Apple is about to wrap up its most successful year ever, and December will bring a variety of new software and service-related launches for users. Here’s everything Apple has coming in December, and what not to expect.
iOS 26.2, an iPhone update packed with new features
iOS 26.2 is launching in December, and it’s an especially feature-packed update for iPhone users.
New features for system apps include:
- Offline lyrics in Apple Music
- New ‘Urgent’ alarms for Reminders
- Apple Podcasts gets three new features, including automatically generated podcast chapters
- Sleep Score in the Health app has been updated with a refined grading system
- Apple News has a refreshed design that makes app navigation better than ever
- Apple Games gets three enhancements
- Freeform now supports tables
There are also several Liquid Glass-related updates coming:
- Your Lock Screen clock can be customized with more or less transparency
- The Measure app’s level tool gains Liquid Glass
- New Liquid Glass animations are available systemwide
Several upgrades involve systemwide features and also CarPlay:
- AirDrop is gaining a new sharing method
- Notifications can now pop more with a brighter screen flash
- CarPlay gives some users more widgets on-screen
- CarPlay also now lets you disable Messages pinned conversations
- Systemwide shortcut to create events in Apple’s Invites app
Finally, Apple has three changes specific to users outside the US:
- AirPods Live Translation is launching in the EU
- Users in Japan can replace Siri with another assistant when using the side button
- EU users will have restricted Wi-Fi sharing between iPhone and Apple Watch
iPadOS 26.2 brings drag and drop multitasking back
When iPadOS 26 launched in September, Apple’s new windowing system unlocked a lot of powerful options, but also removed some functionality previously available in iPadOS 18.
iPadOS 26.1 recently brought back one key feature: Slide Over. And in iPadOS 26.2, another multitasking asset will return: drag and drop support for managing Split View and Slide Over.
Like in iPadOS 18, you can now drag apps out of your dock or Spotlight results and move them around on screen to drop them into fullscreen, Split View, or Slide Over setups.
The app icon will morph shapes to visually indicate what will happen when you drop the app in a given spot. It works very similarly to what was available last year. But all without losing the additional power of the new windowing system.
macOS Tahoe 26.2’s Edge Light feature
macOS 26.2 includes some of the same great features as iOS and iPadOS, but adds to them a unique new Edge Light feature for video calls.
Edge Light is Apple’s software solution to better illuminate your face on video calls. It provides a similar effect to physical ring lights, but without the extra cost and setup.
Available on all Macs with Apple silicon, the feature employs the Mac’s Neural Engine to “detect your face, size, and where you’re located in the frame to ensure accurate lighting.” And the Image Signal Processor fine-tunes the lighting to appear a natural fit for your environment.
The first iOS 26.3 betas
For the last couple years, Apple has shipped the first beta version of its x.3 iOS updates in mid-December before the holiday break.
This year could always be different, as Apple might choose to save iOS 26.3 beta 1 for January.
But if the company follows its recent pattern, we’ll see the first betas for iOS 26.3 and its companion updates arrive in the next few weeks, shortly after iOS 26.2 launches to all users.
F1 The Movie comes to Apple TV, alongside more new releases
Apple TV (now only $5.99/month through December 1) has one of its biggest premieres of the year coming in December.
F1 The Movie hits Apple TV on Friday, December 12.
Whether you caught it in theaters already or not, you’ll be able to see Apple’s big-budget summer blockbuster at home as part of your Apple TV subscription.
Other highlights of Apple TV’s December lineup include more episodes of Pluribus and Down Cemetery Road, plus a new holiday special and a docuseries on six adorable and endangered young animals.
Apple Arcade gets five new games, including some big ones
Apple Arcade has an exciting lineup of games being added on Thursday, December 4, joining the 200+ existing titles.
There are five new games launching the same day:
- PowerWash Simulator, a popular and relaxing title that will have special bonus packs
- SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit 2, a platformer sequel starring SpongeBob Squarepants
- Cult of the Lamb Arcade Edition, an award-winning roguelite
- Subway Surfers+, an Arcade version of the world’s most downloaded mobile game
- NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM+, a 3D fighting game
Apple Arcade is available as a standalone service for $6.99/month or included in the Apple One bundle.
Apple Music Replay annual recap
Last year, the Apple Music Replay yearly recap arrived on December 3, so we’re likely just days away from 2025’s version.
Apple Music Replay in iOS 26 became an entirely native, in-app experience, with no need to load web views or go to a separate website.
While it’s nice to have access to Apple Music Replay access all year, with month-by-month stats, it’s always fun to see what kind of special offering Apple’s team prepares for the annual end-of-year recap.
What’s probably not coming: new hardware
Apple very rarely launches new hardware products in December, so it’s unlikely we’ll see anything new on the hardware front before 2026.
The company has long been rumored to debut several new products soon, including AirTag 2, a new Apple TV 4K, and HomePod mini 2.
It’s still always possible that one or more of these could surprise us with a December arrival, but more likely we won’t see them before early next year.
Which of Apple’s December releases are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.
Best iPhone accessories
- AirPods Pro 3 (now only $219, down from $249)
- 10-year AirTag battery case 2-pack
- MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone
- 100W USB-C fast charging power adapter
- AirTag 4-pack (now only $65, down from $99)
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