliminating potential glitches or connectivity issues. tvOS 26 also introduces stunning new Aerial screen savers, adding a beautiful visual element to the Apple TV's idle screen. These high-resolution videos showcase breathtaking landscapes and cityscapes.

Finally, tvOS 26 simplifies the initial app setup process by leveraging Apple Account syncing. This feature allows users to quickly log into apps during the initial setup, eliminating the need to repeatedly enter login credentials for each application. This improvement significantly reduces the time and effort required to set up the Apple TV and access various apps.

visionOS 26: Expanding Spatial Computing Capabilities

visionOS 26, the operating system for Apple's Vision Pro headset, continues to refine the spatial computing experience. This beta iteration focuses on enhancing the functionality and immersion of spatial computing. One of the key additions is support for spatial widgets. Unlike traditional widgets, these spatial widgets can be placed anywhere in the user's physical space, providing easily accessible information and controls within the user's immediate environment.

Furthermore, visionOS 26 introduces refinements to the personas, making them appear more lifelike and engaging. This improvement adds to the overall realism and immersion of the virtual and augmented reality experiences. The update also expands the possibilities for collaborative spatial experiences, introducing support for shared spatial experiences between two Vision Pro users. This allows for a more interactive and collaborative experience within the headset’s virtual environments. This feature opens up new possibilities for collaborative work, gaming, and social interactions.

Availability and Release

Currently, these beta versions are exclusively available to registered Apple developers. This allows Apple to gather crucial feedback before a broader release. However, watchOS 26 and tvOS 26 will be made available to public beta testers in July, offering a wider audience the chance to test and provide feedback. The final, stable versions of all three operating systems are scheduled for release in the fall.

This phased rollout allows Apple to thoroughly test the software, addressing any potential bugs or issues before the official launch. The public beta program gives a larger group of users the opportunity to experience the new features, contribute to the software's improvement, and provide invaluable feedback to Apple.