Apple’s iPhone 17 occasion is about to run on Tuesday, September 9. Which means we must always lastly get the thin on the presumed iPhone 17 lineup — together with the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air — in lower than per week. (Within the meantime, we now have a breakdown of how one can watch the iPhone 17 launch.)
Assuming Apple sticks to custom, this additionally means we must always have the ability to set up iOS 26 a couple of week or so after the showcase. However you do not 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. (See our preview of the iOS 26 public beta launch for more information.) The very first thing you may discover is a brand new clear design language Apple dubs Liquid Glass. The translucent look could be discovered inside apps in addition to your lock and residential screens. The overhaul is one in all a number of large adjustments coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the remainder of Apple’s software program suite
After overpromising on AI plans final yr, Apple saved 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 Cellphone and Messages apps, for example: Apple execs outlined the flexibility to weed out spam texts or unknown senders and an possibility to carry your spot on a cellphone name whenever you’ve been ready for a consultant to choose up.
It looks like extra new enhancements are popping up (or at the least hinted at) with every beta, resembling an AirPods dwell translation function 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 remaining model). We have rounded up a full checklist of recent options coming this fall under.
What’s iOS 26?
The present iPhone working system is iOS 18, which Apple continues to be actively updating — 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 just lately, Apple launched iOS 18.6.2 to deal with a vulnerability associated to picture processing. Apple has formally stopped signing iOS 18.6, MacRumors experiences, which suggests it may well now not be put in in your iPhone attributable to a “server-side software program verification examine.” That is fairly regular when newer variations can be found to obtain.
However do not count on to ever see an iOS 19. As an alternative, Apple is skipping its naming conference 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 techniques shall be launched in late 2025, they’re all designated “26” to replicate the yr forward.
It is official, we’re transferring to iOS 26. (Apple)
What’s Liquid Glass design?
Let’s be sincere. 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 regarded just about the identical yr after yr — 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 materials” since, nicely, the apps and widgets are clear. Nevertheless, 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 Cellphone 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 Devindra Hardawar — like the brand new path, even when it is considerably harking back to Microsoft’s translucent Home windows Vista Aero designs from practically twenty years in the past.
That stated, 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 at the least some locations. And whereas it is going to proceed to evolve, Apple customers will not have the ability to escape it: The corporate says Liquid Glass was designed to make all of its platforms extra cohesive. This is 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 checklist of recent options. Among the many most worthwhile:
Cellphone app redesign: You will lastly have the ability to scroll by way of contacts, latest calls and voicemail messages all on one display. It additionally comes with a brand new function 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.
Dwell Translation in Cellphone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the flexibility to have a dialog through 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: Bored with sorting by way of what looks like lots of of messages in your group chat? You and your folks will quickly have the ability to create polls in group messages for deciding issues like which brunch spot you are consuming at or whose automotive you are taking on a highway 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 mean you can seek for something that is in your iPhone display. For example, in case you spot a pair of footwear somebody is sporting in an Instagram picture, you may screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to seek out these footwear (or comparable ones) on-line.
Pictures tabs are again: For anybody who’s been annoyed with final yr’s adjustments to the Pictures app, you may be glad 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 searching for.
Digital camera app updates: Navigating the Digital camera app must be less complicated in iOS 26, as all of the buttons and menus are in handy spots — much less swiping, extra picture taking. Plus, there is a new function that tells you in case your lens must be cleaned.
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 baby security function that makes use of on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privateness points.
New lock display choices: 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 will now not be caught with the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms. As an alternative, you may have the choice to vary your snooze time from one to fifteen minutes.
Screenshots look completely different: You will discover a number of new options whenever 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 could have concerning the picture.
Apple’s Maintain Help shall be nifty for these pesky companies that put you on maintain for 10 or extra minutes. (Apple)
New adjustments coming to iPadOS 26
Your iPad is not getting left behind with regards to large updates. This is what’s coming this fall.
Multitasking and actual windowing: Once you obtain the latest replace, you can have a number of apps working in your display on the identical time. When you open an app, it’s going to seem in your display as regular however you can resize and transfer it throughout your display to make room for different apps. This function is optionally available so you may flip it off in case you do not 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 in case you’re searching for one thing particular.
There’s extra past that, so remember to try 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 may 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 may get a three-second countdown earlier than your iPhone or iPad snaps the image.
Dwell translation function: Whereas not formally introduced or confirmed, it seems that the long-rumored dwell 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 is triggered by urgent each earbud stems on the identical time. The picture additionally reveals 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 yr, 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 yr,” so that you should not count on any main adjustments within the present betas. However there are experiences that Apple is aiming to present Siri an even 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 yr. 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 number of 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 from 2019 or later shall be eligible for iOS 26:
iPhone SE (second technology or later)
Not listed below are the 4 presumed iPhone 17 fashions which can be all however sure to be introduced and launched in September.
Learn how to set up iOS 26 beta
The iOS 26 public beta is now accessible to obtain through the Apple Beta Software program Program. For those who’re not already a member, you may want to enroll to check out all the most recent options. Simply go to beta.apple.com and enroll along with your cellphone quantity or e-mail handle. It is free.
When you’re in, you may set up it by going to Settings > Common > Software program Replace and choosing iOS 26 public beta.
A phrase of warning: Do not enroll along with your essential iPhone except 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 shall 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. Because the iPhone 17 occasion falls on September 9 this yr, it is attainable the downloads will hit our telephones on September 16.
For those who’re extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, here is every little thing Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and extra throughout WWDC. Additionally, try 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 are actually accessible to obtain.
Replace, August 18: Added particulars a couple of 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 accessible 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 function 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 Cook dinner about iOS 26.
Replace, July 31: Famous that iOS 18.6 is now accessible.
Replace, July 24: Famous the iOS 26 public beta is now accessible.
Replace, July 3: Famous new FaceTime function discovered within the developer beta.
Replace, June 30: Famous ongoing iOS 18 releases, and experiences that Apple is contemplating extra exterior LLMs for Siri.
Replace, June 25: Famous adjustments added in iOS 26 beta 2.
