Apple debuts iOS 26.4 beta 1 for developers, adding limited support for encrypted RCS messages, enhancements to Apple Music, a Smart List for Reminders, more

iOS 26.4 beta 1 is now available in beta for developers. The update includes a ton of new features and changes for iPhone users.

9to5Mac 2026-02-16 Chance Miller

Context & Ripple Effects

This developer build is the first visible step in a staged RCS-encryption rollout: the initial support is limited, while related coverage shows iOS 26.5 later moving end-to-end encryption into beta for supported carriers and enabling it by default. The same release cycle also carried Apple Music changes that culminated in Playlist Playground’s prompt-based playlist creation.

The update matters less as a single feature drop than as a platform-release bundle: Apple is using the beta channel to validate messaging, media, and task-management changes before wider iPhone availability.

First-order effects

Developers can test the new iOS 26.4 APIs and user-facing changes now; iPhone users outside the developer beta must wait for a broader release.
Encrypted RCS is available only in limited form, making its immediate availability conditional rather than a universal messaging upgrade.

Second-order effects

Carrier support becomes a practical gate for RCS encryption, a constraint reflected when iOS 26.5 made the feature default-on for supported carriers rather than universally available.
Apple Music and Reminders updates give Apple more opportunities to test engagement changes alongside a major communications feature, rather than shipping each change as a standalone product release.

Third-order effects

If support continues to expand carrier by carrier, encrypted RCS will be delivered as an interoperability capability whose reach depends on coordination across the messaging stack, not solely on Apple’s software release cadence.
The release points to iOS updates becoming broader service-layer bundles, combining communication privacy, media features, and productivity tooling in a single operating-system distribution channel.

The trend: Apple is treating iOS releases as a staged platform for expanding privacy-sensitive interoperability while bundling differentiating services and productivity features.

Discussion

@betaprofiles @betaprofiles on x
Want to try Playlist Playground in Apple Music on iOS 26.4 beta, but Apple Intelligence is stuck on “downloading”... 😭 [image]
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
In iOS 26.4, Instead of giving us the new Apple Intelligence, Apple completely broke it instead! Been stuck “downloading” for 2 hours now [image]
@snazzylabs Quinn Nelson on x
iOS 26.4 seems like it's missing some features like, uh, Apple Intelligence.
@brandonbutch Brandon Butch on x
You can now create Apple Music playlists using only a text prompt! (iOS 26.4 Beta 1) [image]
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
iOS 26.4 ads a lot of en_IN (English-India) localizations, including Apple Pay 👀 Could this be a hint that Apple Pay is coming soon to India? [image]
@durreadan01 Adan on x
Apple Intelligence is redownloading after 26.4 beta update, so hopefully there is some change to Siri. [image]
@betaprofiles @betaprofiles on x
iOS 26.4 Beta 1 redesigns Albums and Playlists interface in Apple Music. Artwork now appears full-page, with colors that adapt based on the artwork itself. [image]
@cartidise Noah Cat on x
iOS 26.4 realigns the passcode screen to the center FINALLY [image]
@betaprofiles @betaprofiles on x
iOS 26.4 Beta 1 redesigns Apple Account page that appears when you tap your avatar in App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. [image]
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
New in iOS 26.4 - Apple Music Concerts Near You: Find shows in your area and tour dates for artists you love right in Apple Music. New Look for Albums and Playlists: Full-page artwork brings your music to life. [image]
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
New in iOS 26.4 - redesigned account hubs on the App Store and Apple Music [image]
@dylanmcd8 Dylan on x
Welcome back iOS 8.4!! ITS SO GOOD [image]
@appleinsider.com @appleinsider.com on bluesky
Three years after the feature rolled out, Apple is automatically enabling Stolen Device Protection in iOS 26.4, expanding safeguards against an ever-expanding epidemic of iPhone theft.
@marioguzman@mastodon.social @marioguzman@mastodon.social on mastodon
Idk if new or not but I just discovered the Concerts section in the Apple Music app. Neato! 🤩 — [images]
@marioguzman@mastodon.social @marioguzman@mastodon.social on mastodon
At this point, I doubt Apple will fix the top of sidebars in full-screen mode as they still look like this even in the 26.4 Beta from today. — [images]
@filipeesposito@mastodon.social @filipeesposito@mastodon.social on mastodon
iOS 26.4 beta code teases ‘AI playlists’ for Apple Music: — Based on the code discovered by Macworld, Apple Music subscribers will have access to “a new way to make playlists” using Apple Intelligence. The feature, called “Playlist Playground,” will generate playlists based on…
@stroughtonsmith … Steve Troughton-Smith on mastodon
New API for encrypted video players to let users screenshot or screen record, I guess? — [image]
@stroughtonsmith … Steve Troughton-Smith on mastodon
iOS 26.4 already looks to be walking back some of the more-controversial tab bar changes in some apps, like the bottom-aligned search bar 🥲

Chronicles