iOS 26 Developer & Tester Preparation Checklist

A practical, actionable guide for mobile developers and testers preparing for Apple's generational leap to iOS 26, "Liquid Glass," and "Apple Intelligence."

Phase 1: Tooling and Infrastructure Update

• Xcode Migration: Upgrade all development and CI/CD environments to Xcode 26 beta immediately.
• Test Frameworks Assessment: Evaluate your current automation frameworks (e.g., Appium, XCUITest). Identify any breaking changes introduced in Xcode 26.
• AI-Powered Visual Testing: Acquire or trial a vendor like Applitools to manage the "Liquid Glass" dynamic UI changes. Begin converting critical visual tests.
• LLM Evaluation Integration: Research frameworks like DeepEval or MLflow LLM Evaluate and integrate a proof-of-concept for validating AI-generated text.
• Dependency Audit: Ensure all third-party libraries, SDKs, and dependencies are ready for iOS 26. Check for updates from vendors.

Phase 2: Test Execution and Analysis

• Core Functionality Tests: Execute critical user journeys to identify immediate breaking changes introduced by the new OS.
• Visual and UI Testing: Focus on dynamic UI elements. Pay close attention to rendering, translucency, and adaptive layouts across device sizes.
• Generative AI Output Testing: Test any AI-powered features for relevance, tone, and coherence, not just exact wording. Use LLM-as-a-judge where applicable.
• Personal Context Simulation: Test features that use personal data by seeding test environments with realistic mock data to simulate user context.
• Performance Testing: Conduct performance tests to measure startup time, responsiveness, and resource usage. Use Xcode's profiler to find bottlenecks.
• Accessibility Evaluation: Verify that accessibility features like VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and high-contrast modes work correctly with the new UI.
• Crash and Log Analysis: Monitor crash reports and device logs closely during testing to identify stability issues.

Phase 3: Refinement and Reporting

• Refactor Failing Tests: Address any automated tests failing due to iOS 26 API or UI changes. Prioritize refactoring for critical components.
• Document and Prioritize Bugs: Clearly document all issues, especially those related to AI behavior or UI regressions. Prioritize based on severity and impact.
• Release Notes Preparation: Draft comprehensive release notes detailing iOS 26 compatibility and feature enhancements.
• Stakeholder Communication: Communicate testing progress and key findings to all relevant stakeholders regularly.