Apple introduces iOS 26 with a refreshed design, advanced Apple Intelligence features, and meaningful updates to Messages, CarPlay, Apple Music, and more. Here’s what to expect.
Apple has officially previewed iOS 26, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most significant iPhone updates in years. With a focus on smarter features, a fresh new design, and deeper personalization, iOS 26 is more than just a cosmetic update, it’s an experience upgrade.
One of the first things users will notice in iOS 26 is the new design built with Liquid Glass, a translucent material that brings a sense of depth and motion to the interface. From the Lock Screen to app icons and widgets, everything looks more dynamic but still feels familiar. Customization options have been expanded too, allowing users to tweak the appearance of icons and widgets to match their personal style.
The Lock Screen gets an expressive update, with elements like the clock adjusting fluidly to fit around images. Spatial scenes add a subtle 3D effect to wallpapers, bringing static images to life when the phone is moved. The Camera app also benefits from a cleaner layout, keeping the focus on capturing the moment. Safari now allows more of a web page to be visible by pushing the content edge-to-edge, while key controls remain accessible.
In Apple Music, News, and Podcasts, the tab bar now floats and shrinks while you scroll, giving more room for content and making navigation more fluid. These visual changes are not just limited to Apple’s apps—developers will also get access to the new Liquid Glass components, helping third-party apps match the new iOS 26 aesthetic.
iOS 26 introduces a new layer of intelligence that works seamlessly in the background, powered by Apple Intelligence. A standout feature is Live Translation, which works across Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, translating both audio and text in real-time without sending data off the device. This is possible thanks to Apple’s on-device language models, keeping conversations private.
Visual intelligence expands what users can do with content on their screen. Whether it's identifying an event to add to your calendar or asking ChatGPT for more context on what you're viewing, Apple Intelligence makes your iPhone feel more aware and helpful. Shopping, browsing, and exploring content become more intuitive with AI-powered suggestions and smart actions.
There’s also Genmoji and Image Playground, giving users new ways to create emojis and images from their own ideas or blends of existing icons and descriptions. Shortcuts are now more intuitive, offering smart suggestions and new actions tied directly to tools like Image Playground and Writing Tools.
Apple Intelligence can now detect order tracking information in emails, summarizing the details in one place, even if the purchase wasn’t made using Apple Pay. Developers can also tap into this intelligence through Apple’s new Foundation Models framework, ensuring the same privacy-first and on-device performance in third-party apps.
The Phone and Messages apps have been redesigned to reduce clutter and interruptions. The Phone app now merges Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails into a single view. With Call Screening, iOS 26 filters incoming calls and provides caller details to help you decide whether to answer. Hold Assist is another smart addition that alerts you when a live agent joins the line, so you don’t waste time waiting.
Messages gain new tools to handle unknown senders by routing them into a separate folder, keeping your main inbox clean. You can preview the message, mark it as known, or delete it without being disturbed. Conversations also feel more lively with the ability to create polls and set custom backgrounds and Apple Intelligence can even suggest creating a poll when it senses it’s needed.
Typing indicators in group chats and Apple Cash features are also now more visible and interactive, helping users keep the conversation going more efficiently.
CarPlay receives a notable update in iOS 26, bringing a sleek compact call view so you can stay focused on the road. Tapbacks and pinned conversations now sync with CarPlay too, making communication easier without pulling attention from driving. With Live Activities and widgets now visible, your car’s dashboard becomes more useful than ever. For vehicles that support CarPlay Ultra, the integration across screens feels seamless and deeply connected.
In Apple Music, the listening experience improves with Lyrics Translation and Lyrics Pronunciation, which help users sing along no matter the language. AutoMix blends tracks together using beat matching and time stretching, mimicking a DJ-like transition from song to song.
Apple Maps now includes Visited Places, allowing users to view and revisit a history of where they’ve been. This feature is opt-in and encrypted end-to-end, so Apple can’t access your location data. It also uses on-device intelligence to recommend preferred routes based on your travel habits and can alert you to delays or offer alternate paths.
Apple Wallet adds flexible payment options, including installment and reward-based purchases when using Apple Pay in stores. Refreshed boarding passes now support Live Activities, real-time flight updates, and easy access to related tools like Find My and Maps.
A brand-new Apple Games app brings together all your games into one easy-to-navigate space. It supports Apple Arcade and helps users track events, updates, and trending titles so they’re always in the loop.
AirPods become even more capable with iOS 26. Studio-quality voice recording now allows users to record high-quality audio from their AirPods on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. A new camera remote feature lets users snap a photo or start/stop video recording by pressing and holding the stem—ideal for content creators.
Family features have also improved. Parents can now manage Child Accounts more easily, with expanded control over contacts, communication, and app downloads. New safety features like blurring sensitive content in FaceTime and Shared Albums give families more peace of mind.
Safari in iOS 26 brings enhanced fingerprinting protection, adding a layer of privacy to all browsing by default. New accessibility tools like Accessibility Reader and Braille Access ensure iPhone remains inclusive and usable for everyone.
With iOS 26, Apple is not just updating its mobile operating system—it’s refining how we interact with the digital world. From smarter communication tools and a fluid new design to meaningful features in Maps, Music, and CarPlay, the update makes the iPhone more personal, intuitive, and powerful than ever.
Stay tuned for the official release this fall, or sign up for Apple’s beta program to try iOS 26 early.
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