iOS 26.2.1 Arrives: AirTag 2 Support Alongside a Shocking iPhone 5s Surprise
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Apple released iOS 26.2 in December. Along with the usual assortment of bug fixes and other refinements, its primary security feature was the mitigation of AirDrop spam with the addition of a new Manage Known AirDrop Contacts setting.
With iOS 26.2, nobody can AirDrop you anything unless they’re already added to your contacts or you authorize them with a specific code — effectively ending the era of random “AirDrop bombing” in public spaces.
This week, Apple followed that up with iOS 26.2.1, which was a bit unexpected, as many enthusiasts expected iOS 26.3 to be just around the corner. It still is, but Apple had one more thing it needed to address before then.
Yesterday, we shared our surprise to learn that Apple released an update for the 13 year old iPhone 5s and similarly aged iPads: iOS version 12.5.8. It did the same for a host of other older iPhones, iPads, including iOS/iPadOS 15.8.6 for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 models, and iOS/iPadOS 16.7.13 for the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. iOS 18.7.4 was also released this week for the millions of people who haven’t yet made the jump to the Liquid Glass of iOS 26. More on that in a moment.
While nearly all of these are just the latest in a series of regular patch updates, the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 are a unique case, as they haven’t seen an iOS 12 update in three years. Apparently Apple is committed to keeping these legacy devices operational for as long as possible, which is rather uncommon. So far, Apple hasn’t commented on the rationale for releasing updates for so many older iPhones and iPads at once beyond what it said in the release notes: that the updates “extend the certificates required by features such as iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation to continue working after January 2027.”
iOS 26.2.1
On the other hand, Apple attributes the release of iOS 26.2.1 to the launch of the so-called “AirTags 2.” If you plan to purchase the new AirTags and want to take advantage of features like extended range, you’ll definitely want to update your iPhone right away. In an unusual twist, Apple doesn’t list any security patches in the details of iOS 26.2.1. The update notes simply state, “This update provides support for AirTag (2nd generation) along with bug fixes.”
The security research site One Jailbreak was quick to point out iOS 26.2.1 may not be as light as it seems. This update includes security and performance updates across the board.
According to recent reports, iPhone owners have been slower than usual in adopting this year’s major iOS update. While StatCounter initially estimated that the adoption rate was as low as 15%, that was based on a flawed measurement, which the analytics firm later acknowledged and fixed. The new estimate of around 42% is more realistic, and while other reports suggest it might have reached 50%, that’s still significantly lower than the 72% update on iOS 18 by this time last year.
Reluctance to upgrade is largely attributed to concerns about the Liquid Glass design overhaul, although more recent updates have provided ways to tweak it to one’s liking. However, it may not solely be people deliberately holding back; Apple has also reportedly taken longer to push automatic iOS 26 updates out to folks who are still running iOS 18.
Whether or not we were prepared for iOS 26.2.1 — and regardless of the lack of details on specific security patches — our general recommendation remains the same. As a matter of practice, you should update your iOS device as soon as possible. You can do this by going to Settings > General >Software Update and selecting Update Now.
If you’re buying the new AirTags, you definitely should update first, but keep in mind you can save a few bucks if you don’t need the extended range or louder speaker in the latest models by picking up a four-pack of the original first-generation AirTags on Amazon for only $69.
