A total of five versions have been released during the beta testing phase by Apple for developers. It is learnt though that they will not be releasing any further beta versions now. There has not been any confirmation from the Cupertino giant about the release, but 9to5mac quotes sources that say that March would be the time for the launch, which might also coincide with the launch of the next generation Apple TV.
There are reports that the new OS will not bring any major changes with it. In fact, it is rumoured that the new OS will have a better calendar app, numerous bug fixes, and improved speed. It was reported that the new OS will also fix the random screen crashes that iPhone users have reported. Rumours also point to the fact that the new OS will include a better text frame and a background with more contrast. In addition, another report says there will be new UI tweaks to the screens for making calls, the slide to unlock and the slide to power off buttons, and new shift and backspace keys.
What remains to be seen, however, is the kind of impact the new OS will have on the Apple consumer base. Apple, in the recent past, has lost a huge market base to Google's Android. While the new Android 4.4 KitKat version is still to pick up steam, the Google mobile operating system on the overall has the majority market share across the globe. Apple on the other hand is tapping into entry-level markets (also called emerging markets), from where the bulk of its sales in the recent past have come. The launch of the new OS might place the smartphone wars in an interesting spectrum.Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2026 hub.