The transfer to iOS 26.2 is a much bigger improve than most individuals understand. In addition to increasing Reside Translation to European customers, Apple’s final working system replace of 2025 has a number of under-the-hood enhancements that give the iPhone a lift. As an example, Apple improved the Apple Podcasts app by including chapters. It is now simpler than ever to seek out the precise a part of an episode you wish to take heed to once more or share with a buddy.
Apple additionally says that this replace does extra to attach a podcast creator with their viewers. For instance, podcast creators can now add chapters of their episode description or within the RSS feed. They will additionally add chapters and even photographs for every chapter via their internet hosting supplier.
Nonetheless, the most effective addition is that for reveals in English, Apple Podcasts mechanically generates chapters, even when the creator did not add them once they uploaded the episode. Apple additionally notes that listeners will be capable of inform if the chapters have been AI generated through an “Routinely created” label within the chapter record. The creators do have the choice to disable this characteristic if they like to solely use chapters they’ve created themselves.
Apple Podcasts is lastly on par with Spotify
Regardless that Apple is a crucial a part of the origin story of podcasts, Spotify has steadily grew to become one of the vital common suppliers of the digital format. With reveals first changing into obtainable on the streaming service in 2015, adopted by unique content material within the years forward, Apple has needed to play meet up with its largest competitor, even in a promote it initially dominated.
For instance, Spotify began to supply the power for creators so as to add chapters in 2023. Down the road, Spotify additionally added mechanically generated chapters and different highly effective instruments, like AI translations, in 2024 and 2025. Now, with iOS 26.2, Apple is getting up to the mark.
One other fascinating Apple Podcasts characteristic launched in iOS 26.2 is timed hyperlinks, which present contextual info on the display screen when a podcaster is speaking a couple of particular product, present, or e book. Whereas they should add these timestamps themselves, Apple is testing the power so as to add automated timed hyperlinks for different English-language podcasts. All of this could proceed to assist construct momentum, as Apple mentioned in a current weblog submit that Apple Podcasts had its “finest yr but” in 2025, with extra listeners, performs, and folks subscribing to reveals than ever.
