- The third beta version of iOS 26.1 is already available
- It includes an updated Apple TV app icon to match the rebranding.
- There are also hints that more third-party AI integrations could be coming soon, as well as a new local capture settings screen.
The next beta of iOS 26.1 is out now, and while it doesn't include many changes from the previous beta, there are three notable changes.
Firstly, as I noticed 9to5Mac, Apple The TV app has a new logo that has a little more color than the old one. In itself this may not seem very remarkable, but it is part Apple recently announced a rebranding service, which is now simply called Apple TV rather than Apple TV+, and which Apple says has a “strong new identity.”
Presumably this brightness will eventually extend beyond the more colorful app icon, but for now that's all we're getting.
More AI capabilities
Elsewhere in the iOS 26.1 beta there is code spotted by user X. @aaronp613 this suggests that Apple may soon offer third-party AI integrations other than ChatGPT. Right now you can connect ChatGPT to Siri to get answers from the former to queries that Siri isn't suited for, but if you prefer a different AI, e.g. GoogleGemini – you're out of luck.
However, in this iOS 26.1 beta, some of the text has changed from “Report a problem with ChatGPT” to “Report a problem with a third party,” suggesting that other third-party AIs may be options.
With the release of iOS 26.1 beta, Apple is getting closer to providing additional integration of third-party artificial intelligence. Apple has replaced “Report a problem with ChatGPT” with “Report a problem with a third party” pic.twitter.com/25zW9WLeNhOctober 13, 2025
Apple first talked about this back in 2024, but this text change is a sign that it might finally be happening soon.
The only iOS 26.1 beta 3 feature found is the Local Capture section in the Settings screen. Spotted by X @zollotechthis allows you to change where local capture files are saved and optionally enable audio-only local capture.
Local capture, if you don't already know, is a feature that allows you to record audio and video on your end during a video conference.
In iOS 26.2 Beta 3. New local capture option in Settings -> General. pic.twitter.com/HTWaAnPOpLOctober 13, 2025
Anyway, that's all there is in the latest iOS 26.1 beta, but previous betas also added features and improvements, such as a feature that prevents you from falling asleep due to the alarm clockand some Gesture control in Apple Music.
If you would like to receive these updates, you can download the latest iOS 26.1 beta now, but we expect the finished version to come out very soon, so you might be better off waiting.
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