The whole lot to grasp in regards to the loose iPhone tool replace via NewsFlicks

It is after all right here: You’ll now obtain iOS 26 for your iPhone — Apple’s different new running programs also are to be had. The primary noticeable factor after putting in the brand new OS? A brand new transparent design language that Apple dubs Liquid Glass. The translucent glance may also be discovered inside of apps in addition to your lock and residential displays. (If you do not love it, there is a technique to scale back the transparency.) The overhaul is considered one of a number of large adjustments that include iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS and the remainder of Apple’s tool suite.

You’ll be able to additionally see a couple of helpful additions within the Telephone and Messages apps. For example, the facility to weed out junk mail texts or unknown senders and an way to cling your spot on a telephone name whilst you’ve been looking forward to a consultant to select up. And for a laugh, you’ll now create polls in team texts. Different new enhancements coming come with a showed AirPods reside translation characteristic, and a brand new bouncy animation at the passcode display and within the Regulate Middle.

In the event you would not have a suitable telephone however plan to improve, Apple unveiled a number of new fashions at its iPhone 17 tournament — that comes with the brand new iPhone 17 lineup and the all-new ultra-thin iPhone Air. In the event you ignored the keynote, you’ll make amends for the entirety Apple introduced right here or rewatch the entire iPhone 17 release. The corporate rounded out its bulletins with 3 new Apple Watch fashions, in addition to the brand-new AirPods Professional 3.

Maximum more recent iPhone fashions are eligible to obtain iOS 26. We have now rounded up a complete checklist of latest options you can have to take a look at.

What’s iOS 26 and must I obtain iOS 18.7 first?

As a substitute of liberating iOS 19, Apple skipped its naming conference forward to iOS 26. The corporate has determined to line up its iOS model numbers with a year-based gadget, very similar to automobile fashion years. So whilst iOS and its sibling running programs have been launched in 2025, they are all designated “26” to mirror the yr forward.

Apple additionally launched iOS 18.7 along iOS 26 to deal with safety problems — nice information if you happen to would not have a telephone that is eligible to run the newest OS. If you are questioning which one to obtain first, it is in point of fact as much as you. Do you need to stay up for Apple to quash any insects in iOS 26 or do you need get entry to to all of the new options everybody’s speaking about now?

What’s Liquid Glass design?

Let’s be truthful. Out of the entirety introduced at WWDC this yr, the new Liquid Glass design was once the big name of the display. The iPhone’s house and lock displays have regarded just about the similar yr after yr — the remaining thrilling factor (individually) was once the choice so as to add your personal aesthetic to your house display via customizing your apps and widgets. So seeing the house and lock displays’ 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. Then again, the display can nonetheless adapt to darkish and lightweight modes, relying on atmosphere. You’ll be able to additionally understand buttons with a brand new floating design in different apps, like Telephone and Maps. They are designed to be much less distracting than the present buttons, however are nonetheless simple to peer.

Whilst the design overhaul has confirmed to be debatable since its announcement, some — together with Engadget’s Devindra Hardawar — like the brand new course, despite the fact that it is reasonably paying homage to Microsoft’s translucent Home windows Vista Aero designs from just about 20 years in the past.

That stated, whilst it was once in beta mode, Apple included some person comments into the design, dialing again the transparency in no less than some puts. And whilst it’ll proceed to adapt, Apple customers will be unable to flee it: The corporate says Liquid Glass was once designed to make all of its platforms extra cohesive.

Here is a have a look at how the translucent aesthetic seems with the brand new macOS Tahoe 26 for your desktop.

The right way to flip iOS 26 Liquid Glass settings off

In the event you in finding you do not like the brand new transparent take care of downloading iOS 26, you’ll exchange a pair Accessibility settings, despite the fact that you’ll’t utterly flip off Liquid Glass. For starters, you’ll scale back the liquid glance via going to Settings > Accessibility > Movement > toggle on Cut back Movement.

You’ll make your drop-down menus extra opaque as an alternative of translucent via going to Settings >Accessibility > Show & Textual content Measurement > toggle on Cut back Transparency.

You’ll additionally exchange your transparent apps again to the best way they have been. Simply press and cling any app for your display and make a choice Edit House Display. From right here, faucet Edit (best left) and Customise. You’ll change out to Default, Darkish or Tinted.

What are the brand new and notable options of iOS 26?

iOS 26 has a laundry checklist of latest options. Some of the maximum profitable:

Telephone app redesign: You’ll now scroll via contacts, fresh calls and voicemail messages all on one display. It additionally comes with a brand new characteristic referred to as Dangle Help that’ll notify you when an agent involves the telephone so you’ll steer clear of the elevator song and proceed on with different duties.

Are living Translation in Telephone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 brings the facility to have a dialog by means of telephone name, FaceTime or textual content message with somebody who speaks every other language. Are living Translation makes use of Apple Intelligence and it’ll translate your dialog in actual time, which ends up in some stop-and-go interactions within the examples Apple shared all through its presentation.

Polls in team chats: Uninterested in sorting via what turns out like loads of messages for your team chat? You and your mates can now create polls in team messages to make a decision such things as which brunch spot you are consuming at or whose automobile you are taking on a street shuttle.

Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you have not gained junk mail texts about unpaid tolls or different citations, you are fortunate. For the ones people who’ve, the ones tense messages will quickly be filtered away in a separate folder.

Visible Intelligence: Very similar to a opposite Google symbol seek, this new characteristic will can help you seek for the rest that is for your iPhone display. For example, if you happen to spot a couple of trainers somebody is dressed in in an Instagram picture, you’ll screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to search out the ones footwear (or an identical ones) on-line.

Footage tabs are again: For any person who is been pissed off with remaining yr’s adjustments to the Footage app, you can feel free to grasp that your tabs are again. Library and Collections have their very own separate areas so that you would not have to scroll to infinity to search out what you are in search of.

Digital camera app updates: Navigating the Digital camera app must be more effective in iOS 26, as all of the buttons and menus are in handy spots — much less swiping, extra picture taking. Plus, there is a new characteristic that tells you in case your lens must be wiped clean.

FaceTime “Communique Protection” characteristic: A more recent addition to iOS 26 seems to be the FaceTime “Communique 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 choices: The iPhone lock display is extra customizable in iOS 26, with a cooler clock, three-D wallpaper results, extra widgets and higher focal point mode choices.

New alarm surroundings: You’ll be able to not be caught with the 9-minute snooze surroundings for your alarms. As a substitute, you currently have the ability to modify your snooze time from one to fifteen mins.

Screenshots glance other: You’ll be able to understand a number of new options when you’re taking a screenshot, together with “spotlight to go looking,” the way to seek your symbol on Google and ChatGPT is there for any questions you’ve got in regards to the symbol.

Preview on iOS 26: There is a new app referred to as Preview that permits you to scan paperwork, fill out PDF bureaucracy, in addition to spotlight, underline or strike via textual content in a PDF report. You’ll additionally take away backgrounds from pictures on this app.

New adjustments with iPadOS 26

Your iPad is not getting left in the back of relating to large updates. Here is what to search for.

Multitasking and actual windowing: Whilst you obtain the latest replace, you are able to have a couple of apps working for your display on the similar time. If you open an app, it’s going to seem for your display as commonplace however you are able to resize and transfer it throughout your display to make room for different apps. This selection is non-compulsory so you’ll flip it off if you do not love it.

Visible replace: In conjunction with the opposite new OSes, iPadOS 26 additionally has the Liquid Glass aesthetic. This new glance seems at the lock and residential displays, in addition to the drop-down menus.

New menu bar: Whilst you swipe down for your display, the brand new menu bar will seem with choices like Document, Edit, Home windows and extra. There may be additionally a seek possibility in case you are in search of one thing explicit.

There may be extra past that, so be sure that 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 one of the vital extra notable purposes.

Enhanced audio recording: Apple calls this “studio-quality” audio recording, and with it, you can understand extra readability whilst in noisy environments.

Digital camera far off regulate: The use of this, you’ll take a photograph or get started and prevent video recording with only one press for your AirPods. When taking pictures, you can get a three-second countdown prior to your iPhone or iPad snaps the image.

Are living translation characteristic: Are living translation is to be had on AirPods Professional 3, AirPods Professional 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC when paired with iPhones working iOS 26. Apple says that once somebody speaks to you in a unique language, you’ll use your AirPods to translate what they’re pronouncing.

Middle price tracking: Apple presented new AirPods Professional 3 earbuds this month, which come with middle price tracking. It is going to paintings with Apple’s Well being app and different health apps that monitor middle charges.

Did Siri get an replace?

Siri is in a protecting trend. Apple has prior to now specified that its smarter voice assistant — first promised at WWDC 2024 — is behind schedule till some level “within the coming yr,” so you should not be expecting any primary adjustments at the moment. However there are stories that Apple is aiming to present Siri a larger mind transplant via 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 running 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 — are not suitable with the newest improve. However any iPhones from 2019 or later can be eligible for iOS 26:

• iPhone SE (moment era or later)

When to obtain iOS 26?

iOS 26 has formally been launched to the general public without cost lately, September 15.

If you are extra within the new Apple Intelligence options, here is the entirety Apple published for iOS, macOS and extra all through WWDC. Additionally, take a look at how iOS 26 screenshots might be an intriguing preview of Apple’s behind schedule Siri transform.

Replace, September 16: Added information about enhancing Liquid Glass settings, and new data in regards to the Preview app.

Replace, September 15: Famous iOS 26 is formally to be had for obtain.

Replace, September 12: Famous iOS 26 is coming to eligible iPhones in only some days, timing TBD.

Replace, 9/11: Added the goods Apple launched at its Tuesday tournament and famous when iOS 26 can 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.

Replace, September 4: Added information about how screenshots are other in iOS 26.

Replace, September 3: Famous Apple is predicted to unencumber iOS 18.7 along iOS 26.

Replace, September 2: Added extra new options coming with iOS 26.

Replace, August 29: Added new phase about Siri and a hyperlink to what is new with the iOS 26 Digital camera app.

Replace, August 27: Added the authentic iPhone 17 tournament date, in addition to the prospective iOS 26 unencumber.

Replace, August 25: Added a rumor about new AirPods Professional having middle price 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 and Regulate Middle.

Replace, August 4: Famous that Apple is reportedly running 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 stories that Apple is thinking about further exterior LLMs for Siri.

Replace, June 25: Famous adjustments added in iOS 26 beta 2.