Apple was expected to release iOS 26.3 soon, but a small update that was discovered and then rejected suddenly appeared. Here’s my initial reaction to this and the answer to the question “Should I upgrade?”
This post contains our initial thoughts on the new release, and we plan to update this post over the next week and add our final thoughts on Tuesday, February 3rd.
Apple iPhone 17
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Who is eligible and how do they get it?
This update is compatible with all iPhones from 2019, i.e. iPhone 11 and newer. iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR supported iOS 18 but were not compatible with the new software. All phones are covered, from the iPhone 11 to the latest models through the 2nd and 3rd generation iPhone SE, iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air.
To update, go to your iPhone’s Settings app,[一般],[ソフトウェア アップデート]Click . next,[ダウンロードとインストール]The software will be downloaded from there. This is a small download, less than 1 GB.
Content
This release includes more new features than you would expect from a minor release, including support for the newly released Apple AirTag. Learn more about new features here.
Apple iOS 26.2.1 Security
Interestingly, there are no security updates in this release, but there are bug fixes and new features. Apple also released a number of other updates for its previous smartphones alongside iOS 16.2.1. Click here for details.
Apple iOS 26.2.1 first reaction
Initial reaction was mostly positive, with one Redditor simply saying, “iOS 26 has the one thing we actually need: bug fixes.” There have been complaints that iOS 18.7.4, released for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, is not available for newer phones. But to be honest, it wasn’t supposed to happen. Apple wants people to use the latest version. After all, it’s been four months since iOS 26 was released.
Apple iOS 26.2.1 Initial Verdict: Update
This appears to be a stable release with new updates and internal fixes, as well as useful perks for those purchasing the new Apple AirTag.