Every thing to find out about Apple’s upcoming iPhone and iPad updates

In presumably lower than a month, the annual Apple iPhone occasion will probably be right here, giving us a primary take a look at the iPhone 17 lineup. With that ought to come the official date for downloading the most recent software program replace, iOS 26. When you wait, you may obtain and set up the newly launched public beta 4 (or iOS 26 developer beta 7 for builders). I have been taking part in round with it for the previous couple of weeks, and have discovered that taking screenshots is means higher within the new working system — Google and ChatGPT search choices at the moment are within the screenshots editor, as an illustration. You possibly can see a extra full view of the brand new options in our preview of the iOS 26 public beta launch, which reveals off the contemporary residence and lock display redesign. Known as Liquid Glass, the translucent look will lengthen throughout all of Apple’s upcoming working programs. The overhaul is one in every of a number of huge modifications 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 yr, Apple stored its iOS roadmap targeted extra on primary high quality of life enhancements this yr. There are a number of helpful additions coming to the Telephone and Messages apps in your iPhone, as an illustration: Apple execs outlined the flexibility to weed out spam texts or different unknown senders and an choice to carry your spot on a telephone name whenever you’ve been ready for a consultant to select up. Plus, a treasured function that we took without any consideration is coming again (trace: it is within the Images 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 “within the coming yr,” so that you should not anticipate any main modifications within the present betas. However there are stories that Apple is aiming to present Siri a much bigger mind transplant by basing it on third-party synthetic intelligence fashions like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, which might make 2026 a pivotal yr. The corporate can be reportedly engaged on a ‘stripped-down’ AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT.

With every beta, it looks as if further new enhancements are popping up, like this new AirPods gesture we’re all interested by, and this FaceTime function that’ll freeze your video if it detects nudity. With the discharge of the iOS 26 developer beta 5, we noticed extra added options, like a brand new bouncy animation on the passcode display and within the Management Middle, MacRumors stories. Some or all of these modifications will probably quickly migrate into the separate public beta (see under). Most newer iPhone fashions are eligible to obtain iOS 26 (each the betas and closing model). Need to see the total record of latest options coming this fall? Learn on.

What’s iOS 26?

The present iPhone working system is iOS 18, and Apple remains to be actively updating it — model 18.6.1 was launched to restore Apple Watch blood oxygen monitoring performance for sure customers within the US. Extra lately, Apple launched 18.6.2 to deal with a vulnerability associated to picture processing. Apple has formally stopped signing iOS 18.6, MacRumors stories, which implies it might probably not be put in in your iPhone attributable to a “server-side software program verification test.” That is fairly regular when newer variations can be found to obtain.

However do not anticipate to see iOS 19 quickly — or ever. As a substitute, Apple is skipping the numbering forward to iOS 26 later this yr. The corporate has determined to line up its iOS model numbers with a year-based system, just 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 mirror the yr forward.

What’s Liquid Glass design?

Let’s be sincere. Out of the whole lot introduced at WWDC this yr, the new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone’s residence and lock screens have seemed just about the identical yr after yr — the final thrilling factor (for my part) 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, properly, the apps and widgets are clear. Nevertheless, the display can nonetheless adapt to darkish and light-weight 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 course, 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 integrated some consumer suggestions into the design, dialing again the transparency in no less than some locations. And whereas it is going to proceed to evolve, Apple customers will not be capable of 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 brand 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 of 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 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 flexibility to have a dialog by way of telephone 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: Uninterested in sorting by way of what looks as if tons of of messages in your group chat? You and your mates will quickly be capable of 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: Much like a reverse Google picture search, this new function will assist you to seek for something that is in your iPhone display. For example, for those who spot a pair of footwear somebody is sporting in an Instagram picture, you may screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to search out these footwear (or related ones) on-line.

Images tabs are again: For anybody who’s nonetheless pissed off with the Images modifications made final yr, you will 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 search out what you are searching for.

FaceTime “Communication Security” function: A more moderen 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 toddler 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 modifications coming to iPadOS 26

Your iPad is not getting left behind in relation to huge updates. This is what’s coming this fall.

Multitasking and actual windowing: Once you obtain the latest replace, you’ll 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’ll resize and transfer it throughout your display to make room for different apps. This function is non-obligatory so you may flip it off for those who 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 choice for those who’re searching for one thing particular.

Try our first impressions of iPadOS 26.

What about AirPods?

AirPods are additionally getting up to date with iOS 26. Listed here are a few of the extra notable features.

Enhanced audio recording: Apple calls this “studio-quality” audio recording, and with it, you will discover extra readability whereas in noisy environments.

Digicam distant management: Utilizing this, you may take a photograph or begin and cease video recording with only one press in your AirPods. When taking photographs, you will get a three-second countdown earlier than your iPhone or iPad snaps the image.

Stay translation function: Whereas not formally introduced or confirmed, it seems that the long-rumored stay 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.

Which iPhones will be capable of improve to iOS 26?

A couple of iPhone fashions that run the present model of iOS — iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — will not be appropriate with the most recent improve. However any iPhones launched in 2019 or later will probably be eligible for the iOS 26 replace.

• iPhone SE (second era or later)

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

Find out how to set up iOS 26 beta

The iOS 26 public beta is now out there to obtain by way of the Apple Beta Software program Program. In case 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 enroll along with your telephone quantity or e-mail tackle. It is free.

When you’re in, you may set up it by going to Settings > Normal > Software program Replace and choosing iOS 26 public beta.

A phrase of warning: Do not enroll along with your predominant 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 will probably be launched to the general public this fall. It normally is available in September, inside every 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.

In case you’re extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, here is the whole lot 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, 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 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 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 function on passcode display and Management Middle.

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 out there.

Replace, July 24: Famous the iOS 26 public beta is now out there.

Replace, July 3: Famous new FaceTime function 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 modifications added in iOS 26 beta 2.