Apple iOS 26.4 Beta 1 Tests RCS Encryption and Video Podcasts

Apple began rolling out iOS 26.4 Beta 1 on Monday, placing a spotlight on testing of new security and media features while delaying wider public use of a refreshed AI assistant. The beta arrives as Apple confirms that end-to-end encryption for rich communication services (RCS) chats will not ship with the 26.4 stable update and instead is slated for a future software release across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. In the meantime, testers gain access to a set of updates spanning messaging, memory safety, and media playback, with Apple signaling that some enhancements are still tied to forthcoming firmware versions.

iOS 26.4 Beta 1 New Features, UI Changes

According to Apple’s iOS 26.4 Beta 1 release notes, end-to-end encryption for RCS chats is now available for testing within the beta update. The company stresses that this encryption feature will not be released as part of the 26.4 stable version and will arrive with a future software update for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. In the beta, encryption is limited to RCS chats between Apple devices and is not compatible with other platforms, including Android. The release notes also highlight a new Memory Integrity Enforcement for apps, described by Apple as providing enhanced memory safety protection.

The beta also advances a broader set of UI and product tweaks, with Apple noting updates to its Podcasts app, Messages, Apple Music, and the Wallpaper Gallery. While the company has not disclosed additional feature sets in depth, early testing outlines a development path for several interface and usability improvements that could surface in later builds.

Video Podcasts and Other Enhancements

Separately, Apple announced a new update for its Podcasts app that will start rolling out this spring. The new feature is currently available for testing in iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4 beta builds. The update will introduce video podcasts, allowing users to stream video podcasts using the HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol. Apple says the move will empower creators with enhanced control and monetisation opportunities, while enabling users to switch seamlessly between listening to and watching podcasts. Video playback supports both horizontal and vertical orientations.

In addition to the video podcasts feature, the beta version reportedly enables other media and discovery improvements. MacRumors notes that the iOS 26.4 Beta 1 update also brings a new device protection feature. Dubbed Stolen Device Protection, the feature is described as being enabled by default on Apple devices. Beyond video podcasts and encryption tests, testers may encounter changes related to album art viewing in full-screen mode for Apple Music, a redesigned Profile section within Music for easier access to common tasks, and new playlist creation tools driven by text-based prompts and AI assistance. The wallpaper gallery is said to have a redesigned layout with separate categories, and a new ambient music playlists widget is rolled out in the Home Screen as part of this beta.

The update also touches on how developers and power users might experience playback and discovery features, but Apple has not provided a complete feature matrix for this beta cycle. On the security front, the RCS encryption feature remains marked as testing material for a future release, with Apple reaffirming that the implementation is currently limited to Apple-to-Apple chats and should not be expected to cross-gap with non-Apple devices in the near term.

Officials involved with the beta rollout emphasized that the 26.4 build is part of a broader testing window. The company’s release notes and corroborating reports indicate a period of experimentation before any customer-facing upgrade is considered stable. For now, users and developers observing the beta can anticipate ongoing refinements around messaging privacy, media experiences in Podcasts and Music, and device security protections that accompany the next wave of firmware updates.

• End-to-end encryption for RCS chats, Apple-to-Apple only in beta
• Memory Integrity Enforcement for apps
• Video podcasts in Podcasts app testing via HLS
• Album art full-screen viewing in Apple Music
• redesigned Music Profile and AI-assisted playlist creation
• Stolen Device Protection enabled by default

As testing continues, Apple has not provided a timetable for when these features will ship in a stable update. The company’s stance is that encryption for RCS and some of the newer media features will arrive in future software releases, not in the current 26.4 update. Practitioners and observers will watch for further details in upcoming release notes and beta cycle disclosures.