Big news for ringtone enthusiasts—and yes, apparently that’s a thing. Apple has snuck a surprise into iOS 26 beta 2: a new take on the classic “Reflection” ringtone, because nothing says “cutting-edge tech” like… a different ding when your mom calls.
If you’re among the brave few running the beta, just waltz over to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. There, nestled beneath the original “Reflection” is a mysterious new guest called “Alt 1.” (We assume this is Apple’s placeholder name before they hit us with something more poetic like “Reflection 2: Ding Louder.”)
This isn’t just a remix. It’s a slightly jazzed-up, polished version that gives your incoming calls a bit more flair. Will it change your life? Probably not. But will it make you feel just a little fancier every time your phone rings? Also probably not. Still, it’s new, it’s here, and it’s oddly satisfying.
The new ringtone is part of iOS 26’s gradual rollout of changes that also include prepping for the super-thin, probably invisible iPhone 17 Air and other system tweaks no one will notice until they don’t work. As for the ringtone, it might eventually get a new name or vanish entirely by the next beta. Such is the drama of mobile audio customization.
So if you’re tired of the same old ringtone and want to confuse your friends (“Wait, is that Reflection or… Reflection’s cousin?”), go give Alt 1 a spin. Who knew the future of smartphones was just one chime away from greatness?
