When you update your iPhone to the next big version, it comes with fancy new software features. If you want these earlier, there are ways — but is it worth it?
One way is to grab Apple’s developer beta. Though this can be great to experience the next wave of features, I don’t recommend using these betas on your primary iPhone. Let me explain what developer betas are, how to access them, and why using a secondary device is best.
What Is a Developer Beta?
Virtually every Apple device gets its own set of betas, which provides early access to the latest operating system (OS) before it’s public. For iPhone, the current beta cycle is for iOS 26, which is likely to see a full public release in fall 2025.
Developer betas are typically what come before a public beta; they’re the early stages of the latest OS. Once a developer beta moves to a public beta, the OS will then become a Release Candidate (RC) or Golden Master (GM), which is the final beta before a public release. In the past, getting access to a developer beta required more work; it used to cost $99 to join Apple’s Developer Program. Since the company eliminated this fee in 2023, gaining access to a developer beta is easier than ever.
While it’s rather easy to install a developer beta, there’s a keyword right in the title that should let you know who it’s really for: developers. Betas are pushed out by Apple as an opportunity for third-party app makers, coders, and developers to stay ahead of the curve by looking for any instability or bugs within the operating system.
Providing early access to the next version of iOS is also a means for app creators to have better system integration with their apps, providing a more optimized experience for everyone. Developer betas can also be a great tool for those looking to learn more about coding and software in general.
How to Enroll in the Apple Developer Beta
If you want in on the developer action, it’s a two-step process. The first step involves enrolling your Apple Account in the developer program. For iPhone, download the Apple Developer app from the App Store, open it, select “Account” from the bottom row, sign in to your Apple Account, and tap “Enroll Now” under the Apple Developer Program section. After going through some prompts and providing your information, you’ll be signed up to receive beta updates.
You can also sign up through the Apple Developer Account enrollment page.
The second step is to navigate to Settings > General > Software Updates, where you should see a new tab labeled “Beta Updates.” Tap a beta in this section, hit the “Back” button, and the beta installs like any other update. Other Apple devices follow similar steps.
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Before you proceed with any beta, enable iCloud backups to ensure your data is safe should anything go wrong.
The Good: Gaining Access to Something New
One of the most exciting factors in installing a developer beta is that it gains you access to Apple’s latest updates and creations. For example, iOS 26 is a big jump from iOS 18, from the new Liquid Glass UI to enhanced messaging features such as creating polls in a group chat. It’s reasonable to want to get access to them as soon as possible.
For me, the coolest feature so far in iOS 26 is the ability to enlarge the primary clock on the lock screen. It’s such a small detail, but having a giant, bold clock isn’t just visually helpful — it interacts with the depth effect, creating an even more dynamic background. It’s the little things that always win me over, but some of my other favorite features include the ability to filter texts from unknown senders and the ability to change the backgrounds of chats in Messages.
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Another plus about developer betas is that they can help Apple create an overall better product. If you like being helpful, there are ways to submit feedback should (or when) something disastrous happens during your beta experience. Sending feedback via Apple’s Feedback Assistant can help the company improve the product, and you get to be a part of the building experience.
The Bad: Battery Drain and Bugs
The main thing you need to be aware of with a developer beta is that it isn’t necessarily optimized to work well with your device. Developer and public betas typically come in waves, and jumping on the first developer beta release is asking for trouble.
Regardless of what developer beta you’re using, expect significant battery drain. Looking at the battery stats of my iPhone 15 Pro, for example, I have Normal Battery Health and 89% Maximum Capacity. When I was running official iOS 18 releases, it was typical for me to charge my phone for about an hour after lunch during a typical workday. That would usually be enough to get me to bedtime. Doing the same with the iOS 26 developer beta, I’m lucky if the device lasts as I’m settling down after dinner.
Unfortunately, battery drain is just the beginning, as you should expect additional problems with a developer beta, bugs especially. As another example, whenever I complete an outdoor bike workout on my Apple Watch, the workout continues on my Lock Screen and Dynamic Island regardless of when I end it on my Watch, murdering my battery. Resetting the device and even force quitting the Fitness app does nothing, and the only solution I found is to navigate to Settings > Apps > Fitness and disabling and then enabling “Live Activities.”
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Will you experience the same issue on a developer beta? Maybe! Will you encounter a similar problem that will drive you slightly mad? Most definitely!
Another thing to keep in mind is that the features you want to try out may not be available during early beta releases. In the case of iOS 26, you may not even get them during a public release. You may install an early developer beta only to realize you’ve taken the plunge without accessing what you installed the new software for in the first place.
Considering restoring an iPhone can be a time-consuming process, it’s worth avoiding developer betas on your primary device without, at minimum, doing some research.
Related Five Easy Ways to Increase iPhone Battery Life
Knowing how to preserve battery can be important when running a beta.
Posts Unless You’re a Developer, Avoid the Beta
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with installing a developer beta on your primary iPhone, it’s highly likely that it will come at the cost of using it as a quality daily device. While I will give Apple credit for releasing developer betas that at least provide functioning essentials, significant battery drain and potential issues mean you should keep betas for secondary devices.
If you’re willing to sacrifice the quality of your device to enjoy something novel, then have fun! Just remember to keep plenty of backups.
If you don’t want to heed my warning, then at least consider public betas. While still not up to the caliber of a full-fledged public release, a public beta is more polished than a developer beta in many areas.
