Apple releases iOS 26.6 beta 1, which surprisingly has a new feature
The new update is supposed to concentrate on bug fixes and performance improvements.
Apple releases first iOS 26.6 beta. | Image by PhoneArena
Apple released the initial beta update for iOS 26.6 this morning taking iPhone users one step closer to the iOS 27 Beta, expected to be released on June 8 following the WWDC 2026 keynote. As we've pointed out a few times, this could be the first shot that iPhone users get at using the eagerly awaited Siri 2.0 update.
Surprisingly, the initial iOS 26.6 beta includes a new feature
The stable version of iOS 26.6, being the curtain call for iOS 26, was not expected to include many new features, and will focus instead on software bug fixes and performance improvements. However, according to a tweet from MacRumors' Aaron Perris, iOS 26.6 will send you a notification when you reach the maximum number of blocked contacts on your iPhone.
Tweet reveals the new feature found on iOS 26.6 beta 1. | Image by X
It isn't a well-known feature, but Apple limits the number of contacts that an iPhone user can block. This isn't a number that you will probably come close to with some reports stating that an individual iPhone unit can have as many as 20,000 blocked contacts and numbers on more recent versions of iOS. Some have complained of having issues with the performance of their iPhone when they reached 8,000 blocked contacts stating that the phone was sluggish and lagging.
Which iOS release did you like the best out of these:
With iOS 26.6 beta 1, users reaching the maximum number of blocked contacts will get a notification that says: "You've reached the maximum number of blocked contacts. To block additional callers, remove a blocked contact in Settings." Considering that most of us have well under 1,000 contacts on our phones, this is a feature that most of us will never need.
Apple releases the initial iOS 26.6 beta. | Image by PhoneArena
Siri 2.0 could appear on the first iOS 27 beta, expected to be released on June 8
If you're anything like me, you are extremely intrigued by Siri 2.0. I've been using Gemini as the assistant on my Pixel 6 Pro, and it has been a spectacular improvement over Google Assistant. The latter was the top-ranked digital helper for years and always made Siri look like the dumbest kid in class.
Yes, I've been writing about using Gemini as my Pixel's assistant for some time, and once again let me run off the big improvements:
- More in-depth answers.
- Gemini can correctly answer your questions on what feels like a never-ending number of topics.
- You can ask follow-up questions without having to state your original question.
Siri will instantly become smarter in iOS 27
Siri should become an AI chatbot in iOS 27 with the help of a custom 1.2-trillion-parameter Gemini model. No longer will Siri ask you if you want your query pushed off to ChatGPT, or tell you to read an excerpt from a website. For this custom model, Apple is reportedly paying Google $1 billion a year.
Siri 2.0 will know what is on a user's screen and understand the user's context. It also will be able to answer a question like, "What time should I pick up my mom at the airport?" Siri will search your contacts list, Mail, Notes, and Messages apps to find information about the airline your mom is flying on, and the flight number. Siri extracts that data, and uses the iOS native live flight-tracking system to give you an up-to-date arrival time.
If you want to install the first iOS 27 beta when it is expected to be released on June 8 (following the keynote), keep in mind that beta software is not stable. Some features that you rely on every day might not work, and battery life is usually greatly reduced.
How to join the Apple Beta Software Program
If you want to be among the first to test iOS 27 next month, make sure to back up your iPhone. Join the iOS beta program by tapping on this link, or by going to beta.apple.com, where you can join the Apple Beta Software Program. Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that improvements to Siri will be included with the first beta release of iOS 27.
Keep in mind that because Siri 2.0 uses Apple Intelligence, which requires at least 8GB of memory to work, Siri 2.0 will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone models that were launched afterward.
To install the first iOS 26.6 beta on your phone, if you are a subscriber to the Apple Beta Program, go to Settings > General > Software Updates and follow the directions.
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