Apple has released a preview of iOS 26, bringing a new look and new features to Apple device users.
Debuting Apple’s new ‘Liquid Glass’ design, the features are heavy on Apple Intelligence, the company’s in-house AI suite.
“iOS 26 shines with the gorgeous new design and meaningful improvements to the features users rely on every day, making iPhone even more helpful,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering.
“Experiences are more expressive and personal, from the lock screen and home screen, to new capabilities across Phone and Messages that help users focus on the connections that matter most.
“And with powerful new Apple Intelligence capabilities integrated across the system, users can get things done easier than ever.”
The current iOS is 18, meaning Apple is skipping over numbers 19 through 25 to land straight on iOS 26.
Here’s why 26 is next up for Apple users and a closer look at what the next major iOS update will bring.
Features of iOS 26
Liquid glass
Apple’s Liquid Glass, a translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings, is central to its new aesthetic.
It essentially appears to be an extra layer under the screen that adds a floating atmosphere to the screen. It’s most clear to see when you hover over text or apps, with an effect that appears glassier than usual.
Colours appear more vivid, logos appear to float, and the overall look is more fluid and vibrant.
Apple promises greater clarity, as well as new customisation options for app icons and widgets to make your home and lock screens more personal to you.
Liquid Glass materials are also being made available to app developers so that the new look can be unified across the device system and third-party apps.
Apple Intelligence
Every tech company is leaning into AI right now, and Apple is no different. In-house tools like Messages, FaceTime, and Phone are getting more AI-powered features, including Live Translation.
On a more general basis, iPhone users will be able to search anything they can see on their phone screen, across any app, as well as ask ChatGPT about what they’re looking at, or search across Google, Etsy, and other supported apps to find similar images or products.
Apple Intelligence will also be able to spot an event you’re looking at and instantly add it to your calendar.
Customisation is also a central part of the AI offering, with a whole new set of shortcuts on the docket to speed up writing and image editing.
No more spam calls
A new feature called Call Screening can take details from a caller and feed them back to you without picking up the phone, so you can decide whether to take the call or not.
There’s a similar feature for Messages, with anything coming from an unknown number sent to a separate folder for review, similar to an email account’s spam folder.
Time for a sing along
Similar to Live Translation for messages, Apple Music will soon offer Lyrics Translation and Lyrics Pronunciation to help people understand their favourite songs, regardless of language.
Why did Apple skip numbers?
Apple has decided to move towards an iOS system that aligns with the following year of its launch.
With the next update planned to release later this year, that gives it the title of iOS 2026, named after 2026.
The update that launches in the autumn of 2026 will then be called iOS 27, and so on.
When is iOS 26 available?
Beta testers can already access these features via the Apple Developer Program, with a public beta coming available in July.
The new features from iOS 26 will be fully available in the autumn as part of the software update for all users of iPhone 11 and later.
