It has now been four weeks since the release of the first developer version of macOS 26.3, iOS 26.3 and the other updates. However, this long wait was foreseeable because it was Apple’s last software campaign before the Christmas break. Now the teams have gotten back to work and released the second beta. You’ll probably switch to a fast pace afterwards, because the changes to System 26.3 are quite clear – before a significant update is due in 26.4, namely the new Siri generation. What’s new in System 26.3
With the update, Apple is implementing some adjustments that are required by regulations. They cooperated with Google to make it easier to switch between iOS and Android and to meet data portability requirements – previously a lot of information was left behind during the migration (see article). iOS 26.3 also gets the option to forward all notifications to a third-party device. If you use a third-party smartwatch, you can view all notifications on it in the same way as you would otherwise on the Apple Watch. Another point: Third-party headphones can now be paired with the iPhone just as easily as it works with AirPods and Beats products (“proximity pairing”).
The current betas
Finally, as always, the well-known list of currently available beta versions. As is usual with a first beta, the letter at the end is still a long way from “a”, which Apple always uses to indicate that you are pretty much at the beginning. This time it started with “e” and “f” for iOS and macOS, whereas tvOS and visionOS were already with “c”. This is what it currently looks like in the developer area – a public beta is not yet available, this is usually only available after the second or third developer build (although 26.2 made an exception to this rule):
| system | Build number | Published |
| macOS 26.3 Beta 2 | 25D5101c | 01/12/2026 |
| iOS 26.3 Beta 2 | 23D5103d | 01/12/2026 |
| iPadOS 26.3 Beta 2 | 23D5103d | 01/12/2026 |
| watchOS 26.3 Beta 2 | 23S5600d | 01/12/2026 |
| tvOS 26.3 Beta 2 | 23K5600b | 01/12/2026 |
| visionOS 26.3 Beta 2 | 23N5602d | 01/12/2026 |
