iOS 26 was unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 on Monday. The firm previewed a number of new options and synthetic intelligence (AI) capabilities that can quickly be out there on iPhone. One of probably the most notable adjustments is to the design language of the OS. Apple has launched a brand new UI dubbed Liquid Glass, which bundles glass-like iconography and different components. The newest model of iOS will even carry Apple Intelligence options and a unified interface within the Phone app, up to date Camera app format, typing indicators in Messages, new CarPlay options, and extra, when it’s rolled out on eligible iPhone fashions later this yr.
iOS 26 Compatible Models
Apple says iOS 26 will probably be provided as a free over-the-air (OTA) software program replace for iPhone 11 and later handsets. However, the Apple Intelligence options will probably be restricted to the iPhone 16 sequence and that iPhone 15 Pro fashions.
Registered Apple builders can obtain iOS 26 on their units and begin testing out the brand new options. A public beta will probably be out there by means of the Apple Beta Software Program subsequent month.
Visual Improvements in iOS 26
According to Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President (SVP) of Software Engineering at Apple, Liquid Glass in iOS 26 is a brand new translucent materials that displays and refracts its surrounding visible components. It is carried out throughout controls, navigation, app icons, and widgets within the OS. This new design language brings new customisation choices for the house and lock screens, enabling customers to customize app icons and widgets with a brand new clear look.
Photo Credit: Apple
On the iPhone’s lock display screen, the time widget now adapts to the free area in a picture, shrinking and increasing mechanically. Meanwhile, there’s additionally a 3D impact which seems when customers transfer their iPhone.
iOS 26 additionally features a streamlined format within the Camera app, separate tab for Library and Collections views within the Photos app, flowing net pages in Safari, and a redesigned tab bar in apps like Apple Music, News and Podcasts. This bar is claimed to drift close to the highest and dynamically shrink to focus on the content material on the display screen.
Apple Intelligence Updates
Building upon the introduction of Apple Intelligence options on iPhone from final yr, Apple is increasing upon its capabilities. It has launched Live Translation which is built-in in apps like Messages, FaceTime, and Phone. Powered by the corporate’s proprietary on-device AI fashions, this function mechanically interprets textual content and audio in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, and different languages.
Photo Credit: Apple
Updates to Visual Intelligence, Apple’s different for Google’s Circle-to-Search, allow customers to ask ChatGPT questions on what they’re at the moment taking a look at on their display screen. They can even seek for related photographs and merchandise on Google, Etsy, and different supported apps. Further, it mechanically recognises if a person is taking a look at an occasion and suggests them so as to add it to their calendar with date, time, and different key particulars.
Apple has additionally launched AI-powered shortcuts and devoted actions for Writing Tools and Image Playground. The firm’s AI mannequin can even determine and summarise particulars, reminiscent of bill in emails obtained from retailers. Users can even combine their favorite emojis, Genmojis, and descriptions for distinctive creations. Meanwhile, the brand new Foundation Models framework supplies builders entry to Apple’s on-device basis mannequin which powers Apple Intelligence.
Changes to Apps
Apple has revamped the Phone app with a unified format which mixes the Favourites, Recents, and Voicemails tabs. It additionally takes benefit of Call Screening which makes use of Live Voicemail to collect info from the caller, enabling the recipient to determine whether or not they want to decide it up. On the opposite hand, Hold Assist can turn out to be useful when the person is caught on maintain, notifying them when the particular person on the opposite finish of the road, reminiscent of an agent, is obtainable.
With iOS 26, customers can display screen messages from unknown senders within the Messages app, which seem in a devoted folder and stay silenced except chosen in any other case. Users can even create polls, generate backgrounds for chats utilizing Apple Intelligence, and see typing indicators in group chats.
There are Lyrics Translation and Lyrics Pronunciation options in Apple Music, together with an AutoMix function that makes use of AI to seamlessly transition from one monitor to the subsequent utilizing time stretching and beat matching. Meanwhile, Apple Maps will get a function dubbed Visited Places which permits the person to recollect the locations they have been. Apple says iPhone can use on-device AI to analyse their each day route and current them with a most popular choice, whereas additionally notifying them of potential delays.
In addition to updates, Apple has launched a brand new app dubbed Apple Games. It is claimed to behave as a one-stop-shop for all gaming wants of iPhone customers. It presents customers with an summary of the actions of their video games together with main occasions. Further, they will additionally launch the sport from the app and change between them.
New CarPlay Features
With iOS 26, Apple has introduced a compact view for incoming calls in CarPlay. It lets customers examine who’s calling them with out lacking out on upcoming instructions. The replace additionally brings Tapbacks and pinned conversations to Messages, together with widgets and Live Activities.
Additions to AirPods
Apple says iOS 26 expands upon the present capabilities of its TWS merchandise, particularly the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro (2nd technology). Interviewers, podcasters, singers, and others can now file audio with clearer high quality utilizing the studio high quality audio recording function. Apple guarantees “more natural vocal texture and clarity” throughout cellphone calls on the iPhone.
Meanwhile, the brand new digicam distant function permits the AirPods to operate as a digicam shutter; a easy press and maintain of the AirPods stem takes a photograph through the native Camera app or another third-party app. It can even begin or cease a video recording on an iPhone.
