Apple has seeded iOS 26.4 beta 2 and iPadOS 26.4 beta 2 to developers and public beta testers, continuing work on one of the more feature-packed updates of the iOS 26 cycle.
The latest beta builds on earlier changes introduced in the first iOS 26.4 release, with improvements spanning Apple Music, connectivity tools, messaging, and CarPlay enhancements.
Apple Music gets AI-powered upgrades
The biggest headline feature in iOS 26.4 is the evolving Apple Music experience.
Apple is redesigning album and playlist views to create a cleaner, more immersive layout. Beyond visual tweaks, the update introduces an AI-driven feature called “Playlist Playground,” designed to help users generate and refine playlists using intelligent recommendations.
These changes signal Apple’s continued push to integrate on-device and cloud-based AI deeper into its core apps.
Personal Hotspot usage reports
iOS 26.4 also adds per-device Personal Hotspot data usage reporting. This allows users to see exactly how much data each connected device consumes when tethered to their iPhone.
For users who frequently share mobile data with laptops, tablets, or other devices, this provides much-needed transparency and control.
End-to-end encrypted RCS in testing
Apple is reportedly testing end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in iOS 26.4. If rolled out publicly, this would significantly enhance security for cross-platform messaging between iPhone and Android users.
RCS support already improved media quality and read receipts. Adding encryption would further close the gap between iMessage and third-party messaging services.
Video podcasts and CarPlay progress
Another area seeing refinement is the Apple Podcasts experience. iOS 26.4 includes improvements aimed at delivering a better video podcast interface, suggesting Apple is investing more heavily in video content inside the Podcasts app.
Meanwhile, CarPlay video support continues to advance. Apple previewed expanded CarPlay capabilities with iOS 26, and this beta appears to push that functionality further toward readiness.
Stolen device protection enabled by default
Security is also getting attention. iOS 26.4 enables Stolen Device Protection by default, strengthening safeguards around sensitive account changes and device access when the iPhone is away from familiar locations.
Complete list of changes in iOS 26.4 beta 1 can be checked out here: iOS 26.4 Beta 1 Features: Playlist AI, Video Podcasts, RCS Encryption, and Security Updates
More changes expected
As with any beta release, additional tweaks and under-the-hood optimizations are likely present. Apple typically refines performance, stability, and background processes between early beta iterations.
With iOS 26.4 beta 2 now available, developers and testers will continue exploring for hidden changes ahead of the public release.
