iOS 26.2 Beta: New Features - Liquid Glass & Reminders Alarms

iOS 26.2 Beta 1: A Detailed Overview

Apple launched iOS 26.2 beta 1 last week, bringing with it a range of enhancements. These include customization options for the iPhone’s Lock Screen clock appearance, the integration of alarm setting within the Reminders app, and expanded live translation capabilities for users located in the European Union.

The official public release of iOS 26.2 is anticipated to occur sometime in December.

Refinements to the Liquid Glass Interface

The Liquid Glass interface, representing the contemporary design language for Apple devices, continues to evolve. The latest update introduces a slider control. This allows users to modify the opacity of the clock displayed on the Lock Screen.

With this new functionality, users can adjust the clock to be almost entirely transparent or achieve a frosted aesthetic. The option to completely disable Liquid Glass will remain available.

Enhanced Reminders with Alarms

A significant addition is the ability to establish alarms directly within Reminders. Selecting a specific time during reminder creation and activating the “Urgent” setting will initiate an alarm at the designated time.

This feature has been highly requested by users and is designed to improve task management and prevent missed deadlines.

Live Translation Expands to the EU

Apple announced last week that the iOS 26.2 release will extend live translation functionality on AirPods to the EU. When someone addresses a user in a different language, Siri will deliver real-time translations directly through the AirPods.

Initially launched in the U.S. and select other regions with iOS 26, this feature was unavailable in the EU due to the need for compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act.

Updates to Apple News and Podcasts

The Apple News app will incorporate a new “Following” tab within the bottom navigation bar. This tab will consolidate favorites, saved stories, and browsing history.

Users will also benefit from new buttons providing streamlined access to topics like Food, Politics, Puzzles, and Sports.

Apple Podcasts is also receiving new features, notably AI-generated chapters for podcast episodes.

A “Podcast Mentions” function will automatically identify and link to other podcasts referenced during an episode, adding them to the episode description.