The much-anticipated iOS 26 is going to roll out today in the US markets. Apple iPhone fans have been waiting eagerly for this newly designed iOS. There have been a lot of speculations about its design language, Integration with AI, and security. So, today, we are going to shed light on what this new operating system is going to have.
“Liquid Glass” Design Language
The first thing you are going to notice about this OS is the system UI. The buttons, widgets, and controls are going to be more translucent and refractive. The look reflects and refracts what’s beneath. Looks beautiful to say the least.
“iOS 26 shines with the gorgeous new design and meaningful improvements to the features users rely on every day, making iPhone even more helpful,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “Experiences are more expressive and personal, from the Lock Screen and Home Screen, to new capabilities across Phone and Messages that help users focus on the connections that matter most. And with powerful new Apple Intelligence capabilities integrated across the system, users can get things done easier than ever”, he added further.
There will be more expressive customizations for the home screen and lock screen. You can customize widget/app icon styles, floating/tab bars that dynamically shrink or expand depending on scroll, wallpapers with ‘spatial scenes’, which are a 3D effect when moving the iPhone.
Another change you’re going to see is in the Camera app, Photos, Safari, etc. Apple has updated the layouts to match the design refresh.
So, it’s going to be a slightly different wine in a slightly different looking bottle, Pun Intended 😀
Apple Intelligence / AI-Powered Features
Now, Apple has added live translation in real time in Phone, Messages, FaceTime, and on-device (i.e., privacy-focused). This allows you to translate spoken or written language without sending data to the cloud. But this is for supported languages and/or devices.
Visual Intelligence: With this feature, you can now interact with content onscreen, like search products, ask questions, and extract info directly from what you see. Makes things a lot easier, right?
Genmoji / Image Playground: Apple has added improved tools for image/emoji generation/self-expression. I personally am not a fan of emojis and all, but people like them a lot, so this new updated feature will definitely be a hit among them.
Automated Order-Tracking: iOS 26 can identify orders from emails, even those not done from Apple Pay. Then, it will summarize those orders so that the purchase info is more visible.
Better Communication / Call / Message Tools
Redesigned Phone app: Many of your favorite apps, like Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails, are united in a simpler layout. Then there is a feature named ‘Call Screening’, which helps you see who’s calling/why, and Hold Assist (notifies you when a held call is with a real person). This feature is added to reduce spam or unknown calls.
Messages Improvements: You can create polls in chats and use custom backgrounds. This OS comes with better filtering, which separates unknown senders from spam. Notifications from unknown senders will be suppressed unless they are time-sensitive. Another unique feature to see in iOS 26 is Natural-Language search inside messages.
Improvements in System Apps: Games, Maps, Music, and Wallet
- Maps: Tracking places you often visit, like restaurants and shops, for better predictions of daily routes using on-device intelligence. It’ll also suggest alternate routes if there are delays or congestion in the usual routes.
- Wallet: Redesigned boarding passes with Live Activities (for flights, etc). You can get access to the most relevant info in airports, rewards/instalments options when using Apple Pay in stores.
- Apple Music: Lyrics Translation and Pronunciation, which is going to help you understand and sing along across languages. Apple is adding an AutoMix as well for smarter transitioning of songs like a DJ.
- Games: You will get a new “Games” app, which is going to be a unified hub for all your games, including Apple Arcade, etc.
Privacy & Accessibility Enhancements
- Advanced fingerprint protection in Safari is enabled by default.
- Better parental controls, which make it easier to create/move child accounts, parental approval for contacts, stricter content safety in FaceTime / Shared Albums, etc.
- Accessibility Features: Apple has added Accessibility Reader, a customized systemwide reading experience, Braille Access for devices with braille displays, improvements to Live Listen, Background Sounds, etc.
CarPlay Updates
- More integrated experience (CarPlay Ultra), with a unified design across screens in the car.
- Compact call view (so incoming calls don’t block navigation). Messages enhancements (Tapbacks, pinned convos), widgets / Live Activities in CarPlay.
What’s not (or Less) New / Things to Note
- Some features depend on device support (newer iPhones, certain chipsets) and language settings. Apple is not going to roll out all AI features universally from day one.
- ‘Liquid Glass’ is a design overhaul; it has nothing to do with the core functionality of the apps. Just their UI/UX will look slightly polished.
- Incremental vs Radical: Many features build on what was already present (e.g., translations, message, filtering, maps routing) but with smarter, more AI-assisted, and better design.
Which iPhones Will Receive iOS 26 Update?
Any iPhone with an A13 Bionic chip or newer. Specifically:
- iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation, 2020)
- iPhone 12 series (12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max)
- iPhone 13 series (13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max)
- iPhone 14 series (14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max)
- iPhone 15 series (15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max)
- iPhone 16 series (16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, and “16e”)
- iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the iPhone “Air” (newest models)