August 18, 2025, Apple released Developer Beta 7 for its 2025 software lineup, including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26. Following a minor build update on August 14 and Developer Beta 6 on August 11, this weekly release focuses on stability and targeted enhancements as the mid-September public launch approaches, coinciding with the iPhone 17 series. Beta 7 introduces specific new features across platforms, notably a redesigned Blood Oxygen app for iPhone and Apple Watch. This article highlights the new features exclusive to Developer Beta 7, alongside updated animations, ringtones, soundscapes, and a streamlined build number chart.
iOS 26: Health and Power Management Take Center Stage
iOS 26 refines its Liquid Glass design, a translucent, visionOS-inspired interface, with Beta 7 enhancing menu legibility and real-time rendering for dynamic highlights. The Lock Screen’s adaptive time display and 3D parallax spatial scenes remain fluid, with app transitions smoother than ever.
New Features in iOS 26 Developer Beta 7
- Adaptive Power Mode: A new toggle in Settings > Battery > Power Mode lets users control battery notifications, reducing alert fatigue and optimizing power with refined background task management.
- Redesigned Blood Oxygen App: Now on iPhone, this app integrates oxygen saturation data from compatible Apple Watches (Series 9 and 10, U.S. only), offering a unified health dashboard with intuitive visuals.
- Improved Messages Search: Enhanced search in Messages delivers faster, more accurate results, leveraging Apple Intelligence to prioritize relevant conversations and media.
iPadOS 26: Productivity Enhancements
iPadOS 26’s Liquid Glass aesthetic shines on larger displays, with Beta 7 optimizing Stage Manager animations and improving contrast for translucent menus.
New Features in iPadOS 26 Developer Beta 7
- Preview App: Optimized for Apple Pencil, this new app supports document signing, PDF editing, and sketching, aligning with macOS Tahoe’s version for cross-platform workflows.
- Colored Folder Options: The Files app introduces customizable colored folders for better organization, with animated view column transitions.
macOS 26 Tahoe: Streamlined Desktop Features
macOS 26 Tahoe refines Liquid Glass sidebars and dock effects, with Beta 7 improving contrast and system stability for a cohesive desktop experience.
New Features in macOS 26 Tahoe Developer Beta 7
- Phone App Integration: The new Phone app, using iPhone Wi-Fi calling, includes Call Screening and Hold Assist, mirroring iOS 26 for spam filtering and live agent notifications.
- Clipboard History Sync: Clipboard History syncs seamlessly with iOS and iPadOS via iCloud, improving cross-device copy-paste reliability.
watchOS 26: Enhanced Health Tracking
watchOS 26 emphasizes health and fitness, with Beta 7 refining Liquid Glass-inspired animations for watch faces and complications.
New Features in watchOS 26 Developer Beta 7
- Redesigned Blood Oxygen App: Updated for Apple Watch (Series 9 and 10, U.S. only), this app offers a clearer interface for oxygen saturation data, syncing with iPhone’s Blood Oxygen app for a unified health experience.
- Improved Vitals App: Refines AI-driven health trend predictions for sleep, heart rate, and respiratory data, with smoother data visualization.
tvOS 26: Polished Entertainment
tvOS 26’s Liquid Glass menus and app transitions are more stable in Beta 7, with refined system icons for consistency.
New Features in tvOS 26 Developer Beta 7
- Enhanced Apple TV App: AI-curated watchlists are more accurate, leveraging viewing habits across streaming services for personalized recommendations.
- Smoother Home App Widgets: Animated HomeKit controls are optimized for faster smart home interactions.
visionOS 26: Spatial Computing Refined
visionOS 26 enhances spatial computing with Liquid Glass-inspired environments, with Beta 7 focusing on interaction precision and stability.
New Features in visionOS 26 Developer Beta 7
- Refined Spatial Search: Apple Intelligence-powered Spatial Search improves accuracy for querying objects in your field of view, with faster response times.
- Optimized Serenity Soundscape: The Serenity soundscape for virtual workspaces is refined for better focus, with subtle volume adjustments.
Build Numbers for Apple’s 2025 Software Betas
Here’s a chart detailing the build numbers for Developer Beta 7, formatted for clarity and compatibility:
| Software | Build Number |
|---|---|
| iOS 26 | 23A5326a |
| iPadOS 26 | 23A5326a |
| macOS 26 Tahoe | 25A5346a |
| watchOS 26 | 23R5346a |
| tvOS 26 | 23J5346a |
| visionOS 26 | 23M5328a |
Looking Ahead to September
Developer Beta 7 sharpens Apple’s 2025 software lineup with targeted enhancements like the redesigned Blood Oxygen app for iPhone and Apple Watch, alongside refined Liquid Glass animations and soundscapes like Serenity. Stability improvements pave the way for a polished mid-September launch with the iPhone 17 series. Supported devices range from iPhone 11 to the iPhone 17 family (Apple Intelligence exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and later). Developers should avoid primary devices due to potential bugs and can access Beta 7 via Software Update. Public Beta 4 is expected soon. Which feature excites you most? Share in the comments!
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