iOS 26 Beta 8 is Out! - What's New?

Summary

In this video, Aaron provides an in-depth review of iOS 26 Beta 8, highlighting key updates including design tweaks to the dock, improved liquid glass effects, and minor changes in Safari. He also discusses performance issues like lag in Safari and icon rendering delays, as well as new wireless charging support for 25W MagSafe. While the update is mainly bug fixes and refinements, Aaron advises those on older versions to wait for the Release Candidate. He also touches on the upcoming iPhone 17 launch, with event invitations likely arriving soon.

Takeaways

• 📱 iOS 26 beta 8 has been released for developers, with public beta 5 expected soon.
• 🆔 The build number is 23A5330A and this update does not include a modem update.
• 💾 Update sizes vary by device, e.g., 1.44 GB on iPhone 16 Pro Max and 10.38 GB on iPhone 15 Pro Max.
• 🎨 Minor UI changes include adjustments to the dock, liquid glass effects, and Safari address bar padding.
• ⚡ CHI2 wireless charging support has been added, enabling up to 25W fast charging via MagSafe with compatible chargers.
• 🐞 Some bugs persist, including Safari lag, icon refresh delays, and minor UI performance issues.
• 🔋 Battery usage and performance are generally stable but may require a few days to normalize after updating.
• 📊 Benchmarks show slight improvements over beta 7, though frame rate drops during screen recording have been noted.
• 📅 iOS 26 RC is expected around September 1st, with public release likely on September 15th, ahead of the iPhone 17 launch.
• 📦 iPhone 17 colors are rumored to include Dark Blue, Orange, and Light Blue for the Air model.
• ✅ Users on previous iOS 26 betas can install beta 8, but those on older versions should wait for the RC for stability.
• 🔍 The update focuses on bug fixes, performance improvements, and minor visual refinements rather than major new features.

Q & A

What is the size difference between iOS 26 beta 8 on iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max?

On the iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 26 beta 8 is 1.44 GB, while on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it is 10.38 GB, even though both updates are coming from beta 7. The reason for the difference is unclear.

Which Apple devices received updates alongside iOS 26 beta 8?

Alongside iOS 26 beta 8, updates were released for iPadOS 26 beta 8, macOS 26 beta 8, tvOS 26 beta 8, HomePod OS 26 beta 8, VisionOS 26 beta 8, and watchOS 26 beta 8, as well as some older Mac updates.

What is the build number for iOS 26 beta 8?

The build number for iOS 26 beta 8 is 23A5330A.

What visual changes were noted in iOS 26 beta 8?

Minor visual changes include increased dock padding, slight adjustments to liquid glass transparency in light mode, subtle shadow and reflection changes in the music menu, and additional padding around the Safari address bar.

What new wireless charging feature is mentioned in the update?

iOS 26 supports CHI2 wireless charging, which allows 25-watt fast charging via MagSafe with compatible chargers, achieving approximately 50% battery in 30 minutes.

Are there any significant bug fixes or known issues in beta 8?

Beta 8 has minor bug fixes, similar to beta 7, including Safari lag and icon rendering delays for some users. There are 51 groups of resolved issues and 40 groups of known issues, mostly consistent with beta 7.

When is the iPhone 17 event expected and what are the anticipated pre-order and release dates?

The iPhone 17 event is expected around September 8th or 9th, with pre-orders likely starting on September 12th and public release on September 19th.

What color options are rumored for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air?

Rumored colors include a darker blue and orange for the iPhone 17, while the iPhone 17 Air may come in a light blue shade. These are based on dummy unit images and may not exactly match the final products.

Should users install iOS 26 beta 8 now?

Users already on iOS 26 betas can install beta 8, but those on iOS 18.6.2 may want to wait for the release candidate (RC) for better stability, battery life, and performance.

How does beta 8 perform in terms of battery, heat, and benchmarks?

Battery life and heat performance are generally normal, though heat is slightly higher than usual. Benchmark scores show slight improvement over beta 7, with single-core at 3,381 and multi-core at 8,147, but some frame rate and screen recording issues may occur.

Is RCS encryption included in iOS 26 beta 8?

No, RCS encryption has not been included yet. Apple has not mentioned it in beta 8, but it may appear in the public release.