The iOS 26.2 update is here for beta testing with notable features like improved Reminders, enhanced Apple Music lyrics access, and fresh tools in Apple Podcasts. It also improves sleep tracking and revamps the Apple News app.
New "Urgent" option in Reminders
Offline access to Apple Music lyrics
AI-generated chapters in Apple Podcasts
Updated Sleep Score criteria
Redesigned Apple News navigation
Live Translation feature for EU users
iOS 26.2 introduces exciting changes for iPhone users as it moves into beta. Key features include significant updates to Reminders, Apple Music, and Podcasts. Apple is also refining health-tracking features and improving the news consumption experience.
Enhanced Task Management and Music Features
The Reminders app now includes an “Urgent” option that sets a deadline alarm, ensuring you can’t overlook important tasks. Meanwhile, Apple Music lets you view lyrics offline, including translations and beat-syncing features.
Podcast and Sleep Tracking Innovations
The update revamps Apple Podcasts with AI-generated chapters, making it easier for listeners to navigate episodes. A new feature, Podcast Mentions, links to referenced shows within an episode. The Sleep Score on Apple Watch also gets stricter, raising the bar for quality sleep assessments.
AI-generated podcast chapters
New Podcast Mentions feature
Stricter Sleep Score criteria
News and EU-Specific Adjustments
Apple News undergoes a design update with dedicated buttons for faster navigation to various sections. In the EU, there’s good news with the introduction of the Live Translation feature for AirPods but also some drawbacks, like the removal of Wi-Fi syncing with the Apple Watch, necessitating manual logins.
Luca Fischer is a senior technology journalist with more than twelve years of professional experience specializing in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and consumer electronics. L. Fischer earned his M.S. in Computer Science from Columbia University in 2011, where he developed a strong foundation in data science and network security before transitioning into tech media.
Throughout his career, Luca has been recognized for his clear, analytical approach to explaining complex technologies. His in-depth articles explore how AI innovations, privacy frameworks, and next-generation devices impact both industry and society.
Luca’s work has appeared across leading digital publications, where he delivers detailed reviews, investigative reports, and feature analyses on major players such as Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, AMD, Intel, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity AI.
Beyond writing, he mentors young journalists entering the AI-tech field and advocates for transparent, ethical technology communication. His goal is to make the future of technology understandable and responsible for everyone.
9to5Mac.com is an independent Apple-centric news site founded in 2007 by Seth Weintraub that publishes breaking stories, supply-chain leaks, software discoveries and analytical features covering iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple TV and services such as iCloud, Apple Music and Apple Card.
An editorial team monitors regulatory filings, Twitter posts from trusted analysts, GitHub repositories and upstream component suppliers, issuing news rumors alerts within minutes of embargo lifts while tagging speculative reports with a confidence meter to help readers gauge reliability.
Long-form reviews benchmark new devices through controlled CPU, GPU and battery tests, 4 K video editing timelines, thermal imaging and wireless charging speed charts, presenting results alongside interactive comparison tables that span multiple generations and competing brands.
A searchable how-to section offers step-by-step tutorials for iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS, including Shortcuts automation, Final Cut workflows, privacy hardening, beta installation and self-repair procedures, complete with downloadable scripts and screenshot galleries.
The site streams a daily podcast and weekly video show that recap headlines, feature interviews with developers and provide listener Q&A segments, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube with transcripts posted for quick scanning.
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With fourteen years of searchable archives, 9to5Mac remains a primary reference for consumers, journalists and investors who need timely, vendor-neutral intelligence on Apple’s ecosystem.
