At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, Apple introduced iOS 26, featuring a fresh design aesthetic called “Liquid Glass.” This new style employs dynamic, fluid-like visual effects to enhance the interface’s expressiveness and interactivity.
The update brings redesigned versions of the Music app, Messages, and the Lock Screen, although the beta has faced some criticism for readability issues and device overheating.
The iOs 26 update is unavailable on older versions of iPhone models, such as the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
Furthermore, the announcement on Monday marks a strategic shift for Apple, which will now name major iOS updates based on the year of release rather than sequential numbering — similar to how automakers label new car models. Instead of the expected iOS 19, the company jumped directly to iOS 26 for 2025.
Features of iOS 26
The update significantly overhauls several operating system components.
Lock Screen: Users can now extend the lock screen time display to cover more of the screen.
Camera App: The layout has been made simpler; in order to make the interface more readable, some controls have been hidden.
Safari: The tab bar overlays content on Safari’s edge-to-edge webpages.
Phone App: A new call screening feature can answer calls and place callers on hold.
Messages: Users can create images for chat backgrounds with Image Playground which also integrates OpenAI’s ChatGPT for image generation.
Polls: Users can create polls, and if Apple Intelligence determines that a poll could be helpful, it will recommend adding one.
Typing Indicators: There will also be signs that a user is typing in group discussions.
Genmoji: Users can create new emojis by combining two existing ones,, rather than relying solely on written descriptions.
Live translation: A real-time conversation translator powered by Apple Intelligence’s on-device models, enabling translations during texts, phone calls, and FaceTime chats. Developers can also integrate this via an API.
Apple Music is translating and pronouncing lyrics. A new tool called AutoMix has the ability to switch between songs like a DJ. Users can also pin their favorite artistes and playlists to the app’s home screen.
Apple Maps will recognise users’ favourite routes and notify them of any delays or traffic on those routes. Additionally, users will be able to revisit the places they have visited in order to more easily share them with their friends.
Apple Wallet: Beginning this fall, users will have the option to create a digital ID using Apple Wallet. Updated boarding cards will now provide access to airport interior maps.
Orders placed outside of Apple Pay can be tracked by Apple Pay using Apple Intelligence.
Apple’s gaming app and Visual Intelligence
Apple is creating a gaming app with a gaming-only focus. Users will have access to all of the App Store games they have downloaded as well as the Apple Arcade collection. The Play Together page displays the games and challenge leaderboards of their friends.
Apple will also allow users to understand more about what’s on their iPhone screen by using Visual Intelligence.
During a keynote demonstration, Apple demonstrated how a user might use Visual Intelligence to look up a jacket on Google by snapping a snapshot of the image on a social media app.
Additionally, users can use Visual Intelligence to help add an event to their calendar by taking a screenshot of it.
Another benefit of visual intelligence is the ability to ask questions about what users see on their screens.