Every part it’s worthwhile to learn about iOS 26 options and the upcoming Apple iPhone replace

We’re getting nearer. The Apple iPhone 17 event is on Tuesday, September 9, which is lower than every week away. (This is how you can watch the iPhone 17 launch on YouTube.) We’ll lastly get to see the brand new iPhone 17 lineup, and — assuming Apple sticks to custom — we should always be capable to set up iOS 26 round every week or so after the occasion. (Apple can also be anticipated to launch iOS 18.7 on the identical time, per MacRumors, to handle safety points.) However you do not have to attend to check out the brand new options as a result of you may download and install the newly launched public beta 6 (or iOS 26 developer beta 9 for builders). You’ll be able to see a extra full view of the brand new options in our preview of the iOS 26 public beta release, which exhibits off the recent house and lock display redesign. Referred to as Liquid Glass, the translucent look will lengthen throughout all of Apple’s upcoming working methods. The overhaul is one among a number of massive modifications coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the remainder of Apple’s software program suite, all of which have been showcased throughout the firm’s WWDC keynote on June 9.

After overpromising on AI plans final yr, Apple stored its iOS roadmap centered extra on fundamental high quality of life enhancements this yr. There are a number of helpful additions coming to the Cellphone and Messages apps in your iPhone, as an illustration: Apple execs outlined the power to weed out spam texts or different unknown senders and an choice to carry your spot on a telephone name if you’ve been ready for a consultant to choose up. Plus, a treasured function that we took without any consideration is coming again (trace: it is within the Images app).

With every beta, it looks like further new enhancements are popping up, like this new AirPods gesture we’re all inquisitive about, and a brand new bouncy animation on the passcode display and within the Management Heart. A few of these modifications have already migrated into the separate public beta (see under). Most newer iPhone fashions are eligible to download iOS 26 (each the betas and remaining model). Wish to see the total checklist of latest options coming this fall? Learn on.

What’s iOS 26?

The present iPhone working system is iOS 18, and Apple continues to be actively updating it — model 18.6.1 was launched to restore Apple Watch blood oxygen monitoring performance for sure customers within the US. Extra lately, Apple released 18.6.2 to handle a vulnerability associated to picture processing. Apple has formally stopped signing iOS 18.6, MacRumors reports, which suggests it could now not be put in in your iPhone because of a “server-side software program verification examine.” That is fairly regular when newer variations can be found to obtain.

However do not count on to see iOS 19 quickly — or ever. As an alternative, Apple is skipping the numbering forward to iOS 26 subsequent month. The corporate has determined to line up its iOS model numbers with a year-based system, just like automobile mannequin years. So whereas iOS and its sibling working methods might be launched in late 2025, they’re all designated “26” to mirror the yr forward.

What’s Liquid Glass design?

Let’s be sincere. Out of all the pieces introduced at WWDC this yr, the new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone’s house and lock screens have appeared just about the identical yr after yr — the final thrilling factor (in my view) was the choice so as to add your individual aesthetic to your property display by customizing your apps and widgets. So seeing the house and lock screens’ new facelift is refreshing.

So what precisely is Liquid Glass? Apple calls it a “new translucent material” since, nicely, the apps and widgets are clear. Nevertheless, the display can nonetheless adapt to darkish and light-weight modes, relying on environment. You may additionally discover buttons with a brand new floating design in a number of apps, like Cellphone and Maps. They’re designed to be much less distracting than the present buttons, however are nonetheless straightforward to see. Whereas the design overhaul has confirmed to be controversial since its announcement, some — together with Engadget’s personal Devindra Hardawar — like the brand new course, even when it is considerably harking back to Microsoft’s translucent Windows Vista Aero designs from almost twenty years in the past.

That stated, as of the discharge of the iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already incorporated some user feedback into the design, dialing again the transparency in at the very least some locations. And whereas it should proceed to evolve, Apple customers will not be capable to escape it: Liquid Glass was designed to make all of Apple’s OSes extra cohesive. This is a take a look at how the translucent aesthetic will look with the new macOS Tahoe 26 in your desktop.

What are the brand new and notable options of iOS 26?

iOS 26 has a laundry checklist of latest options. Among the many most worthwhile:

Cellphone app redesign: You may lastly be capable to scroll by means of contacts, current calls and voicemail messages all on one display. It additionally comes with a brand new function known as Maintain Help that’ll notify you when an agent involves the telephone so you may keep away from the elevator music and proceed on with different duties.

Stay Translation in Cellphone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the power to have a dialog through telephone name or textual content message with somebody who speaks one other language. Stay Translation will translate your dialog in actual time, which leads to some stop-and-go interactions within the examples Apple shared throughout its presentation.

Polls in group chats: Uninterested in sorting by means of what looks like a whole bunch of messages in your group chat? You and your mates will quickly be capable to create polls in group messages for deciding issues like which brunch spot you are consuming at or whose automobile you take on a street journey.

Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you have not obtained spam texts about unpaid tolls or different citations, you are fortunate. For these of us who’ve, these annoying messages will quickly be filtered away in a separate folder.

Visible Intelligence: Much like a reverse Google picture search, this new function will help you seek for something that is in your iPhone display. As an illustration, should you spot a pair of footwear somebody is sporting in an Instagram picture, you may screenshot it and use Visual Intelligence to seek out these footwear (or related ones) on-line.

Images tabs are again: For anybody who’s nonetheless pissed off with the Photos changes made last year, you will be completely happy to know that your tabs are coming again. Library and Collections could have their very own separate areas so you do not have to scroll to infinity to seek out what you are on the lookout for.

Camera app updates: Navigating the Digicam app is less complicated in iOS 26, as all of the buttons and menus are in handy spots — much less swiping, extra picture taking. Plus, there is a new function that tells you in case your lens must be cleaned.

FaceTime “Communication Security” function: A more moderen addition to iOS 26 seems to be the FaceTime “Communication Safety” feature that pauses communications if and when nudity is detected. The function seems to be a toddler security function that makes use of on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privateness points.

New lock screen options: The iPhone lock display will get extra customizable in iOS 26, with a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper results, extra widgets and higher focus mode choices.

New alarm setting: You may now not be caught with the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms. As an alternative, you will have the choice to vary your snooze time from one to fifteen minutes.

New modifications coming to iPadOS 26

Your iPad is not getting left behind with regards to massive updates. This is what’s coming this fall.

Multitasking and actual windowing: Once you obtain the latest replace, you’ll have a number of apps working in your display on the identical time. When you open an app, it will seem in your display as regular however you’ll resize and transfer it throughout your display to make room for different apps. This function is non-obligatory so you may flip it off should you do not prefer it.

Visible replace: Together with the opposite new OSes, iPadOS 26 is coming with the Liquid Glass aesthetic. This new look will seem on the lock and residential screens, in addition to the drop-down menus.

New menu bar: Once you swipe down in your display, the brand new menu bar will seem with choices like File, Edit, Home windows and extra. There’s additionally a search choice should you’re on the lookout for one thing particular.

Try our first impressions of iPadOS 26.

What about AirPods?

AirPods are also getting updated with iOS 26. Listed below are a number of the extra notable features.

Enhanced audio recording: Apple calls this “studio-quality” audio recording, and with it, you will discover extra readability whereas in noisy environments.

Digicam distant management: Utilizing this, you may take a photograph or begin and cease video recording with only one press in your AirPods. When taking pictures, you will get a three-second countdown earlier than your iPhone or iPad snaps the image.

Stay translation function: Whereas not formally introduced or confirmed, it seems that the long-rumored reside translation for AirPods could be coming with iOS 26. The proof comes from a system asset noticed within the in iOS 26 beta displaying a gesture that is triggered by urgent each earbud stems on the identical time. The picture additionally exhibits phrases in a number of totally different languages.

Coronary heart fee monitoring (rumored for now): Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes Apple will introduce new AirPods Professional earbuds this yr, which may have coronary heart fee monitoring. It could work with Apple’s Well being app and different health apps that observe coronary heart charges.

Will Siri get an replace?

Siri is in a holding sample. Apple has beforehand specified that its smarter voice assistant — first promised at WWDC 2024 — is delayed till some level “in the coming year,” so that you should not count on any main modifications within the present betas. However there are studies that Apple is aiming to provide Siri an even bigger mind transplant by basing it on third-party artificial intelligence models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, which may make 2026 a pivotal yr. The corporate can also be reportedly engaged on a “stripped-down” AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT.

Which iPhones will be capable to improve to iOS 26?

Just a few iPhone fashions that run the present model of iOS — iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — will not be suitable with the most recent improve. However any iPhones launched in 2019 or later might be eligible for the iOS 26 update.

• iPhone SE (second technology or later)

Not listed below are the presumed new iPhone 17 models (or perhaps iPhone 26?) which might be all however sure to be introduced and launched in September.

set up iOS 26 beta

The iOS 26 public beta is now obtainable to obtain through the Apple Beta Software Program. Should you’re not already a member, you will want to enroll to check out all the most recent options. Simply go to beta.apple.com and enroll along with your telephone quantity or electronic mail handle. It is free.

When you’re in, you may set up it by going to Settings > Basic > Software program Replace and deciding on iOS 26 public beta.

A phrase of warning: Do not enroll along with your important iPhone until you are OK with any dangers that happen with utilizing an OS that is not finalized.

When will the ultimate model of iOS 26 be launched?

iOS 26 might be launched to the general public this fall. It often is available in September, inside every week of the Apple iPhone occasion. Final yr, it rolled out to iPhone customers on September 16 — precisely one week after the iPhone 16 lineup was introduced. Because the iPhone 17 occasion falls on September 9 this yr, it is potential the downloads will hit our telephones on September 16.

Should you’re extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, here is everything Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and more throughout WWDC. Additionally, take a look at how iOS 26 screenshots may very well be an intriguing preview of Apple’s delayed Siri rework.

Replace, September 3: Famous Apple is anticipated to launch iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26.

Replace, September 2: Added extra new options coming with iOS 26.

Replace, August 29: Added new part about Siri and a hyperlink to what’s new with the iOS 26 Digicam app.

Replace, August 27: Added the official iPhone 17 occasion date, in addition to the potential iOS 26 launch.

Replace, August 25: Added a rumor about new AirPods Professional having coronary heart fee monitoring.

Replace, August 22: Famous that Apple has formally stopped signing iOS 18.6.

Replace, August 20: Famous that iOS 26 public beta 4 and iOS 18.6.2 are actually obtainable to obtain.

Replace, August 18: Added particulars a few potential iOS 18.6 replace.

Replace, August 15: Added to hyperlink to what to anticipate on the Apple iPhone occasion and particulars about what’s obtainable within the iOS 26 screenshots editor.

Replace, August 13: Added new AirPods element noticed within the iOS 26 beta.

Replace, August 11: Famous that iOS 26 developer beta has hit beta 6.

Replace, August 8: Added new options coming with iPadOS 26 and AirPods.

Replace, August 6: Famous the discharge of iOS 26 beta 5 and the brand new bouncy function on passcode display and Management Heart.

Replace, August 4: Famous that Apple is reportedly engaged on a ChatGPT rival.

Replace, August 1: Added quote from Tim Cook dinner about iOS 26.

Replace, July 31: Famous that iOS 18.6 is now obtainable.

Replace, July 24: Famous the iOS 26 public beta is now obtainable.

Replace, July 3: Famous new FaceTime function discovered within the developer beta.

Replace, June 30: Famous ongoing iOS 18 releases, and studies that Apple is contemplating further exterior LLMs for Siri.

Replace, June 25: Famous modifications added in iOS 26 beta 2.