Listed here are all the brand new options and...

It is true: Apple’s iOS 26 (not iOS 19) is coming your approach this fall with some cool new options you will need to attempt. For these of us who’ve been loyal to the iPhone for almost 20 years, we’re most excited concerning the recent residence and lock display redesign. Dubbed Liquid Glass, the brand new appear and feel will lengthen throughout all of Apple’s upcoming working programs. The overhaul was certainly one of a number of massive 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. 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 12 months, Apple stored its iOS roadmap targeted extra on primary 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 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 while 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 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 “in the coming year,” so that you should not count on any main adjustments within the present betas. However there are reviews that Apple is aiming to present Siri an even bigger mind transplant by basing it on third-party artificial intelligence models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, which might make 2026 a pivotal 12 months.

Maintain studying to take a look at essentially the most notable options coming to your iPhone this fall, in accordance with Apple. Additionally, make certain 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 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 will probably be launched in late 2025, they’re all designated “26” to replicate the 12 months forward. (In the meantime, iOS 18 is still getting new versions this summer, too.)

What’s Liquid Glass design?

Let’s be sincere. Out of every little thing introduced at WWDC this 12 months, the new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone’s residence and lock screens have regarded 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 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, properly, the apps and widgets are clear. Nonetheless, the display can nonetheless adapt to darkish and lightweight modes, relying on environment. You will 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 path, even when it is considerably harking back to Microsoft’s translucent Windows Vista Aero designs from almost twenty years in the past.

That stated, as of the newly launched iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already incorporated some user feedback into the design, dialing again the transparency in not less than some locations. And whereas it would proceed to evolve, Apple customers will not be capable to escape it: Liquid Glass was designed to make all of Apple’s OSes extra cohesive. This is a take 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 record of latest options. Among the many most worthwhile:

Telephone app redesign: You will lastly be capable to scroll by way of contacts, latest calls and voicemail messages all on one display. It additionally comes with a brand new function known 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 Telephone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the power to have a dialog through 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: Bored with sorting by way of what looks as if tons 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 are consuming at or whose automotive you take on a street journey.

Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you have not acquired 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: Just like a reverse Google picture search, this new function will can help you seek for something that is in your iPhone display. 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 seek out these sneakers (or comparable ones) on-line.

Pictures tabs are again: For anybody who’s nonetheless annoyed with the Photos changes made last year, you will be pleased 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 on the lookout for.

Which iPhones will be capable to improve to iOS 26?

Just a few 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 probably be eligible for the iOS 26 update.

Not listed below are the presumed new iPhone 17 models (or possibly iPhone 26?) which might be all however sure to be introduced and launched in September.

When will the iOS 26 beta be accessible?

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 out to be available in July through the Apple Beta Software Program. When you’re not already a member, you will want to enroll to check out all the most recent options. Simply go to beta.apple.com and join along with your telephone quantity or e mail handle. It is free.

When you’re in and the beta is on the market, 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: Do not join along with your important iPhone until 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 probably 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.

When you’re extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, this is everything Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and more throughout WWDC. Additionally, take a look at how iOS 26 screenshots could possibly be an intriguing preview of Apple’s delayed Siri rework.

Replace, June 30: Famous ongoing iOS 18 releases, and reviews that Apple is contemplating extra exterior LLMs for Siri.

Replace, June 25: Famous adjustments added in iOS 26 beta 2.

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