Today marks a significant milestone for Apple users as the iOS 26 software update is officially available for all compatible devices, including the iPhone 11, iPhone SE 2, and later models. This latest update brings a host of exciting features, with the standout being Apple’s innovative Liquid Glass design, which transforms the user interface into a sleek, glossy aesthetic. Other notable enhancements include a new call screening assistant, a revamped gaming app, in-app translation capabilities, and updates to the popular Genmoji and Image Playground applications.
In an unexpected shift, Apple has made a substantial jump from iOS 18 to iOS 26. This change serves two primary purposes: First, it aims to synchronize all of Apple’s operating systems—iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and VisionOS. Second, the new numbering reflects the year when the majority of users are expected to adopt this update.
The introduction of the Liquid Glass design marks a significant visual overhaul for iOS, drawing inspiration from the Vision Pro interface. Elements within the interface appear as if they are crafted from translucent glass, which presents challenges regarding readability and background visibility. Since the launch of beta versions in June, Apple has made several adjustments to enhance the "glassy" appearance. While the stable version of iOS 26 is now live, users can anticipate further visual refinements aimed at improving usability and clarity in the months ahead.
The Phone app has undergone a significant redesign, presenting a unified interface that displays favorites at the top in a card format, alongside recent calls and voicemails. Users can easily filter these sections individually using the new filter button. For those who prefer the traditional interface, Apple offers an option to revert to the classic look.
A standout feature of iOS 26 is the call screening function, which enhances user experience by prompting unknown callers to provide their name and the purpose of their call. This feature not only reduces unwanted interruptions but also allows users to engage in conversations when they choose. Additionally, a holding assist function notifies users when an agent resumes the call after being placed on hold.
The Messages app now supports features typical of competing chat applications, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, introducing customizable backgrounds, improved conversation flow, polls, and typing indicators in group chats. Furthermore, Apple has refined its SMS filtering capabilities, automatically sorting messages from unknown senders into a dedicated folder.
The Games app has also received a significant overhaul, consolidating information about current and past games, arcade titles, challenges, and achievements. Users can now easily view what games their friends are playing, fostering a more social gaming experience.
iOS 26 introduces the Preview app from Mac to iPhones, streamlining the process of editing, annotating, and signing PDFs. Apple Music now features automixing for seamless song transitions, alongside new tools for lyrics translation and pronunciation. Users can also pin their favorite songs and playlists for quick access.
Apple Maps has enhanced its navigation capabilities, allowing users to define preferred routes and receive notifications about traffic or incidents, accompanied by alternative route suggestions. The app now includes a new places library for easy access to previously visited locations.
The Camera app adopts the Liquid Glass design, simplifying mode selection with only Video and Photo options visible by default. Users can effortlessly switch between modes by scrolling left or right, while essential controls like Flash and Night mode are conveniently located on the top right.
While this year's iOS update is less focused on AI compared to last year's launch of Apple Intelligence, it still includes valuable AI-powered translation features within apps like Messages, FaceTime, and Phone. Currently supporting multiple languages, iOS 26 also introduces live translation on the latest AirPods models. The visual intelligence feature enhances user interaction with on-screen content, allowing users to ask questions or add events to their calendars seamlessly.
iOS 26 introduces customizable snooze options for alarms, ranging from 1 to 15 minutes. The Wallet app has been updated to allow users to create a digital ID, simplifying airport check-ins with TSA. Voice recording now enables users to select input sources and offers voice isolation for clearer audio capture, ideal for podcast creators.
Moreover, the reminders feature has become more intelligent, capable of auto-generating grocery lists from web recipes and surfacing reminders based on emails, websites, or notes. The App Store now includes accessibility nutrition labels, highlighting the presence of features like VoiceOver and Voice Control. Lastly, parental control updates allow guardians to limit communication from new phone numbers and ensure age-appropriate experiences in third-party apps.
With the rollout of the iOS 26 update, Apple continues to enhance user experience across its devices, providing a robust set of features and improvements that cater to the evolving needs of its users.
