Apple has restored notification summaries for news headlines in the fourth iOS 26 developer beta. The feature, which groups multiple notifications into a single digest, originally launched in iOS 18 but was pulled in January after widespread criticism for misinterpreting headlines.
Developers installing the latest beta will now find an option to summarize notifications under “News & Entertainment.” This comes alongside categories like Communication & Social and All Other Apps, giving users more control over how alerts appear.
Accuracy Concerns Remain
Apple includes a cautionary note with the feature:
“Summarization may change the meaning of the original headlines. Verify information.”
The warning highlights Apple’s awareness of past problems. Previous versions notoriously combined unrelated headlines, creating misleading notifications. In one case, a story about an ICC warrant for the Israeli prime minister appeared as “Netanyahu Arrested.” Another example falsely declared “Brazilian tennis player Rafael Nadal comes out as gay.”
The BBC and other publishers criticized these errors, pushing Apple to remove the feature earlier this year. Whether the updated version resolves these issues is unclear, but the disclaimer suggests Apple remains cautious.
Other Changes in iOS 26 Beta 4
Beyond summarization, Apple made several refinements in the fourth beta. Liquid Glass, the UI effect, now includes improved translucency. A Dynamic Wallpaper option lets colors shift throughout the day, offering a more personalized experience. Additionally, Call Screening has returned, allowing users to silence unknown callers—a feature missing in earlier betas.
