It's true: Apple's iOS 26 (not iOS 19) is coming your manner this fall with some cool new options you'll need to attempt. For these of us who've been loyal to the iPhone for practically twenty years, we're most excited in regards to the recent house and lock display screen redesign. Dubbed Liquid Glass, the brand new appear and feel will prolong throughout all of Apple's upcoming working methods. The overhaul was one in every of a number of massive modifications coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the remainder of Apple's software program suite, all of which had been showcased through the firm's WWDC keynote on June 9. When you're a developer, you’ll be able to take a look at the iOS 26 beta 2 now; the general public beta coming in July.
After overpromising on AI plans final yr, Apple saved its iOS roadmap centered extra on primary high quality of life enhancements this yr. There are a number of helpful additions coming to the Cellphone and Messages apps in your iPhone, for example: Apple execs outlined the flexibility to weed out spam texts or different unknown senders and an choice to carry your spot on a telephone name whenever you've been ready for a consultant to choose up. Plus, a treasured function that we took with no consideration is coming again (trace: it's within the Images 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 yr," so that you shouldn't count on any main modifications within the present betas. However there are studies that Apple is aiming to offer Siri a much bigger mind transplant by basing it on third-party synthetic intelligence fashions like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude, which may make 2026 a pivotal yr.
Preserve studying to take a look at essentially the most notable options coming to your iPhone this fall, in accordance with Apple. Additionally, be certain that your iPhone is eligible to obtain the iOS 26 replace (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, just like automotive mannequin years. So whereas iOS and its sibling working methods might be launched in late 2025, they're all designated "26" to replicate the yr forward. (In the meantime, iOS 18 remains to be getting new variations this summer time, too.)
What’s Liquid Glass design?
Let's be sincere. Out of all the things introduced at WWDC this yr, the brand new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone's house and lock screens have regarded 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 house 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 lightweight modes, relying on environment. You'll 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 path, even when it's considerably paying homage to Microsoft's translucent Home windows Vista Aero designs from practically twenty years in the past.
That stated, as of the newly launched iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already integrated some person suggestions into the design, dialing again the transparency in not less than some locations. And whereas it’ll proceed to evolve, Apple customers received't have the ability to escape it: Liquid Glass was designed to make all of Apple's OSes extra cohesive. Right here's a have 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 recent options. Among the many most worthwhile:
Cellphone app redesign: You'll lastly have the ability to scroll by way of contacts, latest 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’ll be able to keep away from the elevator music and proceed on with different duties.
Reside Translation in Cellphone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the flexibility 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 ends up in some stop-and-go interactions within the examples Apple shared throughout its presentation.
Polls in group chats: Uninterested in sorting by way of what looks as if a whole lot of messages in your group chat? You and your folks will quickly have the ability to create polls in group messages for deciding issues like which brunch spot you're consuming at or whose automotive you're taking up a highway journey.
Filtering unknown senders in Messages: When you haven't acquired 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: Much like a reverse Google picture search, this new function will can help you seek for something that's in your iPhone display screen. For example, if you happen to spot a pair of sneakers somebody is sporting in an Instagram photograph, you’ll be able to screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to search out these sneakers (or comparable ones) on-line.
Images tabs are again: For anybody who's nonetheless pissed off with the Images modifications made final yr, you'll be pleased to know that your tabs are coming again. Library and Collections could have their very own separate areas so that you don't should scroll to infinity to search out what you're in search of.
Which iPhones will have the ability to improve to iOS 26?
A number of iPhone fashions that run the present model of iOS — iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — received't be suitable with the newest improve. However any iPhones launched in 2019 or later might be eligible for the iOS 26 replace.
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iPhone SE (second technology or later)
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iPhone 11
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iPhone 11 Professional
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iPhone 11 Professional Max
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iPhone 12
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iPhone 12 mini
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iPhone 12 Professional
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iPhone 12 Professional Max
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iPhone 13
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iPhone 13 mini
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iPhone 13 Professional
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iPhone 13 Professional Max
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iPhone 14
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iPhone 14 Plus
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iPhone 14 Professional
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iPhone 14 Professional Max
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iPhone 15
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iPhone 15 Plus
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iPhone 15 Professional
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iPhone 15 Professional Max
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iPhone 16e
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iPhone 16
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iPhone 16 Plus
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iPhone 16 Professional
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iPhone 16 Professional Max
Not listed below are the presumed new iPhone 17 fashions (or possibly iPhone 26?) which can be all however sure to be introduced and launched in September.
When will the iOS 26 beta be obtainable?
When you're a developer, you’ll be able to take a look at the iOS 26 beta 2 now. The iOS 26 public beta will turn into obtainable in July by way of the Apple Beta Software program Program. When 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 join together with your telephone quantity or electronic mail handle. It's free.
When you're in and the beta is accessible, you’ll be able to set up it by going to Settings > Normal > Software program Replace and deciding on iOS 26 public beta.
A phrase of warning: Don't join together with your primary 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 yr, it rolled out to iPhone customers on September 16 — precisely one week after the iPhone 16 lineup was introduced.
When you're extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, right here's all the things 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, 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.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cellular/apple-ios-26-here-are-all-the-new-features-and-improvements-for-the-new-iphone-operating-system-135749944.html?src=rss