The next iPhone software is just around the corner, but the first beta is out already and has significant changes.

If your iPhone is running iOS 26 — which it should be, given that it’s been several weeks since Apple rolled the software update — then you have access to (most of) the new iMessage features. And ...

In order to send and receive iMessages to your iPhone, iMessage must be enabled. By doing this, you will associate your phone number with the email address used for your Apple ID or iCloud account.

WhatsApp's latest beta hints at the messaging app gaining a long-overdue iMessage feature: the ability to schedule messages.