iOS 26.2’s Apple News App Introduces Refreshed Design
Apple's News app has significantly expanded its features over recent years, evolving beyond just news delivery. With the release of iOS 26.2 beta 1 to developers, the app receives a refreshed design aimed at improving accessibility to its growing range of content.
New Features and Navigation Improvements
The update adds four quick links at the top of the Today screen, allowing users to jump directly to key sections. This enhances ease of use by often saving a tap when navigating.
- Sports has been moved from the bottom tab bar to the new top menu, freeing space for a new ‘Following’ tab.
- The ‘Following’ tab consolidates content that was previously accessed through the Search button into one dedicated area.
- The Search function now offers more tailored recommendations, similar to those found in other Apple apps like Music and TV.
Expanded Content Beyond News
Originally designed solely for news, the app now includes daily puzzles, food recipes, cooking features, and dedicated sections for sports and politics, making it a more versatile platform.
Apple News originally launched as an app intended exclusively for news. But over the years, and especially recently, the News app has expanded to include features like daily puzzles, food recipes and cooking features, dedicated sports and politics sections, and more.
Overall Design Impact
While the app’s core design remains familiar, these navigation changes and streamlined access to popular features represent a significant improvement for frequent users.
The updates to navigation options and streamlining of popular features seems like a big design improvement overall for frequent News users.
Author’s summary: The iOS 26.2 Apple News app redesign enhances user experience by simplifying navigation and making diverse content more accessible, marking a notable upgrade for regular users.