Apple’s new gadget will only work on iPhone models | Tech News

If you’ve got an iPhone in your pocket, there may be very doubtless a software program replace ready for you that you may set up right now. Apple has simply pushed out its newest replace to iOS, iOS 26.2.1, and also you’ll need to get it working as quickly as attainable when you plan on selecting up Apple’s newest gadget.

iOS 26.2.1 is, as the 2 decimal factors recommend, a comparatively minor replace so far as iPhone software program goes, nevertheless it brings full compatibility with Apple’s model new AirTag. Announced on Monday, the new AirTag prices simply £29 and brings notable upgrades on the very talked-about first era good tag that Apple launched method back in 2021.

If you wish to use the new AirTag and take benefit of its prolonged vary due to the Ultra Wideband chip, plus the allegedly louder speaker to find that chiming tag, you need to put in iOS 26.2.1.

Apple says that “this update provides support for AirTag (2nd generation) along with bug fixes.”

The new AirTag can be stated to improve Apple’s intelligent Precision Finding instrument, which supplies on-screen arrow instructions to find a tag, by bringing this beforehand iPhone-only characteristic to the smaller show of the newest Apple Watch models.

All iPhones together with the iPhone 11 sequence and later are suitable with iOS 26.2.1, so you may head to your Settings app now and see if there may be an replace ready to obtain or set up in General > Software Update.

Apple has been more tight-lipped concerning the “bug fixes” this iOS replace additionally fixes, nevertheless it’s at all times advisable to put in the most recent obtainable software program model – even when on this occasion, you’ve got no intention of shopping for the new AirTag.

There are definitely larger iOS updates coming later this yr. As famous by 9to5Mac, iOS 26.3 is anticipated to introduce end-to-end encryption for RCS textual content messages despatched between iPhones and Android telephones, one thing that might be a giant step to really changing conventional SMS messaging.

For the longest time, texts despatched by Android customers to iPhone appeared as inexperienced bubbles, and have been despatched as SMS messages. But Apple lately agreed to permit RCS (wealthy communication Services) compatibility with Android, which suggests although the bubbles keep inexperienced, messages at the moment are despatched and obtained between the working systems utilizing more secure internet-based messaging that features issues akin to hi-res picture help and typing indicators.

Adding full encryption to that is a great step in direction of bringing down some of the messaging limitations between iPhone and Android, although this disparity is more keenly noticed within the US. Over right here within the UK, we simply use WhatsApp – a good various, however when you want the Messages app on your iPhone, iOS 26.3 ought to be one to watch out for.