What to Know
- Apple announced new iOS software June 9, during its WWDC 2025 keynote address.
- Apple's new iPhone operating system is called iOS 26 and gives your iPhone interface a bold redesign.
- The developer beta was released on June 9, and the public beta will be available in July, with the general release coming in Fall 2025.
When iOS 7 came out, Apple completely redesigned its iPhone operating system to give it a fresh, modern look. Twelve years later, the tech giant is doing it again with an overhaul to change not just how your iPhone looks, but how it functions, too. At its WWDC conference on June 9th, Apple announced iOS 26, which introduces a translucent, glassy design to the entire interface, along with a ton of new features.
Release Dates & Compatibility
- Availability: iOS 26 will be available this fall, most likely in early to mid-September. The developer beta was released today, June 9th, for testing, with the public beta scheduled to release in early July. We recommend against installing beta software unless you are particularly tech-savvy, since betas can be buggy and unstable. If you are interested in trying out the iOS 26 beta, make sure you take the proper steps when installing the beta.
- Compatibility: iOS 26 is not available for a few older iPhones due to compatibility issues. While iOS 18 was available for all iPhones after the iPhone XS, Apple’s newest update will only be available on iPhone 11 and newer. As with iOS 18, all new Apple Intelligence features will only be available on the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and newer.
Now, let's dive into the new features coming to your iPhone this year. To stay in the know on the latest iOS 26 news, be sure to sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter.
An Elegant New Design
Apple has introduced a new design called "Liquid Glass" to iOS 26. This glassy appearance originated with visionOS and will be used across all Apple operating systems to unify the user experience for each device. The translucent effect of Liquid Glass helps you see through design elements like the Dock or your widgets. This means things like the address bar in Safari and various menus will become less obtrusive, leaving more room for you to see websites, photos, and other content.
Not only that, but different elements of the user interface will dynamically move out of the way to adapt to the space on your screen. For example, the Lock Screen clock might start larger and shrink upward as notifications come in. Or when you browse the web in Safari, the address bar will shrink to the bottom of the display so that you can stay immersed in the content you’re viewing, and then pop back in when you scroll up.
New Apple Intelligence Features, but No Sign of New Siri
While Apple originally promised an upgraded, AI-powered Siri in iOS 18, it failed to deliver. Today, the company announced that these new features are still not ready, but that it would be sharing more information throughout the year. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other Apple Intelligence features coming with iOS 26.
Arguably, the biggest AI feature in this update is Live Translation. As the name implies, this handy tool automatically translates your texts in real time. So if you’re texting with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you, you can type the text in your native language, and the Messages app will instantly provide a translation into the recipient’s language.
Live Translation also works in phone calls and FaceTime calls. Whenever you speak during a phone call, an AI voice will automatically repeat your words into the language of your choice. During FaceTime calls, you’ll see on-screen subtitles that translate everything the speaker says.
That’s not all that’s new with Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence now extends beyond your camera to your iPhone screen. So, for example, if you come across an image of a jacket that you like, you can snap a screenshot and use Visual Intelligence to find that exact jacket either through a Google search or through an app like Etsy.
There are also new upgrades coming to Image Playground. In iOS 26, you will be able to generate Genmojis within the Image Playground app and use ChatGPT to generate images.
New Communication Features for Messages & Phone Apps
In 2025, everyone is bombarded with calls and texts every day, and Apple is looking to make things a little easier for everyone with Call Screening. Whenever you receive a call from an unknown number, your iPhone will silently answer the call on your behalf and ask the caller for their name and why they are calling. Once that happens, your iPhone will begin ringing, and you can see the caller’s name and their reason for calling.
Similarly, whenever you receive a text from an unknown number, your iPhone will quietly filter it into a dedicated folder in the Messages app, where you can mark the number as known, respond, or delete the message.
Another new call feature is that when your iPhone detects hold music, it will ask if you want to use Hold Assist. This feature quiets and minimizes the call until a live agent is available. When your iPhone detects that someone is speaking, you’ll receive a notification, and you can instantly jump back into the call.
The Messages app is also getting a couple of cool new upgrades. With the new update, you will be able to use polls in group chats to facilitate group decision-making. You’ll also be able to see typing indicators in group chats, so you know who is typing.
For all conversations, both individual and group chats, you can customize the chat background using pre-selected images or your own photos. You can also use Image Playground to generate backgrounds.
Other New Features
In the Music app, you’ll be able to see translated lyrics for songs in other languages, including pronunciations, so that you can sing along. There will also be an AutoMix feature that smoothly transitions between songs as a DJ would.
Maps will save places that you visit, and you’ll be able to see a list of recently visited locations. The app will also learn your most commonly used routes and suggest them when you start navigation.
There will also be a dedicated Games app in iOS 26, where you can find gaming recommendations, read news about games you play, see what your friends have been playing, and more.
Final Thoughts
The new “Liquid Glass” design of iOS 26 looks great and functional. I am slightly worried that the translucent elements could make it difficult to read labels or find certain controls, but I’m excited to give it a try and check out all of the new features. While it’s disappointing that the new AI-powered Siri has been delayed further, the new Apple Intelligence features look exciting and more useful than some of the previously introduced functionality. Here’s hoping that iOS 26 can live up to user expectations. Meanwhile, iPadOS 26 is also getting a significant overhaul.
