Apple released iOS 26.2 on December 12, introducing the latest version of iOS 26. iOS 26.2 isn't the biggest update, but it brings quite a few helpful new features to your iPhone.


We've rounded up all of the new features your ‌iPhone‌ is getting in iOS 26.2.

Alarms for Reminders

The Reminders app has a new option to have an alarm go off when a reminder is due. Setting up an alarm can be done by toggling on the "Urgent" option when creating a reminder.



When a Reminder alarm activates, it displays a snooze option or a slide to stop option. If you snooze it, it will show a Live Activity countdown on the Lock Screen that includes an option to complete the reminder or reschedule it. Apple distinguishes Reminders alarms from standard alarms with a new blue color.

Apple provides a splash screen letting users know about the feature, plus a small banner that shows up when you go to add a new entry in the Reminders app after updating to iOS 26.2.

Lock Screen

The Lock Screen has a new Liquid Glass slider that lets you customize the appearance of the time. When using the "Glass" option, you can use the slider to make the time look almost entirely clear, or give it a more frosted look.


There's still a separate Solid toggle that turns off the Liquid Glass appearance for the clock entirely if you want to opt for a much more opaque design, and you can also still use the color options for the time.

Liquid Glass Settings

When using the Liquid Glass "Tinted" option that reduces transparency, there's a warning that the Tinted option cannot be used in tandem with the Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast Accessibility settings.


Turning on Tinted mode is able to turn off Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast automatically. In the prior update, there was no option to turn on Tinted mode without turning off these features manually.

AirDrop

iOS 26.2 increases the security of AirDrop. The update adds an extra layer of verification when using AirDrop with unknown contacts.


There is an option to generate an AirDrop code on the receiver's device, which can then be entered on the sender's device to complete the transfer. Codes allow AirDrop to work for a 30-day period.

People you have shared a code with can be managed by opening up the Settings app, selecting the General section, choosing AirDrop, and tapping on "Manage Known AirDrop Contacts."

Apple Music

Apple Music supports offline lyrics, so you can see a song's lyrics when not connected to Wi-Fi or cellular.

Your Favorite Songs playlist also now shows up in Top Picks on the home tab.

Sleep Score

With iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2, Apple has adjusted the ranges for the Sleep Score feature that it introduced earlier this year. The new Sleep Score numbers better match how people might be feeling after a night of sleep.


These are the new scores:

• Very Low - 0-40 (previously 0-29)


• Low - 41-60 (previously 30-49)


• OK - 61-80 (previously 50-69)


• High - 81-95 (previously 70-89)


• Very High - 96-100 (previously 90-100)

The "Very High" rank used to be "Excellent," but Apple changed the name to be more in line with the other labels.

Sleep Scores are available on all Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 26.2 and can be found in the Health app on the ‌iPhone‌. Apple designed Sleep Score to provide an overall sense of sleep patterns, so users can identify habits that might impact their sleep.

Sleep Score takes into account sleep duration, bedtime, and interruptions to assign a nightly score that represents sleep quality. Duration is worth 50 points, bedtime is worth 30, and interruptions (times woken up in the night) are worth 20, for a total of 100 possible points each night.

Podcasts

The Podcasts app has three new features, including automatically generated chapters, options to see mentions of other podcasts from the transcript and the player, and access to links mentioned in a podcast on the episode page.

Passwords

In the Settings section of the Passwords app, there's an option to manage websites where passwords are not saved when signing in.

Freeform

The Freeform app now supports tables that can hold text, images, documents, and drawings. Cells intelligently resize to fit content, providing structure.

Apple News

Apple updated the design of Apple News, adding quick access top buttons for categories like sports, puzzles, politics, business, and food.


There's also a dedicated tab for Following, which has been decoupled from the search interface.

Home App

The Home app now supports multipack accessory pairing. You can use the same setup code to enroll multiple accessories that are sold together.

Flash for Alerts

The Flash for Alerts option in the Accessibility section of the Settings app allows users to have the screen flash when there's an incoming notification. Previously, this setting was limited to the LED on the back of the ‌iPhone‌.


Users can swap to the screen flash or have both flash at the same time when notifications come in.

Enhanced Safety Alerts

In the Notifications section of the Settings app, there's an Enhanced Safety Alerts section for managing earthquake alerts, imminent threat alerts, and activating improved alert delivery, a feature that uses location to improve the reliability of alerts.



Apple says that Enhanced Safety Alerts provide rich information like a map of affected areas and links to additional safety guidance.

Enhanced Safety Alerts is limited to the United States.

Measure App

Apple's Measure app now features a Liquid Glass design for the level, with two Liquid Glass bubbles instead of white circles.

Games App

There's an option to sort games in the Games app Library by size, in addition to Name and Recent. In-game challenge score banners provide real-time updates when someone new has taken the lead in a game you're playing.


The Games app also supports navigation with a controller and real-time updates to challenge scores during gameplay, plus there's enhanced support for controllers like the Backbone and Razer.

CarPlay

The CarPlay app supports disabling pinned messages in the Messages app for drivers who prefer the classic Messages view that was available before iOS 26.2.

Menu Animations

For pop-out menus that expand from a corner button, iOS 26.2 adds a quicker, bouncier animation that looks like the animation that Apple showed off at WWDC.

Privacy

When you access your Apple Account for the first time after installing iOS 26.2, you'll see an alert letting you know that Apple's privacy information for Apple Accounts has been updated to better explain how personal information is collected and used by Apple.

AirPods Live Translation for EU

iOS 26.2 expands AirPods Live Translation to the European Union. Apple had to delay the feature in the EU to complete the engineering work needed to comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act.


AirPods Live Translation works with the AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is available in English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional Mandarin), Japanese, and Korean at the current time.

iPhone Changes in Japan

Siri Replacement

Apple is laying the groundwork for a new option that will let ‌iPhone‌ users in Japan choose a different default voice assistant. A press and hold gesture on the Side Button only activates ‌Siri‌ in earlier versions of iOS.

‌iPhone‌ users in Japan will be able to select a new voice-based conversation app to activate with the Side Button, allowing alternative assistants like Gemini or Alexa to be used on the ‌iPhone‌. Developer documentation confirms that it will only be available for Japanese Apple Accounts owned by people living in Japan.

Search Engine Choice

After installing iOS 26.2, ‌iPhone‌ users in Japan will be prompted to select a preferred search engine. Options include Bing, Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo Japan, or Ecosia, the same options available globally in the Safari settings. In most other countries, Google is the default search engine and there is no prompt to choose a different option when the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ first starts up.


While ‌‌iPhone‌‌ users outside of Japan can choose one of the other options, doing so requires going into the Safari section of the Settings app to make a change.

Third Party App Stores

iOS 26.2 will allow ‌iPhone‌ users in Japan to install alternative app marketplaces, similar to the European Union.

Texas App Store Changes

With iOS 26.2, Apple is adding tools for developers that will help them comply with the App Store Accountability Act that goes into effect in Texas in 2026. Apple users in Texas will need to confirm whether they are 18 years or older when creating an Apple Account, and parents will need to provide consent for their children's ‌App Store‌ downloads and in-app transactions.

Apple will share user age range information with developers, and developers will need to implement systems for notifying parents about significant app changes and allowing parents to revoke a child's access to an app at any time.

Bonus: iPadOS 26.2 Multitasking

In iPadOS 26.2, Apple is expanding on the updated multitasking that it introduced in iPadOS 26.1. There's an option to drag and drop apps from the App Library, Dock, and Spotlight into Slide Over and tiled views, restoring some functionality that was removed in the iPadOS 18 to iPadOS 26 transition.

Bug Fixes

There are two notable bug fixes in iOS 26.2. Apple addressed an issue that could cause pre-release albums in the ‌Apple Music‌ Library not to be playable at release time, and it addressed an issue where a Privacy and Security setting could be incorrectly marked as managed by an enterprise organization.

Security Updates

iOS 26.2 addresses over 20 vulnerabilities, including two bugs that are known to have been actively exploited.

There are a pair of WebKit vulnerabilities that could allow maliciously crafted web content to execute code or cause memory corruption. Apple says that the bugs might have been exploited in an attack against targeted individuals on versions of iOS before ‌iOS 26‌.

One of the WebKit bugs was fixed with improved memory management, while the other was addressed with improved validation.

There are several other vulnerabilities that were fixed too, across apps and services. An ‌App Store‌ bug could allow users to access sensitive payment tokens, processing a malicious image file could lead to memory corruption, photos in the Hidden Album could be viewed without authentication, and passwords could be unintentionally removed when remotely controlling a device with FaceTime.

Now that these vulnerabilities have been publicized by Apple, even those that were not exploited before might be taken advantage of now. Apple recommends all users update their devices to iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.2 as soon as possible.

Compatibility

iOS 26.2 is available on all iPhones that support ‌iOS 26‌.

What's Next

Apple is likely to release the first beta of its next update, iOS 26.3, as soon as next week.
This article, "iOS 26.2 Features: Everything New in iOS 26.2" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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After installing iOS 26.2, if you're just tapping through screens, you could miss the update turning on automatic software updates.


At the "Software Update Complete" stage where you normally tap on continue to get to the Home Screen, there might be an extra little bit of information. Some users are seeing a warning that future updates will be automatically downloaded and installed, with the option toggled on automatically if the Continue button is tapped. There's a subtle "Only Download Automatically" option that does not opt you into automatic updates if you're paying attention, but it's easy to miss.

You won't see iOS 26.2 turn on automatic software updates if you already have them on, and it doesn't even seem to be showing up for all users that have automatic update installation turned off. You might want to double check your settings just in case, and even if iOS 26.2 didn't turn on automatic software updates, it's worth knowing about the possibility because it's an option that Apple can sneak into any update. If you've ever had an update mysteriously install on your device when you didn't manually do it, it's probably because automatic software updates was quietly turned back on.

If you did install iOS 26.2 and accidentally turned on automatic updates, you can undo it by going to General > Software Update > Automatic Updates and toggling the option off. From there, you can choose to allow updates to automatically download, and toggle off the automatic installation of system files.
This article, "PSA: iOS 26.2 Turns on Automatic Software Updates for Some Users" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Govee makes just about every kind of light you can think of, and many of those are Matter-capable and able to connect to HomeKit. Earlier this year, Govee came out with a series of Matter star projectors, which you can hook up to your Apple Home setup.


There are three new projectors, including the Star Light Projector Nebula, the Star Light Projector Ocean Wave, and the higher-end Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro. I was intrigued by the idea of HomeKit-connected light projectors, so I tested two of the three products.

Star Light Projector (Ocean Wave)

There are two variants of the Star Light Projector, the Nebula that mimics the night sky, and the Ocean Wave that has more of an oceanic vibe. The Ocean Wave Star Light Projector is one of Govee's more affordable projectors at $50 on sale, and it's a fun nightlight experience, especially for children.


The projector is on a rotating base that can be adjusted as needed for the space that it's in, and it covers up to 540 square feet. It's more than big enough to bathe the entire ceiling of your average bedroom in soft, shifting light. It's about eight inches tall and six inches long, so it can tuck right on a bedside table or dresser to light the room.

There is a textured lens that covers four RGBW lamp beads, and together, that setup allows for a water-like ripple pattern. I didn't think it necessarily looked quite like I was underwater, but some colors were more convincing than others.


Along with the light under the lens, there's a laser module that projects pinpoints of light meant to be stars. The laser light looks like stars, and that was somewhat confusing with the water aesthetic. I ended up with mesmerizing light effects, but not a lighting experience that made me feel like I was under the sea or looking at the sky. It's a chaotic mix that doesn't quite work.

While the lighting effects produced by the projector feature multiple colors and patterns that can be adjusted in the app, the laser is a static green color and it can't be changed. If the laser light is on, it's green, and that didn't look great with some of the other colors. You need a fairly dark room for the projector to work as intended. It needs to be the only light that's on, and it needs to be dark outside.


There is an included speaker and you can turn on white noise options to add to the oceanic effect, but the speaker quality was just okay. I am someone that sleeps with white noise, and I would not pick the projector over another noise machine. For a child that doesn't know much of a difference, the sounds would likely be plenty soothing, and it might also work well for meditation. My cat was enthralled with it, so pets can enjoy the lighting effects too. If you don't like the white noise options, you can connect to it via Bluetooth and play music from an iPhone. There is a subtle noise from the projector, but I'm not sure you would hear it unless you were right next to it.

The laser can be turned off, and the light can be dimmed for sleep, plus there are options to set timers. This would make for a great nightlight/sound machine in a child's room, and all the different settings and light patterns are fun to play with. The app has quite a few presets to choose from, some of which have an accompanying sound and some of which don't, but you can also create your own. I liked the amount of control I had and all of the patterns available with this model, because surprisingly, the more expensive model is a bit more limited in scope because of its specialization.


This model does not come with a power adapter, so you'll need to supply your own, but it does come with a USB-C to USB-A cable. The USB-A side plugs into the power adapter, and I would have much preferred a USB-C to USB-C cable so I didn't have to hunt down a USB-A power adapter, which I have been ridding my house of.

Govee Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro

The Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro is Govee's higher-end projector option, and it's quite a bit different from the more affordable Star Projector variants. I don't have much experience with projectors, so this review ended up sending me down a rabbit hole.


Why would someone pay $160+ for this projector when there are options with more customizability at a lower price? The answer is resolution and the ultimate feel of the lighting effect. The Projector 2 Pro doesn't use different colored lights and textured lenses, instead passing light through high-resolution film discs.

There are eight film discs to select from, and the image on the film is projected onto the ceiling or the wall. The discs have good variation in color and effect, but I was disappointed to learn that there are no additional discs I can buy. These are also proprietary, so you can't exactly buy discs somewhere else and pop them into the projector.


There's a 4-megapixel lens and a 230 lux light, and the combination produces vivid colors and a realistic effect that feels like you're immersed in space. Govee says that you don't need total darkness for the projector to work, but that's not really true. It looks a lot better when the room is completely dark.


You can leave a nightlight on or have a lamp on in the room, but it really fades the effect. Even a TV washes it out too much. You also need to make sure to adjust the focus after you get the light positioned where you want it to project, otherwise it will look blurry. If you don't have a dark enough room and don't adjust the focus, it's going to look washed out. You also need to ensure you have good placement in a room and the right angle. There is soft motor sound when the projector is turned on, and occasionally, I noticed some minor jumps in rotation. I am sound sensitive and the noise didn't bother me, but if it's right next to your head and you want total silence, it could be an irritation.

The Light Projector 2 Pro covers up to 300 square feet with a 90 degree projection, which is ideal for bedrooms. I found it to be a little too small for the living room, and it does look best when it can cover an entire ceiling. I have vaulted ceilings in most rooms. In rooms with higher vaulted ceilings, the projector didn't look the best, perhaps because the distance was just too far. Lower ceilings looked better, and on Amazon, Govee actually recommends using the star projector within a distance of 3.28 feet to 9.84 feet, ruling out taller ceilings.


The projected scenes rotate to provide movement, and a laser that provides moving stars adds to the effect. The laser is blue, which means the stars are always blue. Blue works well with most scenes, but with both of the light projectors I tested, I wanted to be able to change star color. Laser color is static, though, and there aren't multiple options, which is a major downside. The laser stars have two different movement patterns, including diffuse or gather, both of which created unique effects with each film disc. Star speed can be adjusted, and the stars can also be turned off entirely.

There are preset scene options to choose from, some of which are tied to white noise, but even with the more expensive Light Projector 2 Pro, I didn't like the white noise quality. The speaker is just okay and doesn't sound like it has any depth. I would not get this for the white noise function.


The projector has a separate, rubberized base, and the shape of the projector allows it to be positioned anywhere on the base, so it's easy to adjust the angle to get the light in the right spot. There's a 90-degree projection angle to work with. The device is nine inches long and six inches wide, so it's a little bigger than the more affordable models.

The Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro does provide a realistic night sky effect that's immersive and pretty to look at, but you are limited to the eight different discs. Star patterns and scenes mix things up a bit, but it can get boring looking at the same pattern night after night. I think this projector looks great, but it needs more scene options and I hope Govee sells additional discs in the future.

There is nowhere on the projector to store discs, so it's easy to misplace them. Govee does give you a little book to store them in, but just one sleepy night of not putting a disc away has the potential to result in a lost one. I also can't seem to take the discs out of the projector or put them in without touching the film, which is frustrating.

Govee App

The projectors connect to Wi-Fi and can be controlled with the Govee app. The app has a main view where you can see each Govee product, and you can tap on one to get to the different options.


The Govee app is fine for the most part. It works and does what I expect, but it's also messy. There are ads for other products in several places, and controls that are offered without explanation. It's definitely an app that has the potential to be confusing.


For the Ocean Wave projector, you can control the speed of the light and to some extent, the color, but colors are dictated by the bulbs inside. They aren't multi-color LED bulbs, so you can't set it to any color that you want. Changing wave speed also doesn't make that much of a difference, so there is a limited amount of customization. You can turn off the wave effect or the stars and enable preset scenes, some of which have accompanying sounds.

The Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro has fewer settings because there are no colors. You can change the speed of image rotation, change the speed of the stars, and turn those features on or off. You can also adjust the direction of the stars and activate scenes that have accompanying music. The preset scenes were a disappointment for the most part because almost all of them turn off the projection and rely just on a star pattern.

There are features in the app that seem unnecessary, like AI for describing scenes (mostly because there are so few actual options that make a visual difference), and a community feature that shows videos of scenes other people have created. There are some practical options for the two projectors, like controlling the timer, setting times for the projector to turn on, and grouping devices together for multi-device control.

HomeKit

You can bind the Govee projectors to ‌HomeKit‌ using Matter, as long as you have a Matter hub. In the Apple ecosystem, HomePods and Apple TVs serve as hubs.


There's a limited amount that you can do with ‌HomeKit‌, and it doesn't offer the full suite of customizations that are available in the Govee app. You can turn the light on or off and include it in scenes and automations along with other ‌HomeKit‌ products.

It supports changing the light color as with any ‌HomeKit‌ light, but this feature doesn't work in practice because the Home app offers color options that are not supported by the projector. You can also use Siri to turn the projector off and on, which can be useful, and you can change the brightness.

Bottom Line

Both projectors are fun nighttime accessories, but I can only recommend the Star Light Projector Ocean Wave. It doesn't have discs to fuss with, there are multiple color options to play with, and it's not too expensive.

The Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro looks awesome, but there are too many caveats. The room has to be entirely dark, the ceiling height has to be right, the angle has to be right, and you have to adjust the focus just right. Even meeting those parameters, you get a limited number of scenes with no option to purchase additional discs. If it were priced closer the Ocean Wave and Nebula projectors, that might make it more worthwhile, but this doesn't feel like a $180 device.

I wouldn't recommend buying either of these projectors at full price, but there are often sales you can catch.

How to Buy

The Star Light Projector Ocean Wave is priced at $50 from Amazon, and the Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro is available for $160 from Amazon.

Note: Govee provided MacRumors with an Ocean Wave Light Projector and Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro Projector for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
This article, "Govee Star Projector Review: HomeKit-Connected Night Lights With Matter Support" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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