iOS 26: What to know about the free iPhone software update arriving September 15

The iPhone 17 event last Tuesday revealed the latest Phone 17 lineup — including the ultra-thin iPhone Air. (You can catch up on everything Apple announced or rewatch the full iPhone 17 launch.) The company rounded out its announcements with three new Apple Watch models, as well as the all-new AirPods Pro 3.

The even better news is that many of us sticking with older iPhones will finally be able to install iOS 26 in just a few days: It arrives Monday, September 15, alongside all of Apple's other new operating systems. But you don't have to wait to test out the new features, since you can download and install the newly released iOS 26 RC (release candidate) if you've been using the public or developer betas. (See our preview of the iOS 26 public beta release for more info.) The first thing you'll notice is a ...