Apple just ended its WWDC event for June, and, like every year, there is a reveal of the new iOS version that is set for a stable release later this year. While Apple released iOS 18 last year, you would expect Apple to release iOS 19 this year. But that’s not the case. Instead, Apple has renamed its new operating system to iOS 26 and will continue with the numbering system from now onwards.
Today, we will be taking a look at everything you need to know about iOS 26, its new features, when it’s expected to be released as a stable update, and most importantly, what devices will be updated to the new iOS 26. Let’s get started.
iOS 26 Beta and Stable Release Timeline
The beta version for iOS 26 has already rolled out, and users with compatible iPhones can download and install the beta version right now. To know more about the beta version of iOS 26 and how you can install it on your iPhone, you can check out our detailed yet simple guide by clicking this link.
As for the stable version of iOS 26, you can expect the stable version for all devices, i.e., iPhones and iPads, right after the WWDC event that usually takes place in September. This will also be the time when the stable versions for macOS and VisionOS, watchOS, and tvOS will be released.
iOS 26 Features
iOS 26: New Refresh Look
Apple, apart from jumping forward to iOS 26 from iOS 18, has also revamped its UI. This UI, known as Liquid Glass for iOS, is aimed at unifying the interface between all of its devices, such as the iPads, iPhones, Vision Pro, and the MacBooks. The new UI brings new translucent effects to all the elements in the UI.
From the home screen icons to the control center, and even the lock screen notifications, everything will now have the Liquid Glass effect. Even the widgets will get this new, clear, styled look.
iOS 26: Lock Screen Changes
The new Liquid Glass effect will carry over to the lock screen. Your widgets and notifications will have a clear, translucent effect. What’s new with iOS 26 is the lock screen clock. The clock will now occupy space on the lock screen based on the wallpaper. Spatial scenes for the wallpaper will let you experience a 3D effect when you move the iPhone around.
iOS 26: Camera Layout and Photos App Improvements
The Camera app has simplified all the menus and options, making it a distraction-free user experience. Meanwhile, the Photos app finally gets separate tabs for the Library and Collection views, making the app more organized.
iOS 26: New Apple Intelligence Enhancements
Apple has brought new features that are powered by Apple Intelligence. The first new feature is the Live Translation feature. With the help of AI, you can easily translate from one language to another when communicating via the Phone app, the iMessage app, and also via FaceTime. All the data is being processed on the device and will always stay private.
Now, when looking at something on your screen, you can easily and quickly ask ChatGPT to give you more details about what’s on your screen. Known as Visual Intelligence, you can easily ask ChatGPT to search for products similar to what’s on-screen and add events to your calendar without you having to switch between apps or windows.
Apple Intelligence can now summarize emails related to order tracking and flights and give you the necessary details in one place, including progress notifications. Whether you have made purchases using Apple Pay or any other form of payment.
Another great feature that can help protect you from fraudsters and scammers is the new Call Screening feature. With this feature enabled, your iPhone will ask the caller their name and the reason why they are calling you.
This screening feature will also expand to the iMessage app messages from unknown senders will be moved to a dedicated folder and will now let users mark such messages as known, delete, or ask for more information. Messages can also be silenced and can be unsilenced by the user as and when they like.
iOS 26: Chat Backgrounds, Polls, and Apple Cash in iMessage
Apple has finally brought the option to add custom chat backgrounds to the chat screen in iMessage. Users can now create polls, see who’s typing in a group chat, and even send or request money with Apple Cash. For the chat backgrounds, users can also generate images via Image Playground.
iOS 26: Additional New Features
Apple Music Lyrics Translation
Apple Music users will now get lyric translations for their favorite songs. Lyrics Pronunciation will help listeners to sing their favorite songs the correct way, regardless of the song‘s language. The new DJ Automix feature will use Apple Intelligence to transition from one song to another by time stretching and also matching the next song’s beat.
New Visited Places in Apple Maps
Visited Places is a new Apple Maps feature that shows users places that they have visited previously. The Maps app will also learn the user’s daily routine and offer the user a route, a preferred or faster/easier route. The user will also be alerted well in advance in case there are some delays on the particular route, and will be offered an alternate route. The Visited Places data is locked with end-to-end encryption and cannot be accessed even by Apple.
Apple Wallets Let’s You Share Live Activities
With iOS 26, the Apple Wallet will let you share Live Activities for real-time updates. For example, when you add your flight’s boarding passes to Apple Wallet, you will get the option to view live updates via the flight tracker. Additionally, users will also get Apple Maps navigation to airports, and the option to track their items via Find My.
New Games App with iOS 26
Designed with Apple Arcade in mind, the Games app lets you continue with your existing games, helps you find new games, and also see all major events and game updates within the Games app itself.
AirPods Enhancements with iOS 26
If you own the AirPods 4, AirPods 4 AnC, or the AirPods Pro 2, you now get the option to record studio-level audio using your iPhone, iPad, or macOS device. The new Camera Remote feature for the AirPods lets you press and hold the AirPod’s stem to capture an image or start/stop video recording. The video recording feature will work on iPhone and iPad.
New Parental Controls for Kids
iOS 26 aims to bring in better parental controls across Communication Limits, Communication Safety, and the App Store will now require parental approvals. Sensitive Content shared during FaceTime calls will be blurred.
Additionally, the parent can also grant an exception to their child to download a particular app that may exceed a set content restriction for apps. Parents can finally move their kid’s existing Apple account to the child’s account or simply create a new Child Account if they do not have an account.
Safari Gets More Secure
Apple’s built-in browser, Safari, now by default has enabled advanced fingerprinting protection, which helps you to browse more securely.
iOS 26 Brings Advanced Accessibility Features
With the new Accessibility Reader, you can customize the system-wide reading access as well as Braille access. Furthermore, iPhones with connected Braille displays get a new interface. The new iOS also brings updates to Live Listen, Background Sounds, and also to Personal Voice, which helps users to easily navigate and use across all products and services in the Apple ecosystem.
iOS 26: All Supported iPhones
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 Mini
- iPhone13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone SE 2
- iPhone SE 3
iPadOS 26: All Supported iPads
- iPad 10
- iPad 11
- iPad 8
- iPad 9
- iPad Air 11-inch M2
- iPad Air 11-inch M3
- iPad Air 13-inch M2
- iPad Air 13-inch M3
- iPad Air 3rd gen
- iPad Air 4th gen
- iPad Air 5th gen
- iPad Mini 5th gen
- iPad Mini 6th gen
- iPad Mini 7th gen
- iPad Pro 11-inch A12X
- iPad Pro 11-inch A12Z
- iPad Pro 11-inch M1
- iPad Pro 11-inch M2
- iPad Pro 11-inch M4
- iPad Pro 12.9 inch A12X
- iPad Pro 12.9 inch A12Z
- iPad Pro 12.9 inch M1
- iPad Pro 12.9 inch M2
- iPad Pro 13-inch M4
This concludes everything that you need to know about the newly announced iOS 26 from Apple for the iPhone. What are your thoughts on the brand new iOS update? Is there something that you like or dislike? Were you expecting some more useful features? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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