On June 9, 2025, Apple took the stage at WWDC 2025 to announce iOS 26, calling it the most transformative iOS update since iOS 7 in 2013. Revealed during the keynote at Apple Park, iOS 26 introduces a stunning “Liquid Glass” design, advanced Apple Intelligence features, and major updates to core apps.
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Set to launch in September 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 series, this update promises to redefine how we interact with our iPhones.
iOS 26 is a bold leap forward, blending a sleek, futuristic aesthetic with powerful AI-driven tools. The update draws inspiration from visionOS, the software behind Apple Vision Pro, and aligns with macOS 16, iPadOS 26, watchOS 15, and visionOS 3 for a cohesive experience across Apple devices.
With a focus on personalization, accessibility, and intelligence, iOS 26 aims to make your iPhone more intuitive and visually captivating than ever.
Key Features of iOS 26
– Liquid Glass Design
- Aesthetic: The interface adopts a translucent, reflective “Liquid Glass” look, with elements like app icons, widgets, and controls appearing to float with subtle depth and light effects. This creates a 3D-like experience without requiring spatial computing hardware.
- Home Screen:
- App icons and widgets dynamically adapt to wallpapers, with fluid animations and reflective surfaces.
- The clock and date on the Home Screen move organically to fit open spaces in the wallpaper, enhancing visual harmony.
- Lock Screen:
- New 3D spatial effects for widgets and notifications.
- Enhanced customization with dynamic wallpapers that react to touch or device tilt.
- System-Wide:
- Control Center, Notification Center, and app interfaces feature frosted glass effects and smooth transitions.
- Animations are more fluid, with elements like buttons and sliders responding with ripple-like feedback.
– Apple Intelligence Enhancements
Apple Intelligence, introduced in iOS 18, receives significant upgrades in iOS 26, though some advanced Siri features are delayed to 2026. Key updates include:
- Visual Intelligence:
- Improved image analysis to extract details from photos or screenshots, such as event dates, phone numbers, or addresses.
- Users can add calendar events or contacts directly from flyers, posters, or handwritten notes captured in images.
- Integration with the Camera app for real-time object recognition (e.g., identifying products or landmarks).
- Genmoji:
- Expanded custom emoji creation using AI, allowing users to generate emojis based on text descriptions or photos.
- Genmoji can be shared in Messages and third-party apps supporting emoji.
- Writing Tools:
- Enhanced AI-powered text editing, including tone adjustment, style refinement, and multilingual support.
- New “Sketch” style for AI-generated images in apps like Notes and Messages.
- Siri:
- Minor improvements to conversational context and response accuracy.
- Major Siri upgrades (natural conversation, on-screen awareness, in-app actions) are not part of iOS 26’s initial release and are slated for 2026, likely in iOS 26.1 or later.
- Notification Management:
- AI-driven Priority Notifications highlight critical alerts and summarize less urgent ones.
- Improved filtering to reduce notification clutter, with customizable focus modes.
- Availability:
- Apple Intelligence features remain exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, and iPhone 16 Pro models due to hardware requirements (A17 Pro chip or later).
- Expanded language support includes French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and localized English for Singapore and India.
– App Updates
iOS 26 revamps several core apps with new designs and functionality:
- Camera App:
- Redesigned interface inspired by visionOS, with a streamlined layout for easier access to modes.
- Simplified toggles for Photo, Video, Portrait, and Cinematic modes.
- Quick-access settings for exposure, Live Photos, flash, resolution, and frame rate, displayed as floating controls.
- New AI-driven features, such as real-time scene optimization and subject tracking.
- Phone App:
- Unknown caller screening with AI to detect spam or robocalls and suggest blocking.
- Automatic hold detection: When hold music is detected, the Phone app can wait on hold and alert the user when a representative responds.
- Improved call history with searchable transcripts (requires call recording enabled).
- Messages App:
- Enhanced Rich Communication Services (RCS) for better interoperability with Android, including higher-quality media sharing and read receipts.
- Improved distraction filtering to prioritize important conversations.
- New animated effects for messages and expanded sticker support.
- Apple Games:
- A new dedicated app serving as a hub for games, integrating Apple Arcade titles and App Store games.
- Features personalized recommendations, leaderboards, and in-app events.
- Maps:
- Upgraded navigation with more detailed 3D city views and improved public transit directions.
- Enhanced topographic maps for hiking, with real-time trail conditions and offline route planning.
- Custom route creation with elevation data and points of interest.
- Wallet:
- New payment options, including integration with third-party financial apps.
- Enhanced event ticketing with interactive venue maps and real-time updates (e.g., gate changes).
- Support for digital IDs in more regions (specific regions not detailed in the announcement).
- Translate:
- Live translation for conversations, competing with Google Translate’s real-time capabilities.
- Support for additional languages and offline translation packs.
- Health:
- Food logging with barcode scanning and nutritional analysis.
- Educational health videos and AI-driven coaching via Apple Health+ subscription.
- Integration with Apple Watch for real-time health metric tracking.
- Photos:
- Improved AI-driven organization with smarter albums and contextual search.
- New editing tools for fine-tuned adjustments and AI-enhanced object removal.
- Notes:
- Enhanced handwriting recognition and math equation solving.
- Collaborative notes with real-time editing and tagging.
– Accessibility Features
- System-Wide Reader Mode:
- Simplifies text-heavy apps and websites for better readability, with adjustable fonts and contrast.
- Available across Safari, Notes, and third-party apps supporting the feature.
- Accessibility Nutrition Labels:
- App Store now displays accessibility details for apps, such as support for VoiceOver, closed captions, or customizable controls.
- Other:
- Improved Dynamic Type scaling for larger text sizes.
- Enhanced gesture controls for motor-impaired users.
– CarPlay Overhaul
- CarPlay:
- Major UI redesign with a “Liquid Glass” aesthetic, including translucent menus and 3D navigation elements.
- Integration with Solarium AI (Apple’s automotive AI platform) for personalized driver assistance, such as route suggestions based on habits.
- Support for Live Activities, showing real-time updates like sports scores or delivery tracking, on the vehicle’s display.
- Expanded app grid for larger screens, with customizable layouts.
– Privacy and Security
- App Privacy:
- Enhanced App Privacy Report with more granular control over data access (e.g., limiting apps to specific contacts or photos).
- New prompts to review app permissions periodically.
- Locked and Hidden Apps:
- Expanded options to lock apps behind Face ID, Touch ID, or Passcode, with hidden app folders for sensitive content.
- Satellite and Emergency Features:
- Improved satellite connectivity for Messages via satellite, with faster setup and broader carrier support.
- Enhanced Emergency SOS with video call capabilities in select regions.
- Security:
- No specific vulnerabilities were mentioned, but Apple emphasized ongoing encryption upgrades and zero-day exploit protections.
– Other System Improvements
- Home App:
- Integration with Matter-compatible devices, including smart locks and energy monitors.
- New automation triggers based on time, location, or sensor data.
- Control Center:
- More third-party widget support and dynamic resizing options.
- Settings App:
- Streamlined navigation with AI-driven “Quick Actions” for common tasks.
- Performance:
- Optimized for Apple’s A-series and M-series chips, with improved memory management and faster app launches.
- Battery:
- Enhanced battery optimization with AI-driven power-saving suggestions.
– Compatibility
- Supported Devices:
- iOS 26 drops support for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max, which were compatible with iOS 18.
- Expected supported devices include iPhone 11 (2019) and newer, including iPhone SE (2nd generation and later).
- Apple Intelligence:
- Limited to iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, and future iPhone 17 series due to A17 Pro or later chip requirements.
- Developer Beta:
- The first developer beta was released on June 11, 2025, immediately following the keynote.
- Public beta expected in July 2025.
– Release Timeline
- Announcement: June 9, 2025, at WWDC 2025.
- Developer Beta: Available from June 11, 2025.
- Public Beta: Expected in July 2025.
- Full Release: Expected in September 2025, likely alongside the iPhone 17 series.
- Delayed Features: Advanced Siri upgrades (natural conversation, on-screen awareness, in-app actions) are not included in the initial release and are planned for 2026.
