We're getting nearer to accessing all of the cool new options coming with Apple iOS 26 this fall. However for those who can't wait that lengthy, you’ll be able to obtain and set up the general public beta as of at the moment. Favor extra of a guided tour? Try our preview of the iOS 26 public beta launch. We're fairly excited for the recent house and lock display screen redesign we've been ready to see for years. Dubbed Liquid Glass, the brand new feel and appear will prolong throughout all of Apple's upcoming working programs. The overhaul was one in all a number of large adjustments coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the remainder of Apple's software program suite, all of which have been showcased through the firm's WWDC keynote on June 9.
After overpromising on AI plans final 12 months, Apple stored its iOS roadmap targeted extra on fundamental high quality of life enhancements this 12 months. There are a number of helpful additions coming to the Telephone and Messages apps in your iPhone, as an example: Apple execs outlined the flexibility to weed out spam texts or different unknown senders and an possibility to carry your spot on a cellphone name if you've been ready for a consultant to choose up. Plus, a treasured function that we took as a right is coming again (trace: it's within the Photographs app).
Siri, in the meantime, is in a holding sample. Apple has beforehand specified that its smarter voice assistant — first promised at WWDC 2024 — is delayed till some level "within the coming 12 months," so that you shouldn't anticipate any main adjustments within the present betas. However there are stories that Apple is aiming to present Siri a much bigger mind transplant by basing it on third-party synthetic intelligence fashions like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude, which might make 2026 a pivotal 12 months.
With every beta, it looks as if extra new enhancements are popping up, like a newly found FaceTime function that'll freeze your video if it detects nudity. Most newer iPhone fashions are eligible to obtain iOS 26 (each the betas and closing model). Need to see the total record of latest options coming this fall? Learn on.
What’s iOS 26?
Whereas the present iPhone working system is iOS 18, Apple is skipping the numbering forward to iOS 26 later this 12 months. The corporate has determined to line up its iOS model numbers with a year-based system, much like automotive mannequin years. So whereas iOS and its sibling working programs might be launched in late 2025, they're all designated "26" to replicate the 12 months forward. (In the meantime, iOS 18 remains to be getting new variations this summer time, too.)
What’s Liquid Glass design?
Let's be trustworthy. Out of every little thing introduced at WWDC this 12 months, the brand new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone's house and lock screens have seemed just about the identical 12 months after 12 months — the final thrilling factor (in my view) was the choice so as to add your personal aesthetic to your private 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 materials" since, properly, the apps and widgets are clear. Nevertheless, the display screen can nonetheless adapt to darkish and light-weight modes, relying on environment. You'll additionally discover buttons with a brand new floating design in a number of apps, like Telephone 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's considerably paying homage to Microsoft's translucent Home windows Vista Aero designs from practically twenty years in the past.
That mentioned, as of the discharge of the iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already included some consumer suggestions into the design, dialing again the transparency in at the least some locations. And whereas it’ll proceed to evolve, Apple customers gained't be capable to escape it: Liquid Glass was designed to make all of Apple's OSes extra cohesive. Right here's a take a look at how the translucent aesthetic will look with the brand new macOS Tahoe 26 in your desktop.
What are the brand new and notable options of iOS 26?
iOS 26 has a laundry record of latest options. Among the many most worthwhile:
Telephone app redesign: You'll lastly be capable to scroll via contacts, current calls and voicemail messages all on one display screen. It additionally comes with a brand new function known as Maintain Help that'll notify you when an agent involves the cellphone so you’ll be able to keep away from the elevator music and proceed on with different duties.
Stay Translation in Telephone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the flexibility to have a dialog by way of cellphone 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 via what looks as if lots of of messages in your group chat? You and your folks will quickly be capable to create polls in group messages for deciding issues like which brunch spot you're consuming at or whose automotive you're taking over a highway journey.
Filtering unknown senders in Messages: In case you haven't obtained spam texts about unpaid tolls or different citations, you're fortunate. For these of us who’ve, these annoying messages will quickly be filtered away in a separate folder.
Visible Intelligence: Just like a reverse Google picture search, this new function will let you seek for something that's in your iPhone display screen. For example, for those who spot a pair of footwear somebody is carrying in an Instagram photograph, you’ll be able to screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to seek out these footwear (or comparable ones) on-line.
Photographs tabs are again: For anybody who's nonetheless pissed off with the Photographs adjustments made final 12 months, you'll be blissful to know that your tabs are coming again. Library and Collections could have their very own separate areas so that you don't must scroll to infinity to seek out what you're searching for.
FaceTime "Communication Security" function: A more recent addition to iOS 26 seems to be the FaceTime "Communication Security" function that pauses communications if and when nudity is detected. The function seems to be a baby security function that makes use of on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privateness points.
Which iPhones will be capable to improve to iOS 26?
A couple of iPhone fashions that run the present model of iOS — iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — gained't be suitable with the newest improve. However any iPhones launched in 2019 or later might be eligible for the iOS 26 replace.
-
iPhone SE (second era or later)
-
iPhone 11
-
iPhone 11 Professional
-
iPhone 11 Professional Max
-
iPhone 12
-
iPhone 12 mini
-
iPhone 12 Professional
-
iPhone 12 Professional Max
-
iPhone 13
-
iPhone 13 mini
-
iPhone 13 Professional
-
iPhone 13 Professional Max
-
iPhone 14
-
iPhone 14 Plus
-
iPhone 14 Professional
-
iPhone 14 Professional Max
-
iPhone 15
-
iPhone 15 Plus
-
iPhone 15 Professional
-
iPhone 15 Professional Max
-
iPhone 16e
-
iPhone 16
-
iPhone 16 Plus
-
iPhone 16 Professional
-
iPhone 16 Professional Max
Not listed below are the presumed new iPhone 17 fashions (or perhaps iPhone 26?) which can be all however sure to be introduced and launched in September.
When will the iOS 26 beta be out there?
As of July 24, the iOS 26 public beta is obtainable to obtain by way of the Apple Beta Software program Program. In case you're not already a member, you'll want to enroll to check out all the newest options. Simply go to beta.apple.com and enroll along with your cellphone quantity or e-mail tackle. It's free.
When you're in, you’ll be able to set up it by going to Settings > Basic > Software program Replace and choosing iOS 26 public beta.
A phrase of warning: Don't enroll along with your predominant iPhone except you're OK with any dangers that happen with utilizing an OS that isn't 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 per week of the Apple iPhone occasion. Final 12 months, it rolled out to iPhone customers on September 16 — precisely one week after the iPhone 16 lineup was introduced.
In case you're extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, right here's every little thing Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and extra 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, July 24: Famous the iOS 26 public beta is now out there.
Replace, July 3: Famous new FaceTime function discovered within the developer beta.
Replace, June 30: Famous ongoing iOS 18 releases, and stories that Apple is contemplating extra exterior LLMs for Siri.
Replace, June 25: Famous adjustments added in iOS 26 beta 2.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cellular/apple-ios-26-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-public-beta-release-new-iphone-features-and-more-135749482.html?src=rss