Getting access to iOS 26 in your iPhone is getting nearer, however the launch continues to be over a month away, coming this fall. However you can begin testing the brand new options now by downloading and putting in Apple’s public beta, which CEO Tim Prepare dinner lately stated is (together with the opposite present beta working techniques) “by far the most well-liked developer betas we’ve had,” 9to5Mac experiences. You can too check out our preview of the iOS 26 public beta launch, which reveals off the contemporary house and lock display screen redesign. Known as Liquid Glass, the brand new translucent look will prolong throughout all of Apple’s upcoming working techniques. The overhaul is considered one of a number of massive modifications coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the remainder of Apple’s software program suite, all of which had been showcased throughout the firm’s WWDC keynote on June 9.
After overpromising on AI plans final 12 months, Apple stored its iOS roadmap centered extra on fundamental high quality of life enhancements this 12 months. There are a number of helpful additions coming to the Cellphone and Messages apps in your iPhone, as an example: Apple execs outlined the flexibility to weed out spam texts or different unknown senders and an possibility to carry your spot on a telephone name once you’ve been ready for a consultant to choose up. Plus, a treasured characteristic that we took as a right 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 12 months,” so that you should not count on any main modifications within the present betas. However there are experiences that Apple is aiming to provide 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 12 months. The corporate can also be reportedly engaged on a ‘stripped-down’ AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT.
With every beta, it looks as if extra new enhancements are popping up, like this FaceTime characteristic that’ll freeze your video if it detects nudity. Now that iOS 26 developer beta 5 is accessible, we’re seeing extra added options, like a brand new bouncy animation on the passcode display screen and within the Management Middle, MacRumors experiences. Some or all of these modifications will doubtless quickly migrate into the separate public beta (see under). Most newer iPhone fashions are eligible to obtain iOS 26 (each the betas and last model). Need to see the complete listing of latest options coming this fall? Learn on.
What’s iOS 26?
The present iPhone working system is iOS 18, and Apple continues to be actively updating it — model 18.6 was only recently launched. However do not count on to see iOS 19. As a substitute, 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, just like automobile mannequin years. So whereas iOS and its sibling working techniques will likely be launched in late 2025, they’re all designated “26” to replicate the 12 months forward. (In the meantime, iOS 18 continues to be getting new variations this summer time, too.)
It is official, we’re transferring to iOS 26. (Apple)
What’s Liquid Glass design?
Let’s be sincere. Out of the whole lot introduced at WWDC this 12 months, the new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone’s house and lock screens have regarded just about the identical 12 months after 12 months — the final thrilling factor (for my part) was the choice so as to add your personal aesthetic to your own home display screen 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. Nonetheless, the display screen 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 Cellphone and Maps. They’re designed to be much less distracting than the present buttons, however are nonetheless straightforward 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 route, even when it is considerably paying homage to Microsoft’s translucent Home windows Vista Aero designs from almost twenty years in the past.
That stated, as of the discharge of the iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already integrated some person suggestions into the design, dialing again the transparency in not less than some locations. And whereas it is going to 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 have 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 listing of latest options. Among the many most worthwhile:
Cellphone app redesign: You will lastly be capable to scroll via contacts, current calls and voicemail messages all on one display screen. It additionally comes with a brand new characteristic referred to as Maintain Help that’ll notify you when an agent involves the telephone so you possibly can 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 by way of telephone 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: Uninterested in sorting via what looks as if lots 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 automobile 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: Much like a reverse Google picture search, this new characteristic will help you seek for something that is in your iPhone display screen. As an example, should you spot a pair of sneakers somebody is sporting in an Instagram picture, you possibly can screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to search out these sneakers (or related ones) on-line.
Images tabs are again: For anybody who’s nonetheless annoyed with the Images modifications made final 12 months, you will be completely happy 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 in search of.
FaceTime “Communication Security” characteristic: A more moderen addition to iOS 26 seems to be the FaceTime “Communication Security” characteristic that pauses communications if and when nudity is detected. The characteristic seems to be a baby security characteristic that makes use of on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privateness points.
New lock display screen choices: The iPhone lock display screen will get extra customizable in iOS 26, with a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper results, extra widgets and higher focus mode choices.
Apple’s Maintain Help will likely be nifty for these pesky companies that put you on maintain for 10 or extra minutes. (Apple)
New modifications coming to iPadOS 26
Your iPad is not getting left behind on the subject of massive updates. This is what’s coming this fall.
Multitasking and actual windowing: While you obtain the latest replace, you’ll have a number of apps working in your display screen on the identical time. When you open an app, it will seem in your display screen as regular however you’ll resize and transfer it throughout your display screen to make room for different apps. This characteristic is non-compulsory so you possibly can flip it off should 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: While you swipe down in your display screen, the brand new menu bar will seem with choices like File, Edit, Home windows and extra. There’s additionally a search possibility should you’re in search of one thing particular.
Checkout our first impressions of iPadOS 26.
What about AirPods?
AirPods are additionally getting up to date with iOS 26. Listed below are among the extra notable capabilities.
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 possibly can take a photograph or begin and cease video recording with only one press in your AirPods. When taking pictures, you will get a three-second countdown earlier than your iPhone or iPad snaps the image.
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 newest improve. However any iPhones launched in 2019 or later will likely be eligible for the iOS 26 replace.
-
iPhone SE (second era or later)
Not listed below are the presumed new iPhone 17 fashions (or possibly iPhone 26?) which might 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 obtainable to obtain by way of the Apple Beta Software program Program. If you happen to’re not already a member, you will want to enroll to check out all the newest 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, you possibly can 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 principal 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 likely 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.
If you happen to’re extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, this 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 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 characteristic on passcode display screen and Management Middle.
Replace, August 4: Famous that Apple is reportedly engaged on a ChatGPT rival.
Replace, August 1: Added quote from Tim Prepare dinner about iOS 26.
Replace, July 31: Famous that iOS 18.6 is now obtainable.
Replace, July 24: Famous the iOS 26 public beta is now obtainable.
Replace, July 3: Famous new FaceTime characteristic 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 modifications added in iOS 26 beta 2.
