The whole lot you want to grasp in regards to the new replace prior to the iPhone 17 release by way of NewsFlicks

Get able: The Apple iPhone 17 match is on Tuesday, September 9, which is solely 5 days away. (This is how you’ll watch the iPhone 17 release on YouTube.) We will in the end get to peer the brand new iPhone 17 lineup, and — assuming Apple sticks to custom — we will have to have the ability to set up iOS 26 round per week or so after the development. However you should not have to attend to check out the brand new options as a result of you’ll obtain and set up the newly launched public beta 6 or iOS 26 developer beta 9 for builders. (See our preview of the iOS 26 public beta unlock.) The very first thing you’ll be able to realize is a brand new transparent aesthetic referred to as Liquid Glass. The translucent glance can also be discovered inside of your apps, in addition to your lock and residential monitors. The overhaul is considered one of a number of giant adjustments coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the remainder of Apple’s tool suite, all of which have been showcased all the way through the corporate’s WWDC keynote on June 9.

After overpromising on AI plans remaining yr, Apple saved its iOS roadmap targeted extra on fundamental high quality of lifestyles enhancements this yr. There are a couple of helpful additions coming to the Telephone and Messages apps for your iPhone, as an example: Apple professionals defined the power to weed out unsolicited mail texts or different unknown senders and an strategy to cling your spot on a telephone name whilst you’ve been looking forward to a consultant to select up. Plus, a precious characteristic that we took with no consideration is coming again (trace: it is within the Pictures app).

With each and every beta, it sort of feels like further new enhancements are stoning up, like this new AirPods gesture we are all considering, and a brand new bouncy animation at the passcode display and within the Regulate Heart. A few of the ones adjustments have already migrated into the separate public beta (see underneath). Maximum more recent iPhone fashions are eligible to obtain iOS 26 (each the betas and ultimate model). Wish to see the entire record of recent options coming q4? Learn on.

What’s iOS 26?

The present iPhone running gadget is iOS 18, and Apple continues to be actively updating it — model 18.6.1 was once launched to repair Apple Watch blood oxygen tracking capability for sure customers in the United States. Extra not too long ago, Apple launched 18.6.2 to handle a vulnerability associated with symbol processing. Apple has formally stopped signing iOS 18.6, MacRumors reviews, because of this it will probably now not be put in for your iPhone because of a “server-side tool verification take a look at.” That is beautiful customary when more recent variations are to be had to obtain.

However do not be expecting to peer iOS 19 quickly — or ever. As an alternative, Apple is skipping the numbering forward to iOS 26. (Apple could also be anticipated to unlock iOS 18.7 on the similar time, in keeping with MacRumors, to handle safety problems.) The corporate has determined to line up its iOS model numbers with a year-based gadget, very similar to automotive fashion years. So whilst iOS and its sibling running techniques will probably be launched in past due 2025, they are all designated “26” to replicate the yr forward.

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 monitors have regarded just about the similar yr after yr — the remaining thrilling factor (for my part) was once the choice so as to add your individual aesthetic to your own home display 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, smartly, the apps and widgets are transparent. Then again, the display can nonetheless adapt to darkish and light-weight modes, relying on environment. You can additionally realize 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 arguable since its announcement, some — together with Engadget’s personal Devindra Hardawar — like the brand new route, although it is rather harking back to Microsoft’s translucent Home windows Vista Aero designs from just about 20 years in the past.

That mentioned, as of the discharge of the iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already integrated some consumer comments into the design, dialing again the transparency in no less than some puts. And whilst it’ll proceed to adapt, Apple customers will not be able to flee it: Liquid Glass was once designed to make all of Apple’s OSes 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 recent options. A few of the maximum profitable:

Telephone app redesign: You can in the end have the ability to 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 keep away from the elevator song and proceed on with different duties.

Are living Translation in Telephone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the power to have a dialog by means of telephone name or textual content message with any person who speaks any other language. Are living Translation will translate your dialog in actual time, which leads to some stop-and-go interactions within the examples Apple shared all the way through its presentation.

Polls in team chats: Bored with sorting via what turns out like masses of messages to your team chat? You and your folks 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 automotive you are taking on a street shuttle.

Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you have not gained unsolicited mail texts about unpaid tolls or different citations, you might be fortunate. For the ones folks who’ve, the ones aggravating 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. As an example, in case you spot a couple of brogues any person is dressed in in an Instagram photograph, you’ll screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to search out the ones sneakers (or identical ones) on-line.

Pictures tabs are again: For somebody who is nonetheless annoyed with the Pictures adjustments made remaining yr, you’ll be able to feel free to grasp that your tabs are coming again. Library and Collections may have their very own separate areas so that you should not have to scroll to infinity to search out what you might be in search of.

Digicam app updates: Navigating the Digicam app is more effective in iOS 26, as all of the 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 “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 will get extra customizable in iOS 26, with a cooler clock, three-D wallpaper results, extra widgets and higher center of attention mode choices.

New alarm atmosphere: You can now not be caught with the 9-minute snooze atmosphere to your alarms. As an alternative, you’ll be able to be able to modify your snooze time from one to fifteen mins.

Screenshots glance other: You can realize a number of new options when you’re taking a screenshot, together with “spotlight to go looking,” the strategy to seek your symbol on Google and ChatGPT is there for any questions you could have in regards to the symbol.

New adjustments coming to iPadOS 26

Your iPad is not getting left at the back of with regards to giant updates. Here is what’s coming q4.

Multitasking and actual windowing: Whilst you obtain the most recent replace, you are able to have a couple of apps working for your display on the similar time. While you open an app, it’s going to seem for your display as customary however you are able to resize and transfer it throughout your display to make room for different apps. This selection is not obligatory so you’ll 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: Whilst you swipe down for your display, the brand new menu bar will seem with choices like Record, Edit, Home windows and extra. There may be additionally a seek choice in case you are in search of one thing particular.

Take a look at our first impressions of iPadOS 26.

What about AirPods?

AirPods also are getting up to date with iOS 26. Listed here are one of 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 off keep watch over: The usage of this, you’ll take a photograph or get started and prevent video recording with only one press for your AirPods. When taking footage, you’ll be able to get a three-second countdown prior to your iPhone or iPad snaps the image.

Are living translation characteristic: Whilst now not formally introduced or showed, it seems that that the long-rumored are living translation for AirPods might be coming with iOS 26. The proof comes from a gadget asset noticed within the in iOS 26 beta appearing a gesture that is induced by way of urgent each earbud stems on the similar time. The photograph additionally presentations phrases in different other languages.

Middle fee tracking (rumored for now): Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes Apple will introduce new AirPods Professional earbuds this yr, which will have middle fee tracking. It might paintings with Apple’s Well being app and different health apps that observe middle charges.

Will Siri get an replace?

Siri is in a keeping development. Apple has up to now 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 reviews that Apple is aiming to offer 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 could also 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 — would possibly not be suitable with the newest improve. However any iPhones launched in 2019 or later will probably be eligible for the iOS 26 replace.

• iPhone SE (moment technology or later)

No longer listed below are the presumed new iPhone 17 fashions (or possibly iPhone 26?) which can be all however sure to be introduced and launched in September.

Easy methods to set up iOS 26 beta

The iOS 26 public beta is now to be had to obtain by means of the Apple Beta Instrument Program. If you are now not already a member, you’ll be able to want to enroll to check out out all of the newest options. Simply seek advice from beta.apple.com and enroll along with your telephone quantity or e-mail cope with. It is loose.

As soon as you might be in, you’ll set up it by way of going to Settings > Common > Instrument Replace and deciding on iOS 26 public beta.

A phrase of warning: Do not enroll along with your major iPhone until you might be OK with any dangers that happen with the use of an OS that is not finalized.

When will the overall model of iOS 26 be launched?

iOS 26 will probably be launched to the general public q4. It in most cases is available in September, inside of per week of the Apple iPhone match. Closing yr, it rolled out to iPhone customers on September 16 — precisely one week after the iPhone 16 lineup was once introduced. For the reason that iPhone 17 match falls on September 9 this yr, it is conceivable the downloads will hit our telephones on September 16.

If you are extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, this is the entirety Apple published for iOS, macOS and extra all the way through WWDC. Additionally, take a look at how iOS 26 screenshots might be an intriguing preview of Apple’s not on time Siri remodel.

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

Replace, September 3: Famous Apple is predicted to unlock 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 Digicam app.

Replace, August 27: Added the legit iPhone 17 match date, in addition to the possible iOS 26 unlock.

Replace, August 25: Added a rumor about new AirPods Professional having middle fee 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 are actually 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 match 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 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 reviews that Apple is thinking about further exterior LLMs for Siri.

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