Apple has just released the fourth preliminary builds of the next system updates – as release candidates and not as beta 4. Visible changes are now practically impossible as the development teams have focused on the final fine-tuning in the last few days. With some probability the next update evening is only a week away. Apparently the same statement also applies to the presentation of the new MacBook Pro. What’s new in March 26th
The next major system updates will focus on regulatory adjustments that Apple has to comply with. For example, Apple and Google are making it easier to switch between iOS and Android due to new data portability requirements. If you use a third-party smartwatch, you can view all notifications on it just like you would on the Apple Watch – and third-party headphones should be just as easy to pair with an iPhone as is the case with AirPods. System 26.3 may also include end-to-end encryption of RCS messages, although there is no confirmation of this yet. The new “Background Security Improvements” are also in active testing. Not documented, but according to Mark Gurman planned like this: macOS 26.3 is supposed to be the system that the upcoming MacBook Pro with M5 Pro/Max needs.
The current betas
Finally, as always, the well-known list of currently available beta versions. The current beta phase began with the letters “e” and “f” at the end (for iOS and macOS), whereas tvOS and visionOS were already at “c”. As always, the last digit indicates whether you are already close to being ready for the market or whether there is still a lot on the agenda. If the letter is missing entirely, these are RCs or final versions. This is what it currently looks like in the developer area – until the version is ready for the market, only one more build is likely to be released to developers.
| system | Build number | Published |
| macOS 26.3 RC | 25D122 | 02/04/2026 |
| iOS 26.3 RC | 23D125 | 02/04/2026 |
| iPadOS 26.3 RC | 23D125 | 02/04/2026 |
| watchOS 26.3 RC | 23S618 | 02/04/2026 |
| tvOS 26.3 RC | 23K619 | 02/04/2026 |
| visionOS 26.3 RC | 23N619 | 02/04/2026 |
