Apple Elevates the iPhone Experience with iOS 26

Apple has unveiled iOS 26, a significant update that transforms the iPhone experience with a stunning new design, powerful intelligence capabilities, and meaningful improvements to everyday apps. The update introduces Liquid Glass design elements, enhanced connectivity features, and Apple Intelligence integrations that make the iPhone more helpful and expressive than ever before.

A beautiful new design with Liquid Glass

iOS 26 brings a complete visual refresh that makes apps and system experiences more expressive and delightful while maintaining the familiar iOS feel. The new design is crafted with Liquid Glass — a translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings, bringing greater focus to content and adding vitality to controls, navigation, app icons, and widgets.

The redesign extends to both the Home Screen and Lock Screen, making them more personal than ever before. On the Lock Screen, the time fluidly adapts to available space in images, and spatial scenes bring wallpapers to life with a 3D effect when moving the iPhone. App icons and widgets can now be customized with a stunning clear look, adding another layer of personalization.

Many apps receive fresh experiences through updated design elements:

• Camera features a simplified, streamlined layout to keep focus on capturing moments
• Photos app now includes separate tabs for Library and Collections views
• Safari allows web pages to flow from top to bottom edge, showing more content while maintaining access to common actions
• Apple Music, News, and Podcasts feature redesigned tab bars that dynamically adjust as users scroll

Apple Intelligence powers new capabilities

Apple Intelligence is integrated throughout iOS 26, helping users accomplish tasks more easily while unlocking new ways to communicate and interact with on-screen content:

• Live Translation is built into Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, translating text and audio in real-time to help users communicate across languages
• Visual intelligence extends to the iPhone screen, allowing users to search and take action on anything they're viewing across apps
• Genmoji and Image Playground provide creative expression tools, including the ability to mix favorite emoji with descriptions to create something entirely new
• Enhanced Shortcuts with intelligent actions and dedicated features for Writing Tools and Image Playground
• Order tracking capabilities that automatically identify and summarize details from merchant emails

A new Foundation Models framework gives developers direct access to on-device AI that's fast, privacy-focused, and available offline without additional costs.

Staying connected while eliminating interruptions

The Phone app receives a major update with a unified layout that combines Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails in one place. Two standout features help manage unwanted interruptions:

• Call Screening builds on Live Voicemail to gather information from callers, giving users details to decide whether to answer or ignore
• Hold Assist notifies users when a live agent becomes available during hold times

Messages also gets powerful new features to help users manage conversations:

• Message screening for unknown senders, giving users control over who appears in their conversation list
• Custom backgrounds for conversations, including AI-generated options from Image Playground
• Polls to simplify group decision-making
• Typing indicators in group chats
• Apple Cash support in group conversations

Enhanced CarPlay experience

CarPlay receives significant updates in iOS 26, making it more beautiful and easier to use. The redesign includes a compact view for incoming calls that preserves important information like upcoming directions. Other improvements include:

• Tapbacks and pinned conversations in Messages
• Widgets and Live Activities for staying informed without losing focus on driving
• Design updates for CarPlay Ultra, creating a deeply integrated experience across all vehicle screens

Updates to everyday apps

Apple Music

• Lyrics Translation helps users understand words to favorite songs
• Lyrics Pronunciation allows everyone to sing along regardless of language
• AutoMix uses intelligence to transition between songs like a DJ

Apple Maps

• Visited Places helps users remember locations they've been to
• On-device intelligence for understanding daily routes and offering preferred options
• Notifications about delays and alternate route suggestions

Apple Wallet

• Option to pay with installments or rewards for in-store Apple Pay purchases
• Refreshed boarding passes with Live Activities for real-time flight updates
• Convenient access to traveler information including airport maps and Find My integration

Additional features in iOS 26

• Apple Games - A new app providing an all-in-one destination for games, including Apple Arcade titles
• AirPods enhancements - Studio-quality audio recording and camera remote functionality
• Improved parental controls - Easier Child Account creation and enhanced safety features
• Safari privacy - Advanced fingerprinting protection for all browsing by default
• Accessibility improvements - Including Accessibility Reader and Braille Access

Frequently asked questions

With iOS 26, Apple continues its tradition of delivering meaningful updates that enhance the iPhone experience while maintaining privacy and security. The combination of beautiful design, intelligent features, and thoughtful improvements to everyday apps makes this a significant update for iPhone users worldwide.