- Apple has released iOS 26 beta 8 to developers, a strong indicator that the beta testing phase is nearing completion.
- Similar to iOS 18, iOS 17, and other recent updates, Apple appears to be concluding testing after eight developer betas, a pattern the company has consistently followed in recent years.
- Based on Apple's usual timeline and a rumored September 9 iPhone event, the public release of iOS 26 is expected between September 15 and September 17, 2025.
Apple has officially released iOS 26 beta 8 to developers, which suggests the final public version is coming soon. Typically, Apple doesn’t release more than eight beta versions before making the release candidate, which is the last test version before the public launch.
Apple sticks to its beta release pattern
The release of iOS 26 beta 8 on August 25 fits Apple’s usual schedule. In previous years, iOS versions 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, and 13 all finished their beta testing at the eighth version before a final release.
The only big exception was in 2018 with iOS 12, which had 12 beta versions for developers. Since then, Apple has been more consistent and rarely releases more than eight test versions.
What’s new in iOS 26 beta 8?
Based on early reports from developers, iOS 26 beta 8 doesn’t have major new features. Instead, Apple is focusing on improving performance, fixing bugs, and making the system more stable before the public release. This is typical for the final stages of an iOS beta program, the big changes are added earlier, and the later versions are about refining the user experience.
Release candidate and launch timeline
Apple is expected to release the iOS 26 release candidate (RC) shortly after its September iPhone event, which industry sources including Bloomberg and MacRumors suggest will be held on September 9. The RC build is usually the final version that goes out to the public, unless there are major problems.
Based on Apple’s typical schedule, iPhone pre-orders would start on September 12. The new phones would then be available on September 19. This means iOS 26 would likely be released to the public a few days before that, around September 15 to 17, so people can get the new software before the new phones are in stores.
