It is true: Apple’s iOS 26 (not iOS 19) is coming your method this fall with some cool new options you may need to strive. This is what we’re enthusiastic about: the iPhone is lastly getting a recent house and lock display screen redesign dubbed Liquid Glass, a feel and look that can lengthen throughout all of Apple’s upcoming working programs. The overhaul was one in every of a number of massive adjustments coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the remainder of Apple’s software program suite, all of which have been showcased in the course of the firm’s WWDC keynote on June 9. If you happen to’re a developer, you possibly can try the iOS 26 beta 2 now; the general public beta coming in July.
After overpromising on AI plans at WWDC 2024, Apple stored its iOS roadmap targeted 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 once you’ve been ready for a consultant to select up. Plus, a treasured function that we took with no consideration is coming again (trace: it is within the Images app).
Preserve studying to take a look at essentially the most notable options coming to your iPhone this fall, based on Apple. Additionally, be certain that your iPhone is eligible to download the iOS 26 update (fortunately, most up-to-date fashions are).
What’s iOS 26?
Whereas the present iPhone working system is iOS 18, Apple is skipping the numbering forward to iOS 26 later this yr. The corporate has determined to line up its iOS model numbers with a year-based system, much like automobile mannequin years. So whereas iOS and its sibling working programs will likely 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 every part 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 (for my part) was the choice so as to add your personal aesthetic to your own home display screen 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, effectively, the apps and widgets are clear. Nonetheless, the display screen can nonetheless adapt to darkish and lightweight 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 simple 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 paying homage to Microsoft’s translucent Windows Vista Aero designs from practically twenty years in the past.
That mentioned, as of the newly launched iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already incorporated some user feedback into the design, dialing again the transparency in a minimum of some locations. And whereas it should proceed to evolve, Apple customers will not have the ability to escape it: Liquid Glass was designed to make all of Apple’s OSes extra cohesive. This is a have 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 have the ability to scroll by contacts, current calls and voicemail messages all on one display screen. It additionally comes with a brand new function referred to as Maintain Help that’ll notify you when an agent involves the telephone so you possibly can keep away from the elevator music and proceed on with different duties.
Reside Translation in Cellphone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the power to have a dialog by way of telephone name or textual content message with somebody who speaks one other language. Reside 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 what looks like tons of of messages in your group chat? You and your pals will quickly have the ability 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 can help you seek for something that is in your iPhone display screen. For example, should you spot a pair of sneakers somebody is carrying in an Instagram picture, you possibly can screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to seek out these sneakers (or related ones) on-line.
Images tabs are again: For anybody who’s nonetheless annoyed with the Photos changes made last year, you may be completely satisfied to know that your tabs are coming again. Library and Collections may have their very own separate areas so you do not have to scroll to infinity to seek out what you are searching for.
Which iPhones will have the ability to improve to iOS 26?
A couple of 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 will likely be eligible for the iOS 26 update.
Not listed below are the presumed new iPhone 17 models (or possibly iPhone 26?) which can be all however sure to be introduced and launched in September.
When will the iOS 26 beta be out there?
The iOS 26 public beta will develop into available in July by way of the Apple Beta Software Program. If you happen to’re not already a member, you may 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 e-mail tackle. It is free.
When you’re in and the beta is offered, you possibly can 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 foremost iPhone except 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 will likely be launched to the general public this fall. It normally is available in September, inside per 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.
If you happen to’re extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, this is everything Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and more throughout WWDC. Additionally, try how iOS 26 screenshots could possibly be an intriguing preview of Apple’s delayed Siri rework.
Replace, June 25: Famous adjustments added in iOS 26 beta 2.
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