iOS 26 launch date, new options, beta newest and iPhone compatibility

iOS 26 design and interface adjustments

• New Liquid Glass design language
• Basic decluttering and simplifying of the interface and app menus

Apple

The most important change in iOS 26 is a visible one: a daring new redesign referred to as Liquid Glass.

What’s Liquid Glass?

The brand new design incorporates a graphical person interface that Apple is looking Liquid Glass, which creates a translucent impact that mimics the qualities of glass.

The brand new Liquid Glass design language represents the largest change to iOS since iOS 7 was launched in 2013. Again then, Apple dropped the skeuomorphic design in favor of flat symbolic icons. This time every thing is extra curved, much less flat, with translucent parts reflecting or refracting the content material within the background, and resizing to suit round what’s onscreen. The Liquid Glass parts may even change colour to replicate the content material beneath as you scroll, and will probably be doable to see blurred and refracted parts of the background by means of the highest layer.

Apple says that it’s going to really feel extra like interacting with the bodily world, with parts dynamically reacting to your contact. The corporate additionally says the adjustments “blur the strains between {hardware} and software program”.

This new Liquid Glass design extends to all Apple merchandise and apps. You’ll see the translucent impact on the Dock, widgets and icons. Panes, home windows, buttons and menus will probably be offered as translucent layers with specular highlights.

Preliminary suggestions to the brand new Liquid Glass design was unfavorable with some beta testers complaining that content material wasn’t seen because of the overlaying of menus over background photos, later variations of the beta have dialled this again to make the menus extra seen.

iOS 26 interface adjustments 

Apple

Apple says iOS 26 may even see design adjustments that simplify app interfaces to make the controls extra seen. Apple is making it simpler to search out the instruments you often use, with out the litter of all the opposite options you don’t want.

Apple is adapting the interface to focus extra on what’s on the display screen slightly than cowl issues with instruments and menu bars. Menus will shrink as you scroll to disclose the content material under. Apple can be eradicating a few of the litter from menus to simplify issues and emphasise the extra ceaselessly used choices. For instance, slightly than occupying an oblong bar on the backside of the display screen, teams of controls will seem on floating parts that come out extra controls, change as you progress between views, and are tucked away if you scroll.

These adjustments to the menus are designed to make it simpler to entry the options you utilize most frequently, and uncover others. Apple is attempting to make iOS and its apps extra intuitive. 

A great instance of how these design adjustments will probably be utilized is the Lock Display screen, which will probably be extra adaptive. The picture you select as your wallpaper will probably be scaled to suit the peak and width of the Lock Display screen and positioned to fill the accessible house round parts just like the time. Moreover, the wallpaper picture will slide up as notifications are available.

Apple Intelligence in iOS 26

• New Siri AI options not anticipated till later in 2026
• Enhancements nonetheless anticipated for Visible Intelligence, Genmoji, and Picture Playground at launch

Apple has been having bother with a few of its AI efforts, particularly the Siri options that had been touted at WWDC 2024. Apple had promised that iOS 18.4 would deliver a significant replace to Siri, the place it could be higher at pure conversations with the person, utilizing private context, consciousness of what’s onscreen, and the power to carry out in-app actions.

Apple has since confirmed that these Siri-related options have been pushed again till 2026, which suggests they need to come as an replace to iOS 26, maybe in March, however we might be ready even longer.

Apple nonetheless had numerous spectacular Apple Intelligence powered options to indicate off at WWDC although. In actual fact, a few of the new options coming to Highlight on the Mac appear to be a few of the options promised for Siri.

A few of these new Apple Intelligence options will make a huge impact in apps, particularly the Telephone app, which we are going to focus on under. One other beneficiary of Apple Intelligence is Visible Intelligence, which was launched in iOS 18 and positive factors a really helpful capability in iOS 26.

Visible Intelligence

IDG

In iOS 18 you need to use Visible Intelligence by holding up the iPhone to view one thing you might be interested by, triggering Visible Intelligence (through the Digicam Management button in case you have one, or through the Management Centre if not) and viewing details about what you had been pointing the digital camera at. It may determine a constructing, or provide so as to add the date from a poster to your calendar, for instance. That’s all very properly if you end up out and about, however what about if you end up simply searching the net and need to know the place one thing somebody is carrying is from or the place a video is being filmed?

In iOS 26 will probably be doable to take a screenshot and search for details about that picture and merchandise in it utilizing Visible Intelligence. You may as well ask ChatGPT for details about the screenshot. 

Genmoji

Apple

Additionally benefitting from Apple Intelligence is Genmoji, one other function that arrived with iOS 18. Genmoji permits you to create customized emoji utilizing AI. To create a Genmoji you sort an outline within the Describe an Emoji subject and faucet on Create New Emoji. You need to use photographs of individuals you realize as a foundation and refine the emoji till it represents what you might be on the lookout for. The emoji will then be accessible in your emoji keyboard to make use of.

In iOS 26 the Genmoji interface is getting a redesign. Customers will be capable to combine two emoji collectively, or alter an current emoji to create one thing new, and even mix an emoji and a Sticker (which might be created from a photograph). Customers will be capable to additional customise emoji inside Picture Playground, altering expressions.

Picture Playground

Picture Playground, which is Apple’s app for making AI-generated photos, arrived in iOS 18 and is getting an replace in iOS 26. In iOS 26 will probably be doable to make use of ChatGPT types and prompts, akin to an oil portray in addition to these offered by Apple to create photos in Picture Playground.

Overhauled Telephone app in iOS 26 

• Name Screening solutions the decision, finds out why they’re calling, and allows you to know earlier than you determine whether or not or to not take the decision
• Maintain Help stops you needing to take a seat in a queue to be linked with an agent
• Voice Mail textual content summaries shortly floor a very powerful particulars of missed calls

With every iteration of iOS the set of apps Apple offers grows and evolves, and lots of the adjustments coming to the apps on the iPhone are shared by those self same apps on Apple’s different units. iOS 26 isn’t any totally different.

This time a few of the upcoming adjustments are going to be fairly transformative to how you utilize the telephone – and by which we imply the phone facet to the iPhone.  

The telephone app won’t be the one we use essentially the most, however as Apple says, it’s elementary to the iPhone. With iOS 26 the telephone app is getting a giant replace that basically turns it right into a PA and a spam filtering device. 

Apple is tapping into Apple Intelligence to deliver new Voice Mail summaries to floor a very powerful info, however much more thrilling, it’s aiming to eradicate undesirable calls with a brand new Name Screening possibility that may reply the decision within the background, ask the caller to elucidate their motive for calling, after which present a textual content abstract of these particulars to you earlier than you determine whether or not or to not take the decision. In fact, this may occasionally make it tougher to disregard calls from folks you ought to really communicate to, however will probably be a great way to siphon off spam and hoax calls from unknown numbers.

That’s not all. One other new function is Maintain Help, which can routinely detect maintain music and mute the decision till it’s linked to an agent. Because of this, you will get issues completed with out having to maintain your telephone speaker taking part in irritating maintain music till somebody solutions. When an agent turns into free they are going to be knowledgeable that you’re there and your telephone will ring alerting you to the connection and you may take the decision. It’s going to be like having your personal receptionist. 

One other change within the Telephone app ought to make it unattainable to by chance faucet on contact within the Recents listing and name them. At the moment, when you faucet on a reputation in your Recents listing it can routinely name that individual. A brand new setting will mean you can flip off “Faucet Recents to Name”.

Dwell Translations in iOS 26

• Actual-time voice translations in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish
• Translated Dwell Captions in FaceTime video calls
• Automated translations in Messages
• Lyrics in your language in Apple Music

Coming to the Telephone app, but additionally current as a function in Messages and FaceTime, is Dwell Translations. It will aid you talk with somebody who speaks one other language.

With this function it is possible for you to to have a dialog with some who speaks a special language to you. If you’re conversant in the Hitchhiker’s Information to the Galaxy that is virtually on the degree of getting a Babel Fish.

If you’re chatting with somebody through the telephone app, the iPhone will translate what’s being mentioned, with a spoken voice translating what has been mentioned into your language. The recipient may even hear translations in their very own language. Apparently, they don’t must have an iPhone. The primary restriction proper now’s that Dwell Translation for Telephone is on the market just for one-on-one calls in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.

As we mentioned above, it’s not solely the Telephone app that may get the Dwell Translation options. FaceTime and Messages will as properly. And Translation can be discovering its method into the Music app.

FaceTime translations

When chatting with somebody through FaceTime you will notice real-time captions in your personal language. Dwell Captions aren’t fully new to FaceTime, you may already activate that performance in Accessibility > Dwell Captions – though this solely works in case your language is about to English U.S.

In addition to the brand new Dwell Translation function, FaceTime additionally will get adjustments to the interface designed to floor the controls you want whereas maintaining the caller seen. For instance, controls float to the underside proper and recede if you don’t want them. 

The FaceTime name listing additionally will get a brand new look, with video messages autoplaying as you scroll. 

Messages translations

Apple

If you’re utilizing Messages to speak with somebody who speaks a special language what you sort is translated into their language and vice versa.

As with the telephone, Messages is getting a screening device to fight spam. On-device spam detection gives you “complete management over who seems in your dialog listing,” in keeping with Apple.

It’s already doable to filter out spam through the use of the Unknown Senders listing in Messages, however in iOS 26 Messages could have a larger capability to display screen for spam, and it’ll ensure you nonetheless obtain verification codes and different important or time-sensitive messages.

Additionally in Messages it is possible for you to so as to add a background picture to Group Chats, and a brand new choice to create a ballot will probably be accessible. Messages will even recommend a ballot if a state of affairs requires one. Anybody can add choices to the ballot. 

Those that have entry to Apple Money (nonetheless U.S. solely) can even entry this from group chats. 

Apple

A small however good replace coming to Messages is the power to copy elements of a textual content, slightly than the entire thing. That is a kind of incomprehensible failures of Messages on iPhone proper now: the one possibility is to repeat your complete message, paste it, after which edit out what you don’t need. When utilizing Messages on the Mac you may simply copy the a part of the Message you want. It’s a protracted overdue function for iPhone Messages.

Apple Music lyric translations

Apple

In Apple Music it is possible for you to to observe the lyrics alongside the interpretation into your personal language. For some languages you’ll even see a pronunciation information.

Additionally coming to the Music app is a brand new auto-mix possibility that makes use of AI to fade between songs and match beats like a DJ would, animated Apple Music paintings possibility for the Lock Display screen, and interface adjustments that ought to make it quicker and simpler to get to the music you might be into. For instance, you may pin your favorite album or playlist to the highest of your library.

Overhauled Digicam & Images apps in iOS 26

• Redesigned Digicam app hides away much less widespread capturing modes to declutter the interface
• Fast entry to extra widespread settings
• Add 3D results to photographs

In iOS 26, Apple is redesigned digital camera app, hiding a lot of the lesser used digital camera capturing modes and choices to simplify the more and more cramped structure and giving customers fast entry to settings.

Within the Images app there would be the capability so as to add 3D results to photographs.

We’ve got a separate article protecting find out how to use the iOS 26 Digicam app, together with the place to search out digital camera modes and options, find out how to change seize settings and find out how to use AirPods as a distant.

New Video games app in iOS 26

• Discover video games which can be good for you
• Shortly uncover all of your beforehand performed video games
• Problem associates to battle
• Extra constant contact controls throughout video games

Apple

Apple is lastly tidying up the gaming expertise on the iPhone with a brand-new Video games app.

Apple says it’s creating a brand new vacation spot to assist its avid gamers get extra out of their video games. The Video games app will provide numerous tabs to make discovering the video games you might be taking part in or have performed simpler. The House tab reveals what’s most related to you. The Library tab exhibits all of the video games you’ve got ever downloaded. 

There’s additionally a Play Collectively tab the place you may see what your folks are taking part in, play video games with them, examine scores, and invite them to play video games. You may problem them to beat your highest rating in single participant video games. Turning single-player video games into enjoyable competitions with associates, with scores in actual time. This will probably be Apple’s second try and get customers to attach socially: keep in mind iTunes Ping? (Apple would in all probability slightly you forgot).

One other change coming to gaming on iPhone (and iPad) is a brand new consistency to how contact controls are utilized in video games. Builders engaged on an iPhone or iPad sport that requires extra superior controls have at all times needed to design their very own contact controls, and this may be inconsistent. In iOS 26, Apple will present its personal contact controls for buttons, thumbsticks, dpads, throttles, and touchpads.

Extra app adjustments in iOS 26

Apple Pockets

Like Apple Money lots of the new Apple Pockets options are U.S. solely, akin to the power so as to add Drivers Licenses to Apple Pockets. 

Apple says there will probably be extra methods to pay with Apple Pay in iOS 26, for instance you may redeem factors or select to pay in instalments. That function is at the moment accessible in 9 states. From the autumn Apple says will probably be doable so as to add a U.S. passport, however just for use for flights contained in the U.S. 

There will probably be a brand new API for builders to reap the benefits of, enabling them to offer prospects with extra info inside the Pockets app, akin to particulars of the providers included with the fare and improve choices that may be accessed from inside the Pockets app.

You may as well observe Apple Pay orders, with Apple Intelligence discovering the order particulars and monitoring info and maintaining them collectively for you. 

Passwords

The Passwords app, launched in iOS 18, is getting an replace. You may test adjustments that you just’ve made to accounts logged within the Passwords app, view earlier passwords that had been used for these accounts, and see once they had been altered.

Passkeys

As well as, Apple is introducing enhancements to iOS 26 that may make utilizing passkeys simpler. Passkeys is an authentication methodology that replaces conventional passwords with safety keys and biometrics. Many apps and web sites already present assist for passkeys and, with the iOS 26 replace, will probably be doable for iPhone and iPad apps to allow customers to create a passkey with only a faucet. Passkeys might be authenticated with Face ID or Contact ID, and credentials will probably be synchronized between your Apple units through iCloud.

Autofill

It’ll even be doable to pre-fill private knowledge, akin to identify and electronic mail, so that you now not should waste time filling in lengthy sign-up types. Even higher, iOS 26 will be capable to autofill verification codes from Gmail and WhatsApp. Verification code autofill can also work in Google Chrome; at the moment verification codes work solely with Apple’s Safari browser.

Apple Maps 

Apple

The Maps app will get an replace, now utilizing Apple Intelligence to grasp your common commutes and be taught your favorites. With this info will probably be capable of warn you when you ought to take a special route as a result of heavy visitors. 

One other change to Maps is that it may possibly log (with encryption) Visited Locations, which can make it simpler to search out and recall locations you’ve got been to prior to now. It’s simple to delete this historical past, too. 

Reminders

In iOS 26, Reminders will recommend issues akin to duties and grocery objects, plus follow-ups based mostly in your emails or different textual content in your iPhone, Mac, and extra.

Notes

Notes will achieve Markdown.

Climate

Satellite tv for pc-based reporting.

Clock

You’ll lastly be capable to set a sleep length of between one and quarter-hour, slightly than being caught with set eight-minute snoozes!

Additionally, you will achieve the power to set alarms from inside different apps. For instance, you can set an alarm from inside a recipe app with out you needing to open the Clock.

New options in iOS 26

There are many different adjustments coming to iOS, a lot of which can enhance the general person expertise.

AirPods: Pause Media When Falling Asleep

Current AirPods ought to get some new options because of the iOS 26 replace. These embrace a brand new function that may allow AirPods to pause once they sense the wearer has fallen asleep. Code within the iOS 26 beta signifies that this function is tied to iOS 26, slightly than the AirPods line particularly – it could even work on Apple’s Beats headphones.

As well as, will probably be doable to simply change between totally different audio enter units – so you can change from AirPods as devoted microphones to a different system, for instance.

Working duties within the background

iOS 26 could have a brand new API for operating duties within the background. So, you received’t should preserve an app open once they’re doing one thing necessary, akin to importing information or exporting a video. Customers can change to different apps with out interrupting the earlier process.

Adaptive Energy Mode

This function goals to increase battery life by adjusting efficiency based mostly on utilization patterns. The place Low Energy Mode throttles your iPhone’s efficiency and kills sure background actions to save lots of power, Adaptive Energy Mode makes smaller changes to your iPhone’s efficiency based mostly on how you utilize it. Because of this the affect needs to be subtler, and probably one thing customers may carry on always.

Battery Intelligence: AI-powered battery administration

iOS 26 will introduce a function dubbed Battery Intelligence. This presents the estimated charging length to succeed in 80% (then 100%) when linked to a charger – so you know the way lengthy you have to to vary your iPhone earlier than you may depart the home.

A new adaptive low energy mode has been noticed within the iOS 26 developer beta. This doesn’t exchange the common low energy mode (that’s nonetheless round) however as an alternative makes use of machine studying to make changes that might assist eke out somewhat extra juice out of your battery.

As well as, the Lock Display screen will now show estimated charging occasions to hit 80 p.c and 100% battery energy.

RCS Common Profile 3.0 and different Android ‘pleasant’ options

Assist for RCS Common Profile 3.0 could are available an replace to iOS 26. RCS 3.0 will encrypt iPhone-to-Android messages, and provide different options to make speaking between iPhones and Android telephones extra seamless. At the moment, Android customers can edit a message inside quarter-hour of it being despatched – this works in iOS 18.5 and the iOS 26 developer beta however the iPhone shows the edited message as a brand new one with an asterisk slightly than changing the message with the edited message.

iPhone customers are capable of edit messages despatched to different iPhones, however they aren’t but capable of edit RCS messages despatched to an Android telephone. RCS 3.0 must also make this accessible to iPhone customers.

There even be simplified eSIM switch from Android.

iOS 26 launch date

• First seen at WWDC on June 9, 2025
• Announcement of ultimate model anticipated September 9, 2025
• Probably accessible to obtain on September 15, 2025

iOS 26 isn’t out but, at the very least not for most people. It will likely be accessible to put in on suitable iPhones in September. It will probably occur shortly after the September 9 occasion and the launch of the iPhone 17 and new Apple Watches – we predict September 15, 2025.

iOS 26 Beta launch date

• Newest Developer Beta: Model 6 second launch, August 14, 2025
• Newest Public Beta: Beta 3 August 14, 2025

You don’t have to attend till the total launch to check out the brand new software program. Apple runs a developer beta and a public beta for individuals who need to check out the brand new options earlier than they’re launched to most people. Each betas are free, although the developer beta requires a free registration as a developer.

The primary model of the iOS developer beta was launched following the WWDC keynote, so builders may instantly start testing it with their merchandise. This beta just isn’t steady and there have been studies of points from those that put in it right away. Apple up to date the primary developer beta a number of days after the launch. As of August 14, the developer beta is in model 6.

Apple launched the primary Public Beta on July 24. It corresponds with the second launch of Developer Beta 4 (construct 23A5297m). Model three of the general public beta arrived on August 14.

Between WWDC and the official launch within the fall, Apple will launch a string of beta releases, usually eight or so in complete. We’ve got a separate article that particulars find out how to be part of Apple’s beta software program program so you may take a look at the brand new software program as quickly because the beta arrives.

Anybody utilizing the beta is inspired to file bug studies utilizing the included Apple’s Suggestions Assistant app in order that the corporate can deal with them. If you wish to be taught extra concerning the beta learn: What’s within the newest iOS beta and find out how to get it. Additionally ensure you learn why we advise in opposition to putting in the iOS beta in addition to why you shouldn’t set up the iOS 26 public beta but.

iOS 26 supported units

• iOS 26 is a free software program replace for iPhone 11 and later
• The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max will miss out on iOS 26

Apple has confirmed the next iPhones will get iOS 26:

• iPhone 16e (2025)
• iPhone 16/16 Plus/16 Professional/16 Professional Max (2024)
• iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Professional/15 Professional Max (2023)
• iPhone 14/14 Plus/14 Professional/14 Professional Max (2022)
• iPhone SE (third gen) (2022)
• iPhone 13/13 mini/13 Professional/13 Professional Max (2021)
• iPhone 12/12 mini/12 Professional/12 Professional Max (2020)
• iPhone SE (2nd gen) (2020)
• iPhone 11/11 Professional/11 Professional Max (2019)

When Apple updates the working system for its units it typically signifies that sure fashions should not suitable with the replace. The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, which had been supported by iOS 18 and launched in 2018, will miss out on iOS 26. 

This doesn’t imply that these 2018 iPhones are unsupported by Apple. Apple will proceed to challenge security-related software program updates to iOS 18 for a number of extra years. Examine how lengthy iPhones are supported to search out out which iPhones are now not supported with safety updates. 

Nor does this imply that every one the supported iPhones get all the brand new options. As was the case in 2024, solely sure iPhones can assist Apple Intelligence powered options. That’s the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max and the entire of the iPhone 16 vary. Which means that in case your telephone isn’t a kind of talked about you miss out on options such because the Visible Intelligence and Genmoji updates, in addition to the Telephone app capability to handle your undesirable calls. 

Learn the way the brand new iOS compares with the present model in our comparability of iOS 26 vs iOS 18: What’s totally different, what’s new, and must you replace?