Prepare: The Apple iPhone 17 occasion is on Tuesday, September 9, which is lower than per week away. (Right here's how one can watch the iPhone 17 launch on YouTube.) We'll lastly get the main points on the brand new iPhone 17 lineup — and, assuming Apple sticks to custom, meaning we must always have the ability to set up iOS 26 a few week or so after the occasion.
However you don't have to attend to check out the brand new options, since you may obtain and set up the newly launched public beta 6 or iOS 26 developer beta 9 for builders. (See our preview of the iOS 26 public beta launch for more information.) The very first thing you'll discover is a brand new clear aesthetic referred to as Liquid Glass. The translucent look could be discovered inside your apps, in addition to your lock and residential screens. The overhaul is certainly one of a number of large adjustments 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.
After overpromising on AI plans final 12 months, Apple stored its iOS roadmap centered extra on primary high quality of life enhancements with iOS 26. There are a number of helpful additions coming to the Telephone and Messages apps, as an example: Apple execs outlined the power to weed out spam texts or unknown senders and an possibility to carry your spot on a cellphone name while you've been ready for a consultant to choose up.
It looks like further new enhancements are popping up with every beta, reminiscent of an AirPods reside translation characteristic and a brand new bouncy animation on the passcode display and within the Management Heart. A few of these adjustments have already migrated into the separate public beta. Most newer iPhone fashions are eligible to obtain iOS 26 (each the betas and last model). We've rounded up a full checklist of latest options coming this fall beneath.
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 final month, for instance, to revive Apple Watch blood oxygen monitoring performance for sure customers within the US. Extra not too long ago, Apple launched iOS 18.6.2 to deal with a vulnerability associated to picture processing. Apple has formally stopped signing iOS 18.6, MacRumors reports, which implies it might probably not be put in in your iPhone resulting from a "server-side software program verification verify." That's fairly regular when newer variations can be found to obtain.
However don't count on to ever see an iOS 19. As an alternative, Apple is skipping the numbering forward to iOS 26. (Apple can also be anticipated to launch iOS 18.7 on the identical time, per MacRumors, to deal with safety points.) 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 methods will likely be launched in late 2025, they're all designated "26" to mirror the 12 months forward.
What’s Liquid Glass design?
Let's be sincere. Out of every part introduced at WWDC this 12 months, 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 12 months after 12 months — the final thrilling factor (for my part) was the choice so as to add your personal aesthetic to your house 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 materials" since, effectively, the apps and widgets are clear. Nevertheless, the display 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 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 path, 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 person suggestions into the design, dialing again the transparency in no 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 checklist of latest options. Among the many most worthwhile:
Telephone app redesign: You'll lastly have the ability to scroll by way of contacts, current calls and voicemail messages all on one display. It additionally comes with a brand new characteristic referred to as Maintain Help that'll notify you when an agent involves the cellphone so you may keep away from the elevator music and proceed on with different duties.
Stay Translation in Telephone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the power to have a dialog through 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: Bored with sorting by way of what looks like lots 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're consuming at or whose automotive you're taking over a highway journey.
Filtering unknown senders in Messages: Should 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: Just like a reverse Google picture search, this new characteristic will assist you to seek for something that's in your iPhone display. As an example, if you happen to spot a pair of sneakers somebody is carrying in an Instagram photograph, you may screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to search out these sneakers (or related 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 completely satisfied 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 searching for.
Camera app updates: Navigating the Digital camera app is less complicated in iOS 26, as all of the buttons and menus are in handy spots — much less swiping, extra photograph taking. Plus, there's a brand new characteristic that tells you in case your lens must be cleaned.
FaceTime "Communication Security" characteristic: A more recent addition to iOS 26 seems to be the FaceTime "Communication Security" characteristic that pauses communications if and when nudity is detected. The characteristic seems to be a baby security characteristic 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'll not be caught with the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms. As an alternative, you'll have the choice to vary your snooze time from one to fifteen minutes.
Screenshots look different: You'll discover a number of new options while you take a screenshot, together with "spotlight to go looking," the choice to go looking your picture on Google and ChatGPT is there for any questions you have got concerning the picture.
New adjustments coming to iPadOS 26
Your iPad isn't getting left behind in the case of large updates. Right here's what's coming this fall.
Multitasking and actual windowing: Once you obtain the latest replace, you'll have the ability to have a number of apps operating in your display on the identical time. When you open an app, it'll seem in your display as regular however you'll have the ability to resize and transfer it throughout your display to make room for different apps. This characteristic is non-compulsory so you may flip it off if you happen to don't 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 possibility if you happen to're searching for one thing particular.
Take a look at our first impressions of iPadOS 26.
What about AirPods?
AirPods are additionally getting up to date with iOS 26. Listed below are a number of the extra notable capabilities.
Enhanced audio recording: Apple calls this "studio-quality" audio recording, and with it, you'll discover extra readability whereas in noisy environments.
Digital camera 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'll get a three-second countdown earlier than your iPhone or iPad snaps the image.
Stay translation characteristic: Whereas not formally introduced or confirmed, it seems that the long-rumored reside translation for AirPods might be coming with iOS 26. The proof comes from a system asset noticed within the in iOS 26 beta displaying a gesture that's triggered by urgent each earbud stems on the identical time. The photograph additionally exhibits phrases in a number of completely different languages.
Coronary heart price monitoring (rumored for now): Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes Apple will introduce new AirPods Professional earbuds this 12 months, which may have coronary heart price monitoring. It might 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 "within the coming 12 months," so that you shouldn't count on any main adjustments within the present betas. However there are stories 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 12 months. The corporate can also be reportedly engaged on a "stripped-down" AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT.
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 — received't be suitable with the newest improve. However any iPhones launched in 2019 or later will likely be eligible for the iOS 26 replace.
-
iPhone SE (second technology 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 16
-
iPhone 16 Plus
-
iPhone 16 Professional
-
iPhone 16 Professional Max
-
iPhone 16e
Not listed below are the presumed new iPhone 17 fashions 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 out there to obtain through the Apple Beta Software program Program. Should 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 together with your cellphone quantity or e mail tackle. It's 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: Don't enroll together with your fundamental iPhone until 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 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 12 months, 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 12 months, it's potential the downloads will hit our telephones on September 16.
Should you're extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, right here's every part Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and extra throughout WWDC. Additionally, take a look at how iOS 26 screenshots might be an intriguing preview of Apple's delayed Siri rework.
Replace, September 4: Added particulars about how screenshots are completely different in iOS 26.
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 Digital camera 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 price 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 at the moment are out there 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 out there 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 characteristic 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 Prepare dinner about iOS 26.
Replace, July 31: Famous that iOS 18.6 is now out there.
Replace, July 24: Famous the iOS 26 public beta is now out there.
Replace, July 3: Famous new FaceTime characteristic discovered within the developer beta.
Replace, June 30: Famous ongoing iOS 18 releases, and stories that Apple is contemplating further 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/cell/ios-26-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-iphone-update-ahead-of-the-apple-event-next-week-135749288.html?src=rss