Apple has unveiled iOS 26, the next version of its iPhone operating system, as part of its suite of announcements at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). It features a complete redesign with Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” design language.
The announcement marks a change in how Apple signifies its major updates to iOS. Under the previous marketing scheme, this year’s major release would have been iOS 19 — the direct follow-up to iOS 18. But now, Apple’s big iOS updates will be numbered based on the year following their introduction, a little bit like car-makers do with new car releases.
A bunch of elements of the operating system are getting a major facelift as a result of the redesign. The time on your lockscreen can stretch to fill more of the screen. The Camera app has a more streamlined layout – many controls are now hidden to make the experience feel cleaner. In Safari, webpages are edge-to-edge, and the tab bar floats over your content.
Apple is adding some improvements to the phone app, including a call screening feature that can answer calls on your behalf and sit on calls on your behalf while you’re on hold.
The Messages app is getting a bunch of updates, too, like customized backgrounds. Apple will offer backgrounds, but you can also add your own photos or images generated by Image Playground. You’ll be able to create polls – and Apple Intelligence can suggest adding a poll if it senses that might be helpful. And group chats are getting typing indicators.
To make new emoji, Apple will let you merge two emoji with Genmoji instead of just using a text description. And Image Playground is getting a new feature that lets you make images with the help of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Apple is also adding Live Translation, powered by Apple Intelligence, that can translate conversations in real time. It runs using models that are all on-device. The translations can happen in text threads or on phone or FaceTime calls, for example. Developers will be able to add Live Translations to their apps with an API, too.
Apple Music is getting lyrics translation and lyrics pronunciation. AutoMix can seamlessly transition songs from one to another like a DJ. You’ll also be able to pin your favorite artists and playlists to the top of the app.
Apple Maps will be able to learn and offer your preferred routes, and it can send you a notification if there’s delays or traffic on that route. You’ll also be able to check back on your visited places, if you want to more easily share them with your friends.
This is also Apple’s second major iOS update following the introduction of the company’s Apple Intelligence AI features. iOS 18 received some basic AI features like tools to improve writing, Genmoji for custom emoji, and integration with ChatGPT. But some big promised upgrades to Siri, like the ability to take action based on what it could see on your phone, were delayed ahead of their expected launch.
