Apple has released Xcode 26 beta 7, bringing expanded developer tools, new SDKs, and deeper integration of AI assistants for coding. The update supports iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26, and requires macOS Sequoia 15.5 or later to run. Developers can use the latest beta to update their apps, test against API changes, and explore Apple’s next-generation coding intelligence features.
Apple has introduced ChatGPT with GPT-5 as the default option in Xcode’s Coding Assistant, alongside GPT-4.1. GPT-5 offers faster, high-quality responses for most coding tasks, while developers can switch to GPT-5 (Reasoning) for more complex work. The release also brings support for Claude Sonnet 4, available through the Intelligence settings panel. This allows developers to link their existing Claude accounts and use Anthropic’s model for code-related tasks.
The addition of multiple AI models means Xcode 26 will provide developers with greater flexibility. Users can now choose their preferred assistant, whether it’s OpenAI’s GPT-5, Anthropic’s Claude, or even local models on Apple silicon Macs. Apple says this approach is aimed at improving coding productivity and making its IDE more adaptable to developer preferences.
Beyond AI, Xcode 26 beta 7 introduces broader performance and testing improvements. Instruments gains a new Power Profiler tool to measure app energy usage across CPU, GPU, and networking, while a Foundation Models instrument lets developers analyze their app’s AI workload. Swift interoperability with C and C++ has also been enhanced, adding bounds and lifetime annotations that help ensure safer imports into Swift.
Apple continues to refine its frameworks, with SceneKit now officially deprecated across all platforms. Developers are encouraged to migrate projects to RealityKit, which Apple sees as the future of 3D and AR development on its platforms. Meanwhile, Metal debugging support has been expanded, though some limitations remain with Metal 4 shader profiling.
As with every beta, there are known issues. Simulators may fail to boot after upgrading macOS, the “Cancel” button in the Coding Assistant does not always work, and some C++ projects may hit missing header errors when migrating from earlier betas. Address Sanitizer container overflow checks are also now permanently enabled, requiring developers to adjust workflows if needed.
With AI-powered coding assistance, new debugging tools, and continued focus on Swift and RealityKit, Xcode 26 marks one of Apple’s most significant IDE updates in years. Developers should test their apps against the new betas ahead of the official release this fall.
