The last iPhone update for 2025 is ready. Apple launched the Release Candidate for iOS 26.2 that officially arrived on the second week of December. If you were waiting for AirPods translation or new Reminders alarms without installing betas, the RC is for you.
Usually, iPhone update arrives a week or so after the release of the RC version. You can enjoy the end of the year with the latest enhancements and improvements for the iOS 26.2 update for free. The RC version is a polished version but you can also install directly the official new update package.
The new updates for iPhone with iOS 26.2 update
iOS 26.2 is much more than a maintenance version. It includes several features that users have been testing for weeks through the betas and improve the iOS 26 experience. The following is a list of the most interesting features you can use with iOS 26.2 update.
AirPods translation in Europe
The new feature was delayed in Europe because of the Digital Markets Bill. Now you can experience real time translation through AirPods in Spain and all the other countries of the European Union. You can use this feature in AirPods Pro 2, Pro 3 and AirPods 4 with noise cancellation and through iPhones with Apple Intelligence. This is the star feature of the new iOS 26.2 update.
Reminders works as an alarm
It’s a small change but very important for those who organize different activities. You can highlight a reminder as important and iPhone will launch an alarm. It can even skip focus modes in order to remind you of certain tasks. Now you won’t ever forget an activity not even if you are in Silence mode.
Liquid Glass screen lock
Aesthetic changes are also a trademark of iOS 26.2 update and iPhone. The Liquid Glass effect on the clock for your lock screen allows for more customization. You can precisely adjust transparency level from invisible to frosted or opaque. The glass bubble design also is present on the Measures app level tool.
Changes in Sleep notes
If your score in the Sleep parameter in Health goes down, don’t worry. The measure parameters have been changed and now there’s Very High instead of Excellent for 96-100 points. The numbers are more realistic according to your own feelings when you wake up.
Temporal AirDrop for strangers
The new iOS 26.2 allows to create AirDrop codes to share files with people you don’t have in your contact list. The AirDrop code lasts for 30 days and it’s excellent for specific projects or temporal co-workers. But you won’t have to fill your contact list with people you won’t see anymore.
Other small changes in the iOS 26.2 update
Along the big enhancements, the new iOS 26.2 update also brings little adjustments to the user experience. The complete list of small settings include:
- Freeform app now allows the use of tablest to add and organize content.
- Apple Music offline lyrics. You can check the lyrics of your downloaded songs even without Internet connection.
- Flash screen. You can set your iPhone screen to blink as a flash light from the Accesibility section. It can also use the back LED flash.
- Fluent animation for popup menus. It’s a new and faster rebound animation effect.
Official version or RC?
If you want to test the Release Candidate version you can enter beta.apple.com in case your device hasn’t yet received the official update. It’s exactly the same version but Apple may perform certain changes only if they find a last moment bug.