The iPhone 17 tournament closing Tuesday published the newest Telephone 17 lineup — together with the ultra-thin iPhone Air. (You’ll make amends for the whole lot Apple introduced or rewatch the whole iPhone 17 release.) The corporate rounded out its bulletins with 3 new Apple Watch fashions, in addition to the all-new AirPods Professional 3.
The even higher information is that many people sticking with older iPhones will after all have the ability to set up iOS 26 in only some days: It arrives Monday, September 15, along all of Apple’s different new working methods. However you wouldn’t have to attend to check out the brand new options, since you’ll be able to obtain and set up the newly launched iOS 26 RC (unlock candidate) in the event you’ve been the use of the general public or developer betas. (See our preview of the iOS 26 public beta unlock for more information.) The very first thing you’ll be able to realize is a brand new transparent design language Apple dubs Liquid Glass. The translucent glance can also be discovered inside of apps in addition to your lock and residential monitors. The overhaul is one in every of a number of large adjustments coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS and the remainder of Apple’s instrument suite.
After overpromising on AI plans closing yr, Apple stored its iOS roadmap centered extra on fundamental high quality of existence enhancements with iOS 26. There are more than one helpful additions coming to the Telephone and Messages apps, as an example: Apple professionals defined the facility to weed out junk mail texts or unknown senders and an method to dangle your spot on a telephone name whilst you’ve been looking ahead to a consultant to pick out up.
It kind of feels like further new enhancements are doping up (or a minimum of hinted at) with every beta, similar to an AirPods are living translation characteristic, which Apple mentioned all the way through the development. We additionally spotted a brand new bouncy animation at the passcode display screen and within the Keep an eye on Heart. Maximum more moderen iPhone fashions are eligible to obtain iOS 26 (each the betas and ultimate model). We now have rounded up a complete record of latest options coming q4 underneath.
What’s iOS 26?
The present iPhone working device is iOS 18, which Apple remains to be actively updating — model 18.6.1 was once launched closing month, for instance, to repair Apple Watch blood oxygen tracking capability for sure customers in the United States. Extra not too long ago, Apple launched iOS 18.6.2 to handle a vulnerability associated with symbol processing.
However do not be expecting to ever see an iOS 19. As a substitute, Apple is skipping its naming conference forward to iOS 26. (Apple may be anticipated to unlock iOS 18.7 on the similar time, consistent with MacRumors, to handle safety problems.) The corporate has made up our minds to line up its iOS model numbers with a year-based device, very similar to automobile type years. So whilst iOS and its sibling working methods might be launched in overdue 2025, they are all designated “26” to replicate the yr forward.
It is reputable, we are transferring to iOS 26. (Apple)
What’s Liquid Glass design?
Let’s be truthful. Out of the whole lot introduced at WWDC this yr, the new Liquid Glass design was once the famous person of the display. The iPhone’s house and lock monitors have regarded just about the similar yr after yr — the closing thrilling factor (individually) was once the choice so as to add your individual aesthetic to your house display screen by way of customizing your apps and widgets. So seeing the house and lock monitors’ new facelift is refreshing.
So what precisely is Liquid Glass? Apple calls it a “new translucent subject matter” since, neatly, the apps and widgets are transparent. Alternatively, the display screen can nonetheless adapt to darkish and light-weight modes, relying on environment. You can additionally realize buttons with a brand new floating design in numerous apps, like Telephone and Maps. They are designed to be much less distracting than the present buttons, however are nonetheless simple to look. Whilst the design overhaul has confirmed to be debatable since its announcement, some — together with Engadget’s Devindra Hardawar — like the brand new course, even though it is rather harking back to Microsoft’s translucent Home windows Vista Aero designs from just about two decades in the past.
That mentioned, as of the discharge of the iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already included some person comments into the design, dialing again the transparency in a minimum of some puts. And whilst it’s going to proceed to conform, Apple customers will not be able to flee it: The corporate says Liquid Glass was once designed to make all of its platforms extra cohesive. Here is a take a look at how the translucent aesthetic will glance with the brand new macOS Tahoe 26 for your desktop.
What are the brand new and notable options of iOS 26?
iOS 26 has a laundry record of latest options. A number of the maximum profitable:
Telephone app redesign: You can after all have the ability to scroll thru contacts, fresh calls and voicemail messages all on one display screen. It additionally comes with a brand new characteristic known as Cling Help that’ll notify you when an agent involves the telephone so you’ll be able to steer clear of the elevator tune and proceed on with different duties.
Are living Translation in Telephone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the facility to have a dialog by the use of telephone name or textual content message with anyone who speaks any other language. Are living Translation will translate your dialog in actual time, which ends up in some stop-and-go interactions within the examples Apple shared all the way through its presentation.
Polls in team chats: Bored with sorting thru what turns out like masses of messages for your team chat? You and your mates will quickly have the ability to create polls in team messages for deciding such things as which brunch spot you might be consuming at or whose automobile you take on a highway travel.
Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you have not gained junk mail texts about unpaid tolls or different citations, you might be fortunate. For the ones folks who’ve, the ones nerve-racking messages will quickly be filtered away in a separate folder.
Visible Intelligence: Very similar to a opposite Google symbol seek, this new characteristic will will let you seek for the rest that is for your iPhone display screen. As an example, in the event you spot a couple of brogues anyone is dressed in in an Instagram photograph, you’ll be able to screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to search out the ones sneakers (or an identical ones) on-line.
Footage tabs are again: For any individual who is been pissed off with closing yr’s adjustments to the Footage app, you’ll be able to feel free to grasp that your tabs are coming again. Library and Collections can have their very own separate areas so that you wouldn’t have to scroll to infinity to search out what you might be in search of.
Digicam app updates: Navigating the Digicam app must be more practical in iOS 26, as the entire buttons and menus are in handy spots — much less swiping, extra photograph taking. Plus, there is a new characteristic that tells you in case your lens must be wiped clean.
FaceTime “Conversation Protection” characteristic: A more moderen addition to iOS 26 seems to be the FaceTime “Conversation Protection” characteristic that pauses communications if and when nudity is detected. The characteristic seems to be a kid protection characteristic that makes use of on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privateness problems.
New lock display screen choices: The iPhone lock display screen will get extra customizable in iOS 26, with a cooler clock, 3-D wallpaper results, extra widgets and higher center of attention mode choices.
New alarm environment: You can not be caught with the 9-minute snooze environment for your alarms. As a substitute, you’ll be able to give you the option to modify your snooze time from one to fifteen mins.
Screenshots glance other: You can realize a number of new options when you are taking a screenshot, together with “spotlight to look,” the method to seek your symbol on Google and ChatGPT is there for any questions you might have in regards to the symbol.
Apple’s Cling Help might be nifty for the ones pesky products and services that put you on dangle for 10 or extra mins. (Apple)
New adjustments coming to iPadOS 26
Your iPad is not getting left at the back of with regards to large updates. Here is what’s coming q4.
Multitasking and actual windowing: While you obtain the most recent replace, you are able to have more than one apps operating for your display screen on the similar time. When you open an app, it is going to seem for your display screen as customary however you are able to resize and transfer it throughout your display screen to make room for different apps. This selection is non-compulsory so you’ll be able to flip it off if you do not love it.
Visible replace: Together with the opposite new OSes, iPadOS 26 is coming with the Liquid Glass aesthetic. This new glance will seem at the lock and residential monitors, in addition to the drop-down menus.
New menu bar: While you swipe down for your display screen, the brand new menu bar will seem with choices like Report, Edit, Home windows and extra. There is additionally a seek choice if you are in search of one thing particular.
There is extra past that, so be certain to take a look at our first impressions of iPadOS 26.
What about AirPods?
AirPods also are getting up to date with iOS 26. Listed below are probably the most extra notable purposes.
Enhanced audio recording: Apple calls this “studio-quality” audio recording, and with it, you’ll be able to realize extra readability whilst in noisy environments.
Digicam far flung keep watch over: The usage of this, you’ll be able to take a photograph or get started and forestall video recording with only one press for your AirPods. When taking pictures, you’ll be able to get a three-second countdown sooner than your iPhone or iPad snaps the image.
Are living translation characteristic: The Apple tournament showed that are living translation is coming to AirPods Professional 3, AirPods Professional 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC when paired with iPhones operating iOS 26.
Middle charge tracking: Apple presented new AirPods Professional 3 earbuds this week, which come with center charge tracking. It might paintings with Apple’s Well being app and different health apps that observe center charges.
Will Siri get an replace?
Siri is in a maintaining development. Apple has in the past specified that its smarter voice assistant — first promised at WWDC 2024 — is not on time till some level “within the coming yr,” so you should not be expecting any primary adjustments within the present betas. However there are experiences that Apple is aiming to present Siri a larger mind transplant by way of basing it on third-party synthetic intelligence fashions like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, which might make 2026 a pivotal yr. The corporate may be reportedly operating on a “stripped-down” AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT.
Which iPhones will have the ability to improve to iOS 26?
A couple of iPhone fashions that run the present model of iOS — iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — may not be appropriate with the newest improve. However any iPhones from 2019 or later might be eligible for iOS 26:
iPhone SE (moment era or later)
Easy methods to set up iOS 26 beta
The iOS 26 public beta is to be had to obtain by the use of the Apple Beta Tool Program. In case you are no longer already a member, you’ll be able to wish to enroll to take a look at out the entire newest options. Simply talk over with beta.apple.com and enroll together with your telephone quantity or e mail cope with. It is unfastened.
As soon as you might be in, you’ll be able to set up it by way of going to Settings > Basic > Tool Replace and deciding on iOS 26 public beta.
A phrase of warning: Do not enroll together with your major iPhone except you might be OK with any dangers that happen with the use of an OS that’s not finalized.
When will the general model of iOS 26 be launched?
iOS 26 might be launched to the general public totally free on September 15, which is not up to per week away.
In case you are extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, here is the whole lot Apple published for iOS, macOS and extra all the way through WWDC. Additionally, take a look at how iOS 26 screenshots may well be an intriguing preview of Apple’s not on time Siri remodel.
Replace, 9-11: Added the goods Apple launched at its Tuesday tournament and famous when iOS 26 might be to be had to obtain.
Replace, September 9: Famous the iPhone tournament is beginning quickly.
Replace, September 8: Famous the iPhone 17 tournament is the next day to come.
Replace, September 4: Added information about how screenshots are other in iOS 26.
Replace, September 3: Famous Apple is anticipated to unlock iOS 18.7 along iOS 26.
Replace, September 2: Added extra new options coming with iOS 26.
Replace, August 29: Added new segment about Siri and a hyperlink to what is new with the iOS 26 Digicam app.
Replace, August 27: Added the reputable iPhone 17 tournament date, in addition to the prospective iOS 26 unlock.
Replace, August 25: Added a rumor about new AirPods Professional having center charge tracking.
Replace, August 22: Famous that Apple has formally stopped signing iOS 18.6.
Replace, August 20: Famous that iOS 26 public beta 4 and iOS 18.6.2 at the moment are to be had to obtain.
Replace, August 18: Added information about a possible iOS 18.6 replace.
Replace, August 15: Added to hyperlink to what to anticipate on the Apple iPhone tournament and information about what is to be had within the iOS 26 screenshots editor.
Replace, August 13: Added new AirPods element noticed within the iOS 26 beta.
Replace, August 11: Famous that iOS 26 developer beta has hit beta 6.
Replace, August 8: Added new options coming with iPadOS 26 and AirPods.
Replace, August 6: Famous the discharge of iOS 26 beta 5 and the brand new bouncy characteristic on passcode display screen and Keep an eye on Heart.
Replace, August 4: Famous that Apple is reportedly operating on a ChatGPT rival.
Replace, August 1: Added quote from Tim Prepare dinner about iOS 26.
Replace, July 31: Famous that iOS 18.6 is now to be had.
Replace, July 24: Famous the iOS 26 public beta is now to be had.
Replace, July 3: Famous new FaceTime characteristic discovered within the developer beta.
Replace, June 30: Famous ongoing iOS 18 releases, and experiences that Apple is thinking about further exterior LLMs for Siri.
Replace, June 25: Famous adjustments added in iOS 26 beta 2.
