All the newest options for iPhone’s new working system, together with FaceTime updates

Prepare as a result of Apple iOS 26 (not iOS 19) is headed your method this fall with some cool new options you will need to attempt. What’s most enjoyable? The recent residence and lock display screen redesign we have been ready to see for years. Dubbed Liquid Glass, the brand new appear and feel will lengthen throughout all of Apple’s upcoming working programs. The overhaul was certainly one of a number of huge modifications coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the remainder of Apple’s software program suite, all of which have been showcased in the course of the firm’s WWDC keynote on June 9.

After overpromising on AI plans final yr, Apple stored its iOS roadmap centered extra on fundamental high quality of life enhancements this yr. There are a number of helpful additions coming to the Telephone and Messages apps in your iPhone, as an example: Apple execs outlined the flexibility to weed out spam texts or different unknown senders and an possibility to carry your spot on a cellphone name whenever you’ve been ready for a consultant to choose up. Plus, a treasured characteristic that we took without any consideration is coming again (trace: it is within the Pictures app).

Siri, in the meantime, is in a holding sample. Apple has beforehand specified that its smarter voice assistant — first promised at WWDC 2024 — is delayed till some level “in the coming year,” so that you should not anticipate any main modifications within the present betas. However there are studies that Apple is aiming to offer Siri a much bigger mind transplant by basing it on third-party artificial intelligence models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, which may make 2026 a pivotal yr.

In case you’re a developer, you possibly can try the iOS 26 beta 2 now; the general public beta is coming this month. With every beta, it looks like extra new enhancements are popping up, like newly found FaceTime characteristic that’ll freeze your video if it detects nudity. Most newer iPhone fashions are eligible to download iOS 26 (each the betas and remaining model). Need to see the total record of recent options coming this fall? Learn on.

What’s iOS 26?

Whereas the present iPhone working system is iOS 18, Apple is skipping the numbering forward to iOS 26 later this yr. The corporate has determined to line up its iOS model numbers with a year-based system, just like automobile mannequin years. So whereas iOS and its sibling working programs might be launched in late 2025, they’re all designated “26” to replicate the yr forward. (In the meantime, iOS 18 is still getting new versions this summer, too.)

What’s Liquid Glass design?

Let’s be sincere. Out of the whole lot introduced at WWDC this yr, the new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone’s residence and lock screens have seemed just about the identical yr after yr — the final thrilling factor (for my part) was the choice so as to add your individual aesthetic to your property display screen by customizing your apps and widgets. So seeing the house and lock screens’ new facelift is refreshing.

So what precisely is Liquid Glass? Apple calls it a “new translucent material” since, nicely, the apps and widgets are clear. Nevertheless, the display screen can nonetheless adapt to darkish and lightweight modes, relying on environment. You will additionally discover buttons with a brand new floating design in a number of apps, like Telephone and Maps. They’re designed to be much less distracting than the present buttons, however are nonetheless straightforward to see. Whereas the design overhaul has confirmed to be controversial since its announcement, some — together with Engadget’s personal Devindra Hardawar — like the brand new path, even when it is considerably paying homage to Microsoft’s translucent Windows Vista Aero designs from almost twenty years in the past.

That stated, as of the newly launched iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already incorporated some user feedback into the design, dialing again the transparency in not less than some locations. And whereas it should proceed to evolve, Apple customers will not be capable of escape it: Liquid Glass was designed to make all of Apple’s OSes extra cohesive. This is a take a look at how the translucent aesthetic will look with the new macOS Tahoe 26 in your desktop.

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

iOS 26 has a laundry record of recent options. Among the many most worthwhile:

Telephone app redesign: You will lastly be capable of scroll via contacts, latest calls and voicemail messages all on one display screen. It additionally comes with a brand new characteristic referred to as Maintain Help that’ll notify you when an agent involves the cellphone so you possibly can keep away from the elevator music and proceed on with different duties.

Reside Translation in Telephone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the flexibility to have a dialog by way of cellphone name or textual content message with somebody who speaks one other language. Reside Translation will translate your dialog in actual time, which leads to some stop-and-go interactions within the examples Apple shared throughout its presentation.

Polls in group chats: Bored with sorting via what looks like a whole lot of messages in your group chat? You and your folks will quickly be capable of create polls in group messages for deciding issues like which brunch spot you are consuming at or whose automobile you take on a highway journey.

Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you have not obtained spam texts about unpaid tolls or different citations, you are fortunate. For these of us who’ve, these annoying messages will quickly be filtered away in a separate folder.

Visible Intelligence: Just like a reverse Google picture search, this new characteristic will mean you can seek for something that is in your iPhone display screen. As an example, when you spot a pair of footwear somebody is carrying in an Instagram photograph, you possibly can screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to seek out these footwear (or related ones) on-line.

Pictures tabs are again: For anybody who’s nonetheless annoyed with the Photos changes made last year, you will be completely happy to know that your tabs are coming again. Library and Collections may have their very own separate areas so you do not have to scroll to infinity to seek out what you are in search of.

FaceTime “Communication Security” characteristic: A more moderen addition to iOS 26 seems to be the FaceTime “Communication Safety” feature that pauses communications if and when nudity is detected. The characteristic seems to be a toddler security characteristic that makes use of on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privateness points.

Which iPhones will be capable of improve to iOS 26?

Just a few iPhone fashions that run the present model of iOS — iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — will not be appropriate with the newest improve. However any iPhones launched in 2019 or later might be eligible for the iOS 26 update.

Not listed below are the presumed new iPhone 17 models (or perhaps iPhone 26?) which might be all however sure to be introduced and launched in September.

When will the iOS 26 beta be accessible?

The iOS 26 public beta will grow to be available this month (July) by way of the Apple Beta Software Program. In case you’re not already a member, you will want to enroll to check out all the newest options. Simply go to beta.apple.com and enroll along with your cellphone quantity or e mail handle. It is free.

When you’re in and the beta is on the market, you possibly can set up it by going to Settings > Basic > Software program Replace and choosing iOS 26 public beta.

A phrase of warning: Do not enroll along with your fundamental iPhone except you are OK with any dangers that happen with utilizing an OS that is not finalized.

When will the ultimate model of iOS 26 be launched?

iOS 26 might be launched to the general public this fall. It normally is available in September, inside per week of the Apple iPhone occasion. Final yr, it rolled out to iPhone customers on September 16 — precisely one week after the iPhone 16 lineup was introduced.

In case you’re extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, this is everything Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and more throughout WWDC. Additionally, try how iOS 26 screenshots might be an intriguing preview of Apple’s delayed Siri rework.

Replace, July 3: Famous new FaceTime characteristic discovered within the developer beta.

Replace, June 30: Famous ongoing iOS 18 releases, and studies that Apple is contemplating extra exterior LLMs for Siri.

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

In case you purchase one thing via a hyperlink on this article, we might earn fee.