Apple's iOS 26 is here, promising a host of innovative features and enhancements designed to revolutionize the user experience. Unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 9, 2025, this latest iteration of Apple's mobile operating system brings a refreshed design, intelligent features, and improvements to core functionalities. It is expected to be released in September 2025, alongside the new iPhone 17 series. A public beta is anticipated to be released in July 2025.

One of the most striking changes in iOS 26 is the introduction of the "Liquid Glass" design. This new aesthetic brings a fresh, translucent look to the user interface, reminiscent of the design language first seen on the Apple Vision Pro. The Liquid Glass design extends across the entire system, from the Lock Screen and Home Screen to Control Center and native apps. App icons receive a makeover with updated light and dark appearances, color-tinted options, and an "All Clear" look, offering users a new level of personalization. The Lock Screen also gets a dynamic update, with the time fluidly adapting to the photo and surrounding space, and spatial scenes bringing wallpapers to life with a 3D effect.

Communication receives a significant boost in iOS 26, with enhancements to the Phone and Messages apps. The Phone app introduces Call Screening, which automatically answers calls from unknown numbers and only notifies you when the caller shares their name and reason for calling. Hold Assist keeps your spot in line when you're on hold and notifies you when a live agent is ready. Messages gains the ability to create polls within conversations, add custom backgrounds, and send/receive Apple Cash in group chats. Natural language search, powered by Apple Intelligence, makes it easier to find specific information within your messages. Live Translation is now integrated into Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, providing real-time translation of messages and conversations.

Apple Intelligence plays a central role in many of the new features in iOS 26. Visual Intelligence allows you to search, ask questions, and take action based on the content on your iPhone screen. The Reminders app becomes smarter with AI-powered suggestions for new tasks and grocery items, as well as automatic categorization of task lists. In Messages, Apple Intelligence suggests poll categories and enables custom background generation through Image Playground. Apple Wallet leverages AI to extract order tracking information directly from emails.

The Camera and Photos apps receive significant updates in iOS 26. The Camera app gets a streamlined interface with fewer distractions, focusing on the essential controls for capturing photos and videos. The Photos app reintroduces tabs for Library and Collections, and photos gain the same 3D effects as the Lock Screen, dynamically adjusting based on the iPhone's tilt.

CarPlay also gets a refresh with the Liquid Glass design, offering a more compact interface and new features. Widgets are now available in CarPlay, allowing you to focus on the information that matters most, and Live Activities keep you updated on important events.

Several smaller, but welcome, additions include the ability to set a custom snooze length for alarms, AirPods pausing media playback when you fall asleep, and the option to create reminders from the Action button (on supported iPhones). Apple Music adds full-screen animated album art to the Lock Screen, and the Notes app gains markdown export.

It's important to note that some of the advanced features in iOS 26, particularly those powered by Apple Intelligence, require the advanced neural processing capabilities of the A17 Pro chip (found in the iPhone 15 Pro and later models). These features include Live Translation, Shortcuts Actions with AI features, Reminders suggestions and organization, Messages background generation and poll suggestion, Apple Wallet order tracking, and enhanced Genmoji and Image Playground features.

With its redesigned interface, intelligent features, and enhancements to core functionalities, iOS 26 promises to be a significant upgrade for iPhone users. The new Liquid Glass design brings a fresh aesthetic, while Apple Intelligence powers a range of features that make everyday tasks easier and more efficient. As the release date approaches, anticipation is building for what could be one of Apple's most transformative iOS updates yet.