Apple has released iOS 26 beta 7 and iPadOS 26 beta 7 to developers as it continues preparing both operating systems for their official launch this fall. These late-stage betas are not about introducing a wave of new features but instead focus on restoring previously disabled functionality and refining performance to ensure a stable final release.
With each new beta, Apple is polishing the overall user experience while making sure that key system features work as intended. Beta 7 brings a mix of small but important changes that impact Apple Watch users, iPhone battery management, and iPad multitasking performance.
Here is everything new in iOS 26 beta 7 and iPadOS 26 beta 7:
- Blood oxygen measurements return: Apple Watch users paired with iOS 26 beta 7 can once again measure blood oxygen levels. This feature had been disabled in earlier builds due to regulatory issues but is now restored, giving users back an important health and wellness tracking option.
- New Adaptive Power notification toggle: A new control has been added in Settings under Battery > Power Mode. This allows users to decide whether they receive notifications when Adaptive Power activates. Adaptive Power is designed to extend battery life while maintaining performance better than Low Power Mode, and the new toggle provides more transparency and control over how it functions.
- Updated build number: iOS 26 beta 7 carries build number 23A5326a, replacing the previous 23A5318f. While mainly relevant for testers, this signals that Apple is progressing toward the final release.
- iPadOS 26 stability improvements: On iPad, the focus is on system performance and reliability rather than new user-facing features. This beta continues to smooth out the enhanced windowing system, ensuring better responsiveness when resizing or managing windows. The improvements help refine one of iPadOS 26’s most important multitasking updates.
The combination of these changes highlights Apple’s dual priorities at this stage of testing. Restoring the blood oxygen feature shows that Apple is re-enabling health tools as regulatory concerns are addressed, while the new battery notification toggle reflects the company’s push to give users greater control over background processes. On iPad, the focus on stability ensures that the platform’s most ambitious new feature, advanced window management, will be ready for everyday use by the time iPadOS 26 launches.
As Apple approaches the final stretch before release, the emphasis is clearly on polish, reliability, and compliance. iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 beta 7 may not introduce headline-grabbing features, but they represent meaningful steps toward a smooth and stable public rollout.
