iOS 26 was unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) 2025 on Monday. The corporate previewed a number of new options and synthetic intelligence (AI) capabilities that can quickly be out there on iPhone. One of the crucial notable modifications 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 parts. The newest model of iOS may also carry Apple Intelligence options and a unified interface within the Cellphone app, up to date Digital 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 Suitable Fashions
Apple says iOS 26 will probably be provided as a free over-the-air (OTA) software program replace for iPhone 11 and later handsets. Nevertheless, the Apple Intelligence options will probably be restricted to the iPhone 16 collection and iPhone 15 Professional fashions.
Registered Apple builders can obtain iOS 26 on their gadgets and begin testing out the brand new options. A public beta will probably be out there by way of the Apple Beta Software program Program subsequent month.
Visible Enhancements in iOS 26
Based on Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President (SVP) of Software program Engineering at Apple, Liquid Glass in iOS 26 is a brand new translucent materials that displays and refracts its surrounding visible parts. It’s 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.

Photograph Credit score: Apple
On the iPhone’s lock display, the time widget now adapts to the free area in a picture, shrinking and increasing routinely. In the meantime, there’s additionally a 3D impact which seems when customers transfer their iPhone.
iOS 26 additionally features a streamlined format within the Digital camera app, separate tab for Library and Collections views within the Images app, flowing internet pages in Safari, and a redesigned tab bar in apps like Apple Music, Information and Podcasts. This bar is alleged to drift close to the highest and dynamically shrink to focus on the content material on the display.
Apple Intelligence Updates
Constructing upon the introduction of Apple Intelligence options on iPhone from final yr, Apple is increasing upon its capabilities. It has introduced Live Translation which is built-in in apps like Messages, FaceTime, and Cellphone. the corporate’s proprietary on-device AI fashions, this function routinely interprets textual content and audio in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese language, and different languages.

Photograph Credit score: Apple
Updates to Visible Intelligence, Apple’s different for Google’s Circle-to-Search, allow customers to ask ChatGPT questions on what they’re at present on their display. They will additionally seek for comparable photos and merchandise on Google, Etsy, and different supported apps. Additional, it routinely recognises if a person is 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 Instruments and Picture Playground. The corporate’s AI mannequin also can determine and summarise particulars, comparable to bill in emails acquired from retailers. Customers also can combine their favorite emojis, Genmojis, and descriptions for distinctive creations. In the meantime, the brand new Basis Fashions framework offers builders entry to Apple’s on-device basis mannequin which powers Apple Intelligence.
Adjustments to Apps
Apple has revamped the Cellphone app with a unified format which mixes the Favourites, Recents, and Voicemails tabs. It additionally takes benefit of Name Screening which makes use of Reside Voicemail to assemble info from the caller, enabling the recipient to resolve whether or not they want to decide it up. Then again, Maintain Help 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, comparable to an agent, is on the market.
With iOS 26, customers can display messages from unknown senders within the Messages app, which seem in a devoted folder and stay silenced except chosen in any other case. Customers also can 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 following utilizing time stretching and beat matching. In the meantime, Apple Maps will get a function dubbed Visited Locations 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 possibility, whereas additionally notifying them of potential delays.
Along with updates, Apple has launched a brand new app dubbed Apple Video games. It’s 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. Additional, they will additionally launch the sport from the app and change between them.
New CarPlay Options
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 Reside Actions.
Additions to AirPods
Apple says iOS 26 expands upon the prevailing capabilities of its TWS merchandise, particularly the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Professional (2nd era). Interviewers, podcasters, singers, and others can now file audio with clearer high quality utilizing the studio high quality audio recording function. Apple guarantees “extra pure vocal texture and readability” throughout cellphone calls on the iPhone.
In the meantime, the brand new digital camera distant function permits the AirPods to perform as a digital camera shutter; a easy press and maintain of the AirPods stem takes a photograph through the native Digital camera app or some other third-party app. It may possibly additionally begin or cease a video recording on an iPhone.