Whether you're an Apple fan or a harsh critic, one thing is sure – and it is Apple’s undeniable impact on the world of technology. With a brand value that tops global rankings and revenue of over $390 billion in 2024 alone, Apple's influence is hard to ignore.
Every year, iOS updates take center stage at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, offering a glimpse of what's to come for the iPhone in the future. WWDC 2025 was no exception. This time, the most notable change is symbolic: Apple is aligning the names of its operating systems with the calendar year, so instead of iOS 19, we now see iOS 26. The exact name change applies to iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS, creating a more streamlined and consistent user experience. But iOS 26 isn't just a new name. Apple has introduced a completely redesigned visual style called "Liquid Glass," as well as significant updates to core apps and system features.
In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at what's new in iOS 26, what's changed, and what it means for iPhone users going forward.
WWDC 2025
On June 9, 2025, Apple kicked off its annual multi-day Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) at Apple Park — a landmark event for fans and developers alike.
As expected, the focus at WWDC was on software. Apple unveiled major updates to all of its operating systems, introducing radical changes to the user interface, new features, new apps, and a greater emphasis on Apple Intelligence. A particular highlight was the debut of the new "Liquid Glass" design style, which gives Apple's platforms a refreshed, modern look.
Despite some familiar moments, including Apple catching up with Android on features that Google introduced several years ago, this year's presentation felt particularly forward-looking. While Siri didn't get much attention, Apple Intelligence and user interface updates took center stage.
Although beta testing will begin in June, the stable version of iOS 26 is expected to be released in September 2025, alongside the launch of the iPhone 17 series, continuing Apple's tradition of combining major software and hardware releases each fall.
What to expect from the new iOS 26 update?
The announcement of iOS 26 has sparked a wave of mixed reactions — some praise the new update, while others question the changes. However, one thing is clear: Apple is striving to make the iPhone brighter and more transparent. Here's a look at the main features and updates users can expect in iOS 26:
Liquid Glass design
The presentation of Liquid Glass, Apple's new cross-platform design language and the most significant user interface overhaul since iOS 7, sparked heated discussions online. Debuting in iOS 26, the new aesthetic signals a shift towards a lighter, bolder, and more transparent iPhone experience across the board.
VisionOS-inspired Liquid Glass provides the entire Apple ecosystem, including iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, with a glass-like, semi-transparent look. It introduces a new "transparent mode" alongside the traditional light and dark modes, giving icons and interface elements a frosted or transparent glass look. This visual layer adapts to content in real-time — for example, menu buttons in Safari can subtly reflect the colors of a web page as you scroll, changing color.
Apple has also redesigned navigation elements to match the new look. Toolbars and controls now feature rounded corners and a semi-transparent overlay, allowing users to view the app's content underneath. These elements aren't just static decorations — they respond to what's happening on the screen. For example, the clock on the lock screen can expand or contract depending on how much visual space the background content occupies.
iOS 26 also dispenses with the traditional "squircle" design, instead preferring more rounded app icons. The more rounded design is consistent with the overall aesthetic direction of iOS 26 and affords a feeling of warmth and friendliness. Animated transitions further enhance user engagement as icons smoothly transition from one state to another, creating a smoother and more fluid interaction.
This refined, responsive interface adds subtle depth and interactivity without sacrificing clarity, creating a lighter, more intuitive, and more vibrant experience across all devices. Liquid Glass will be available on supported Apple devices starting this fall.
Operational System
With iOS 26, Apple is issuing one of the most significant updates to its operating system in recent history, both in terms of visual design, functionality, and even naming. Apple is abandoning the traditional version numbering in favor of a year-based naming scheme across all of its operating systems. That means what would have been iOS 19 is now iOS 26, which aligns with iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26. This round of updates is not just an update but a complete evolution of the Apple ecosystem.
In addition to renaming, iOS 26 introduces significant improvements to everyday features:
The Phone app has a new combined view that unites Favorites, Recent, and Voicemail in a single scrollable hub.
Call Filtering enables unknown callers to declare the purpose of the call before you answer, and Apple Intelligence can automatically transcribe voice messages.
Hold Assist will even wait on hold until someone answers.
The Messages app is also more innovative, with the ability to screen unknown text messages and add polls to group chats for easier planning and coordination.
Lock screen wallpapers also receive 3D motion effects, which turn your photos into interactive animated backgrounds.
iPadOS 26
iPadOS 26 as already mentioned above also brings the new Liquid Glass interface to Apple tablets, creating a more elegant and transparent design. But the most notable feature is the updated windowing system. Now, in the lower right corner of apps, there is a drag handle that allows users to freely resize and reposition windows. You can pin apps to the sides, arrange them in custom grids, or scatter them however you like. With Exposé, you can quickly view all open windows and switch between them.
МacOS Tahoe
Apple's latest desktop OS, macOS Tahoe, has similarly received a major visual update with a new Liquid Glass interface. Inspired by Lake Tahoe, the design features semi-transparent docks, toolbars, and sidebars that reduce clutter and free up more space for content, bringing macOS in line with the look and feel of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26.
Spotlight has been significantly updated on macOS 26 desktop computers and can now perform direct actions such as launching recordings, viewing clipboard history, or launching tools for specific apps — all from the search bar. Quick Commands has also been improved: automations can be triggered by time, device connections, or even integrated with Apple Intelligence for instant content creation.
Additionally, macOS Tahoe adds practical power. The Phone app is now available on Mac and syncs with your iPhone to show recent calls, contacts, and support Hold Assist and Call Screening features.
WatchOS 26
WatchOS 26 has also been updated, adding smarter and more intuitive features to your wrist. One feature that particularly stands out is Workout Buddy — a new feature powered by Apple Intelligence that uses your personal workout history to provide real-time information during your workouts. It tracks your progress, shares stats such as your total distance run in a year, and congratulates you on your achievements with personalized comments. Notifications have also been updated. WatchOS 26 can now adjust the volume of notifications based on your environment — louder in quiet places, quieter in noisy ones. In addition, a new wrist gesture lets you easily dismiss calls or mute them with a single flick of your wrist. It's a more adaptive and responsive Apple Watch, designed to move with you.
Together, these updates represent a bold reimagining of Apple's entire software ecosystem — more innovative, more refined, and more integrated than ever before.
Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence in iOS 26 takes the iPhone to new heights by making it even more effortless for users to accomplish tasks, express themselves in multiple languages, and interact with the screen.
One standout feature is Live Translation, now natively included in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone. It translates text and audio during conversations, allowing individuals to speak naturally in other languages. Most importantly, it is powered by Apple language models, ensuring the conversation remains private and secure.
Visual Intelligence, an extension of Apple Intelligence, enables users to interact with any content displayed on the iPhone screen. Whether it is querying ChatGPT for content on the screen, looking up similar images or products on sites like Google or Temu, or recognizing events and automatically suggesting calendar entries with complete information, this feature enhances the usefulness and convenience of the content on the screen.
For even more personal self-expression, Genmoji and Image Playground offer lighthearted, flexible tools for creating entirely new visual material. Users can combine emojis, personal Genmoji, and text captions to create custom stickers and drawings for messaging or social media.
Quick Commands have also been upgraded, featuring smarter, context-based actions powered by Apple Intelligence. Users can automate more tasks than ever before, for example, composing text or pictures with new tools like Writing Tools and Image Playground or activating quick commands based on time, activity, or app usage.
In everyday usage, Apple Intelligence can now extract and summarize order tracking information directly from emails, even if placed outside of Apple Pay, gathering all delivery updates in one place. With these new features, iOS 26 isn't simply appearance-tweaked — it's much more capable, secure, and simple to use.
Camera and Photos
Apple has radically simplified the Camera and Photos apps in iOS 26, continuing its transition to more transparent and more user-friendly interfaces. The Camera app, already known for its simplicity, is now even closer to a minimalist design. Cluttered icons and multi-level controls, which made it challenging to access advanced features, are gone. Instead, there is a new, elegant interface with only two main controls: Camera and Video.
Users can now swipe left or right to switch between modes, swipe up to open frequently used settings such as aspect ratio, flash, and timer, and tap to access more detailed settings. The goal is to make the interface intuitive for everyday users.
The Photos app has also received a long-awaited update. In response to user feedback about previous cluttered versions, Apple has restored clarity with a bottom menu inspired by Liquid Glass technology. The new layout simplifies viewing, organizing, and editing photos by eliminating the confusion of the old interface with endless scrolling. Users can quickly switch between views, apply edits, and share content without needing to navigate multi-level menus.
Games App
iPhone games are more popular than many people think, according to Apple. With iOS 26, Apple is catering to this audience with the release of the Games app, a new hub dedicated entirely to mobile gaming.
Instead of browsing the entire App Store, gamers now have a dedicated space where they can discover new games, view personalized recommendations, and see what their friends are playing. It also provides simplified access to Apple Arcade, a game subscription service, allowing users to jump into their favorite games with ease.
The Games app is installed by default in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26, demonstrating Apple's renewed commitment to gaming across all Its platforms. This new app is designed to make gaming faster and more accessible.
CarPlay
CarPlay in iOS 26 lets you stay focused on the road while staying connected. The redesigned interface ensures that critical information, such as maps, remains visible even during calls or notifications. The new compact look for calls shows who's calling without blocking navigation, and widgets and Live Activities now display real-time information such as flight status or calendar updates directly on the dashboard. Messaging in CarPlay has also been improved with Tapbacks and pinned conversations, allowing you to stay connected at a glance.
These updates extend to CarPlay Ultra, which debuted May 15, 2025, on Aston Martin DBX, Vantage, DB12, Vanquish in the US/Canada, offering a more unified and immersive experience that combines the power of the iPhone with your car's built-in displays. Used more than 600 million times a day, CarPlay is now more seamless, practical, and convenient for drivers than ever before.
Apple Music
Apple Music in iOS 26 offers several thoughtful updates that improve the listening and singing experience. A new lyrics translation feature lets users understand the meaning of their favorite songs, even if they're written in another language. In addition, the lyrics' pronunciation feature helps people sing with confidence by suggesting how words are pronounced, making it perfect for karaoke nights or those learning a new language.
Another feature is AutoMix, a DJ-style feature that utilizes time stretching and beat matching to transition seamlessly from one track to the next. This feature keeps your playlists or workouts energized by creating a more seamless, curated sound without any manual effort.
Maps
In iOS 26, Apple Maps takes personalization to a new level. The new "Places" feature allows users to view a history of places they've visited, including restaurants, shops, and parks. This feature is optional, and you can choose how long to keep the data — 3 months, 6 months, a year, or forever. The data is protected with end-to-end encryption and is not accessible to Apple.
In addition to tracking your history, Maps now remembers your daily routes. It can determine your route to work or frequently traveled routes and warn you of possible delays or traffic jams before you leave, suggesting alternative routes with minimal obstacles. This update makes your iPhone more like a proactive travel companion that quietly optimizes your day in the background.
Apple Wallet
The Wallet app is becoming even more valuable and versatile in iOS 26. One of the major updates is the ability to pay in installments or with rewards using Apple Pay when shopping in stores, giving users more flexibility and control over their spending.
For travelers, boarding passes have received a long-awaited update. They now show Live Activities for real-time flight updates directly on the lock screen. You'll also receive valuable additions, such as airport maps, Find My integration for tracking luggage, and the ability to share your boarding pass status with friends and family, allowing them to follow your journey.
Bottom Line
Whether you love Apple or prefer Android, there's no denying that Apple impresses the tech world every year, and iOS 26 is no exception. With a stunning new Liquid Glass design, deeply integrated Apple Intelligence, an updated Photos app, and a smarter Siri, this update offers a glimpse into the future of mobile technology, making this operating system even more appealing.
FAQ:
What is the biggest change in iOS 26?
A standout feature of iOS 26 is the new Liquid Glass design – elegant, transparent, and dynamic, adding depth, movement, and a more immersive experience to the iPhone interface.
What is the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26?
Liquid Glass is a new visual style with a translucent, glass-like interface inspired by visionOS. It features rounded app icons, dynamic toolbars, and animations that adapt to on-screen content for a vibrant, intuitive experience.
What is Apple Intelligence, and how does it work?
Apple Intelligence is Apple’s built-in AI system that powers features like innovative writing tools, AI-generated Genmoji, personalized notifications, and smarter Siri interactions—all processed on-device or in secure cloud environments.
What’s new in the Photos app?
The Photos app has been redesigned to help users easily find their best memories. It introduces automatic event groupings, collections, pinned albums, and seamless navigation—all powered by Apple Intelligence.
What is the new Games app in iOS 26?
The Games app is a dedicated hub for discovering games, accessing Apple Arcade, and viewing personalized recommendations and friend activity. It’s pre-installed on iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26.
What are the key new features in iOS 26?
Key features include the Liquid Glass redesign, Live Translation in Messages and Phone, Visual Intelligence for screen content interaction, a simplified Camera app, a new Games app, and enhanced Apple Maps with personalized route tracking.
