The watch for accessing all the brand new Apple iOS 26 options remains to be a pair months away. Nonetheless, now you can obtain and set up the general public beta if you happen to're itching to see what's coming this fall. Choose extra of a guided tour? Try our preview of the iOS 26 public beta launch, which incorporates the contemporary residence and lock display screen redesign we've been asking to see for years. Dubbed Liquid Glass, the brand new feel and look will lengthen throughout all of Apple's upcoming working methods. The overhaul was one in every of a number of large modifications coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the remainder of Apple's software program suite, all of which had been showcased throughout the firm's WWDC keynote on June 9.
After overpromising on AI plans final yr, 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 flexibility to weed out spam texts or different unknown senders and an choice to carry your spot on a cellphone 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 Pictures 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 reviews that Apple is aiming to provide Siri an even 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 yr.
With every beta, it looks like further 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). Wish to see the total record of recent 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 yr. 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 can be launched in late 2025, they're all designated "26" to mirror 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 trustworthy. Out of every little thing introduced at WWDC this yr, the brand new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone's residence 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 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, nicely, the apps and widgets are clear. Nonetheless, 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 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 route, even when it's considerably harking back to Microsoft's translucent Home windows Vista Aero designs from almost 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 no less than some locations. And whereas it can proceed to evolve, Apple customers received't be capable of 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 recent options. Among the many most worthwhile:
Cellphone app redesign: You'll lastly be capable of scroll by contacts, latest 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.
Dwell Translation in Cellphone, 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. Dwell 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 folks will quickly be capable of create polls in group messages for deciding issues like which brunch spot you're consuming at or whose automobile you're taking over a street 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 can help you seek for something that's in your iPhone display screen. As an example, if you happen to spot a pair of sneakers somebody is sporting in an Instagram picture, you’ll be able to screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to search out these sneakers (or comparable ones) on-line.
Pictures tabs are again: For anybody who's nonetheless annoyed with the Pictures modifications made final yr, you'll be completely satisfied to know that your tabs are coming again. Library and Collections may have their very own separate areas so that you don't need to scroll to infinity to search out what you're in search of.
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 toddler security function that makes use of on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privateness points.
Which iPhones will be capable of improve to iOS 26?
Just a few iPhone fashions that run the present model of iOS — iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — received't be appropriate with the most recent improve. However any iPhones launched in 2019 or later can be eligible for the iOS 26 replace.
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iPhone SE (second era 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 out there?
As of July 24, the iOS 26 public beta is out there 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 most recent options. Simply go to beta.apple.com and join along with your cellphone quantity or e-mail handle. It's free.
When you're in, you’ll be able to set up it by going to Settings > Common > Software program Replace and deciding on iOS 26 public beta.
A phrase of warning: Don't join along with your foremost 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 can 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.
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 could possibly 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 reviews 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-public-beta-is-live-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-iphone-features-and-how-to-use-them-135749325.html?src=rss