Apple released iOS 26.3 public beta 2, ending a holiday hiatus for testers. The update mirrors the developer build and introduces a significant behind-the-scenes addition for RCS messaging. Code strings referencing carrier support for end-to-end encryption were discovered, signaling Apple is preparing to fulfill its previous promise of securing cross-platform texts.

While not yet active, this lays the technical groundwork for a feature that rivals iMessage security standards. Other changes carried over from the first beta include tools for transferring data to Android, updated wallpapers, and EU-specific notification forwarding. These features suggest Apple is focusing on interoperability and customization ahead of the stable release.

With the code now in place, the question remains whether the public rollout will fully activate this encryption in 2026.