Apple today seeded the second beta of iOS 9.1 to registered developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first iOS 9.1 beta following its fall "Hey Siri" event and one week after releasing the first version of iOS 9 to the public.
The new beta of iOS 9.1, build 13B5119e, is available as an over-the-air update and through the Apple Developer Center. Apple has also released a second beta of tvOS, build 13T5365h.
iOS 9.1 includes new features for the iPad Pro, adding support for accessories like the Smart Keyboard and the Apple Pencil, both of which are deeply integrated into the operating system. It also includes features that will allow the iPhone to interact with the new Apple TV.
iOS 9.1 also includes Unicode 8, adding support for some long-awaited emoji like the taco, burrito, cheese wedge, middle finger, unicorn head, and more, plus it includes a new "Hey Siri" Settings feature that lets the "Hey Siri" command be customized for an individual user's voice. On-demand voice activation for Siri using the "Hey Siri" command is a new feature in the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus. On older devices, "Hey Siri" only activates Siri when plugged into a power source.
It is not clear when iOS 9.1 will be released to the public, but it's likely it will come in November, alongside the launch of the iPad Pro.
What's new in iOS 9.1 beta 2:
Messages - There's a new Messages option in the Settings app that allows users to disable contact photos.
Wednesday January 21, 2026 10:54 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In addition to updating many of its existing products, Apple is expected to unveil five all-new products this year, including a smart home hub, a Face ID doorbell, a MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, a foldable iPhone, and augmented reality glasses.
Below, we have recapped rumored features for each product.
Smart Home Hub
Apple home hub (concept)
Apple's long-rumored smart home hub should...
Apple is planning to debut a high-end secondary version of AirPods Pro 3 this year, sitting in the lineup alongside the current model, reports suggest.
Back in September 2025, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to introduce a successor to the AirPods Pro 3 in 2026. This would be somewhat unusual since Apple normally waits around three years to make major...
Wednesday January 21, 2026 12:31 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple is working on a small, wearable AI pin equipped with multiple cameras, a speaker, and microphones, reports The Information. If it actually launches, the AI pin will likely run the new Siri chatbot that Apple plans to unveil in iOS 27.
The pin is said to be similar in size to an AirTag, with a thin, flat, circular disc shape. It has an aluminum and glass shell, and two cameras at the...
Tuesday January 20, 2026 2:34 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Over the last few months, rumors around the iPhone 18 Pro's front-panel design have been conflicted, with some supply-chain leaks pointing to under-display Face ID, reports suggesting a top-left hole-punch camera, and debate over whether the familiar Dynamic Island will shrink, shift, or disappear entirely.
Today, Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital shared new details that appear to clarify the ...
Thursday January 22, 2026 9:31 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is expected to release MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips soon, but you might want to pass on them, as bigger changes are around the corner.
It has been reported that the MacBook Pro will be receiving a major redesign in late 2026 or in 2027. Six new features have been rumored so far, including an OLED display, touch capabilities, a Dynamic Island, M6 Pro and M6 Max chips...
I wish I could have read receipts for just some people. I want my wife to know I have read her messages, but I don't want someone at work to get a read receipt.
iOS 9.1 also includes Unicode 8, adding support for some long-awaited emoji like the taco, burrito, cheese wedge, middle finger, unicorn head, and more