Apple has released the first developer beta of iOS 26.4, introducing a new video experience for Apple Podcasts alongside support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging. The update, which carries build number 23E5207q, arrives less than a week after iOS 26.3 reached the general public. This rapid development cycle suggests Apple is accelerating its testing process for upcoming features.

iOS 26.4 follows the controversial Liquid Glass design overhaul introduced with iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 last September. The previous iOS 26.1 update added new toggles and customization options for the glassy interface. With this latest beta, Apple appears to be focusing on expanding multimedia capabilities and improving cross-platform communication standards.

The addition of video support to Apple Podcasts represents a significant enhancement to the platform, potentially positioning it as a stronger competitor to YouTube and Spotify in the video content space. Meanwhile, RCS support addresses long-standing messaging interoperability issues between iPhone and Android devices, though the implementation of end-to-end encryption marks a notable improvement over previous standards.