Apple is reportedly preparing to release the first beta of iOS 26.4, and the update could arrive sooner than expected.
According to Bloomberg’s well-known Apple analyst Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to roll out the beta to developers within the next two weeks, possibly during the week of February 23, assuming there are no internal delays.
The iOS 26.4 beta is expected to introduce early elements of Apple’s redesigned Siri, which is rumored to be powered in part by Gemini-based artificial intelligence. While this update will not include the full Siri transformation, it will reportedly give developers and early testers a preview of Apple’s next-generation voice assistant capabilities.
Gurman notes that Apple is taking a gradual approach to Siri’s AI evolution. Instead of releasing a fully chatbot-style Siri all at once, Apple plans to test select features first. These may include improved contextual understanding, more natural responses, and smarter handling of complex queries. The complete Siri overhaul is now expected to debut alongside iOS 27, which Apple is likely to unveil at WWDC in June.
Although Siri enhancements are grabbing the spotlight, iOS 26.4 is not expected to be a major feature-packed release. Much of Apple’s focus for this update appears to be behind-the-scenes improvements. Reports suggest that Apple is working on bug fixes, internal code cleanup, subtle design refinements, and overall system performance optimizations to ensure a smoother user experience.
Interestingly, iOS 27 is also said to prioritize stability and refinement rather than flashy additions, aside from the major Siri upgrade. This indicates Apple’s broader strategy of strengthening the foundation of iOS before fully committing to large-scale AI-driven features across the platform.
If the timeline holds, developers will soon get hands-on access to iOS 26.4 beta, offering the first real glimpse into Apple’s AI-powered Siri future. For users, this update signals that smarter, more conversational Siri capabilities are getting closer—just not all at once.