Apple has opened the public testing phase for its latest round of software updates, rolling out the first public beta builds across its entire device lineup. Following the earlier developer beta release, testers can now try iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, visionOS 26.4, HomePod Software 26.4, and macOS Tahoe 26.4—giving Apple users an early look at features that could shape the next stable updates.
One of the most notable additions in iOS 26.4 arrives in Apple Podcasts, where Apple is expanding its video podcast ambitions. The app is gaining what Apple calls an enhanced video podcast experience, designed to make it easy to move between watching a podcast episode and listening to it as audio, without friction. iOS 26.4 also adds support for dynamic video ads in Podcasts.
While Apple has supported video podcasts before, iOS 26.4 introduces HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology to improve how video podcasts behave in real-world conditions. HLS can automatically adapt video quality based on network speed and reliability, helping reduce interruptions while keeping the audio experience consistent. It also enables downloading video podcasts for offline playback, which could be a big win for commuters and travelers.
Messaging is also getting a security-focused test feature. iOS 26.4 beta 1 includes an early implementation of end-to-end encryption (E2E) for RCS messages. RCS is the modern messaging standard that improves texting between iPhone and Android users with features like high-resolution media sharing, typing indicators, read receipts, and stronger group chat tools such as naming groups and adding or removing participants.
In iOS 26.4, Apple has introduced a new Settings toggle to enable or disable end-to-end encryption for RCS, and it’s turned on by default. For now, the encryption appears limited to iPhone-to-iPhone conversations, aimed at users who may have turned off iMessage but still want a more secure messaging option. When an encrypted RCS conversation is active, a new lock icon appears in the chat thread.
Another meaningful iPhone change is that Stolen Device Protection is now enabled by default in iOS 26.4. This feature adds extra biometric authentication requirements (Face ID or Touch ID) for access to sensitive areas and actions, including items like the Passwords app, Lost Mode in Find My, Safari purchases, and more. The idea is to reduce the damage a thief can do even if they know your passcode.
Apple Music sees the biggest visual refresh in iOS 26.4. Albums and playlists now use a new full-screen design, and the track list can adopt background colors that match the artwork, giving the app a more immersive, cohesive look. Apple is also making Music more useful beyond listening: you can now discover concerts near you directly in the app.
On top of that, Apple Music is adding a playlist creation tool that works from a text prompt. Instead of manually selecting tracks, you can describe a vibe, theme, or idea in words and have the app build a playlist around it—an approach that could appeal to anyone who wants quick, personalized playlists without doing the curation themselves.
Customization gets attention as well, with Apple redesigning the Wallpaper Gallery. The update introduces new categories and includes behind-the-scenes performance improvements intended to make browsing and applying wallpapers feel faster and smoother.
iOS 26.4 also upgrades Personal Hotspot with more practical tracking. Data usage can now be broken down by each connected device, making it easier to spot which gadget is using the most data and manage your hotspot more effectively.
In the Health app, iOS 26.4 hints at features that may tie into Apple’s longer-term plans for a more guidance-driven health experience. References to “Health Coaching” and “Health Plans” have appeared, suggesting Apple is still exploring an AI-assisted health service even as broader AI product timelines evolve.
There’s also a more immediate change: Blood Oxygen readings have been added back to the Vitals graph, allowing users to view five key health metrics in a single chart—heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen, and sleep duration. Sleep tracking is getting a new Sleep Highlight section, too, showing a two-week average bedtime alongside your most recent recorded bedtime for easy comparison and trend spotting.
Beyond iOS, Apple’s other platforms are getting notable improvements in these public betas. visionOS 26.4 adds support for NVIDIA CloudXR with foveated streaming, which can help deliver high-resolution, low-latency immersive content to Apple Vision Pro while streaming efficiently.
Safari changes are also making a return on bigger screens. iPadOS 26.4 and macOS Tahoe 26.4 reintroduce compact tabs in Safari, a layout some users prefer for saving space and reducing visual clutter.
macOS Tahoe 26.4 adds a new battery management control as well: a slider that lets you cap maximum battery charge to a specific level between 80 and 100 percent. This can be useful for users who keep their MacBook plugged in often and want to reduce long-term battery wear.
With the first public beta builds now available across Apple’s ecosystem, iOS 26.4 stands out for its clear focus on media upgrades (especially Podcasts and Music), security enhancements (RCS encryption testing and Stolen Device Protection by default), and practical quality-of-life updates in Health, wallpapers, and hotspot monitoring.
