As anticipated, the spotlight of immediately’s Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) keynote was an all-new design coming to Apple’s working techniques this yr. This design gained’t be solely for the iPhone and iPad; this yr, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS are additionally becoming a member of the social gathering.
Apple’s resolution to present every little thing a contemporary coat of paint isn’t simply change for the sake of change. Positive, it’s been 12 years for the reason that final time iOS noticed such substantial modifications, however we’ve additionally seen the corporate’s software program diverging in odd methods. Whereas iPadOS and iOS have all the time been joined on the hip — they weren’t even distinct working techniques till 2019 — Apple’s consumer experiences on its different platforms have all the time felt extra loosely affiliated with the iPhone and iPad.
Probably the most vital objective of the brand new design language this yr, which Apple has dubbed “Liquid Glass,” is to unify its working techniques, bringing a well-known feel and look throughout the whole household. Mac customers will really feel extra at dwelling when choosing up an iPhone, and vice-versa. Plus, the Imaginative and prescient Professional, which turned an outlier with its extra spatially oriented software program, now blends correctly into the household — or, perhaps it’s extra acceptable to say the remainder of the household follows its lead.
Apple has additionally clearly signaled its want for software program unity this yr by shaking up its model numbers to accompany the brand new design. As a late Could rumor steered, this yr’s releases will likely be numbered “26” throughout the board: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26. These are primarily based on the upcoming launch yr; individuals will likely be utilizing iOS 26 on their iPhones for extra time in 2026 than in 2025 — and a few could not even get there till subsequent yr.
Enter ‘Liquid Glass’
Rumors of an iOS redesign started circulating in early 2024, shortly after the Imaginative and prescient Professional was launched. Some leakers predicted that Apple was planning to revamp iOS 18 to match the Imaginative and prescient Professional consumer interface; nevertheless, we’ll in all probability by no means know if that was ever on the drafting board inside Apple Park or if the leakers jumped the gun. Both approach, the redesign is right here now, and it’s each greater and smaller than what we anticipated.
It’s greater as a result of it encompasses extra than simply the iPhone. In the identical approach that Apple Intelligence was the central theme of final yr’s WWDC, all eyes have been on the redesign this yr. Tim Cook dinner and Craig Federighi kicked off the keynote as standard, however the first standalone presentation was by Alan Dye, Apple’s vp of Human Interface and one of many torch-bearers of Jony Ive’s legacy inside Apple.
Whereas Dye used iOS 7 on the iPhone for instance of Apple’s final main software program redesign, his presentation on the brand new “Liquid Glass” design coated the whole spectrum of Apple’s merchandise, setting the stage for the iOS 26 unveiling that will come subsequent.
It’s the broadest design replace Apple has ever undertaken, however whereas it’s primarily based on visionOS, as many have predicted, it doesn’t go as far or deep as a few of these predictions. Many believed the brand new design would mimic visionOS to the purpose of abandoning the longstanding sq. icons in favor of circles throughout the board.
Fortunately, that didn’t occur. As an alternative, we get a brand new consumer interface that appears remarkably just like the one in iOS 18, simply with extra translucency and depth. At a look, you’d be hard-pressed to assume that the iOS 26 Dwelling Display screen seems that totally different, however the modifications are obvious when you study it extra intently.
Nevertheless, the design modifications grow to be much more evident when you delve into the person apps. Menus, buttons, and textual content enter fields now have a clear look that mirrors the optical qualities of glass in a really pure and life like approach. They refract mild and dynamically react to motion. That’s all due to the highly effective A-series chips in Apple’s newest iPhones.
It additionally powers a brand new “Clear” search for the Dwelling Display screen. Final yr, iOS 18 gave us the flexibility to set mild, darkish, or tinted app icons; iOS 26 will allow you to make them translucent, identical to glass.
What Else is New in iOS 26?
Whereas there’s little doubt that the brand new design stole the present — no less than so far as Apple is anxious — it’s not all that’s coming in Apple’s subsequent main iPhone software program launch.
Some options are impressed by the brand new design, whereas others are core enhancements with little or nothing to do with it. Right here’s a fast rundown of every little thing Apple introduced immediately.
Lock Display screen
That is the place the liquid glass motif conjures up some attention-grabbing modifications. For one factor, swiping up on the Lock Display screen now supplies a glass edge that makes it really feel such as you’re sliding away a pane of glass with an all-clear look.
Apple has additionally added extra dynamic wallpapers into the combo to profit from your Lock Display screen pictures. The clock will now dynamically scale its width and top to match your photograph, avoiding blocking the topic whereas additionally not losing any extreme house.
Alongside the identical traces, the wallpaper will adapt to make sure the most effective a part of the photograph stays in view as notifications are available in. Regardless that the brand new glassy design is translucent sufficient to see your wallpaper, it will guarantee it’s not blocked. Wallpapers can even now benefit from Spatial Scenes to offer beautiful 3D results in opposition to your regular 2D pictures.
One other last-minute prediction that turned out to be true is that the Lock Display screen will now assist full-screen animated paintings, which seems much more pure in opposition to the glassy playback controls.
The Digital camera App
One of many earliest rumors of a redesign this yr was centred round Apple’s Digital camera app, and it turned out to be largely on the mark.
There’s little argument that the Digital camera app has began to get cluttered. As Apple has added extra options over time that required new controls, it’s grow to be downright overwhelming. Apple partially addressed this on the iPhone 16 lineup in iOS 18 by giving us the Digital camera Management and making every little thing go away when it was in use, however that doesn’t actually resolve the issue.
With iOS 26, Apple has gone with a extra minimalist presentation that places the 2 most-used controls — Photograph and Video — on the backside. You possibly can swipe over to see the opposite standard suspects like Slo-Mo and Panorama, however they’re out of sight until you need them.
Because of Apple’s newfound love for glass panels, swiping up and accessing different controls now presents all of them in a single view, so there’s no extra swiping and attempting to find the setting you wish to change.
Images
Apple made some vital modifications to the Images app final yr that weren’t as eagerly embraced as a few of its designers possible anticipated. Whereas it’s not making a whole turnaround, it’s strolling a few of these again in iOS 26, using the brand new design to offer the most effective of each worlds.
As an alternative of swiping right down to entry an often-cluttered part of albums and different collections, Apple has positioned three translucent glassy buttons on the backside, offering fast entry to Library, Collections, and Search.
The demonstration didn’t spend way more time on that, so it’s arduous to say what the Collections view will appear to be. We’re guessing it will likely be much like what we see now in iOS 18, simply accessed extra intuitively.
Safari
Apple can be utilizing its new liquid glass design to offer a extra edge-to-edge Safari expertise. Whereas all of the acquainted components are there, they’ve been moved up into the glass layer in order that they hover above the online web page and disappear after they’re not wanted.
Facetime
Along with the liquid glass therapy that retains the controls out of the best way, Apple has additionally redesigned the touchdown web page to offer a extra graphically wealthy view of your family and friends, full with personalised contact posters.
Cellphone
The Cellphone app is getting an enormous redesign in iOS 26, not solely adopting liquid glass but in addition transferring to a extra unified format, form of just like the Images app did final yr.
Apple is borrowing a web page from the Messages app, putting your favorites on the prime in the identical approach pinned contacts seem in Messages, and mixing current calls and voicemails in a single listing. It toyed with that in final yr’s iOS 18 betas however pulled earlier than the ultimate launch.
After we encountered it final summer time, it appeared like a smart format, because it saves you a visit to a separate “Voicemail” tab. To not point out the double badge depend you find yourself with when you’ve each a missed name and a voicemail from that caller. The underside tab bar has been eliminated in favor of glassy buttons for Contacts and Keypad, which nonetheless dwell in their very own sections.
Apple may even use Apple Intelligence to summarize voicemails on this display screen so you’ll be able to see what the individual was speaking about at a look.
Intelligence Name Screening and Maintain Help options are additionally lastly coming to the iPhone. These have been accessible within the Android world for some time, most notably on Google’s Pixel telephones, and from how Apple described it, we anticipate they’ll work in a lot the identical approach.
Name Screening will routinely reply calls from unknown numbers silently, asking the individual what they’re calling about. As soon as they describe it, you’ll get a textual content to let you already know what they need, after which you’ll be able to select to reply or decline the decision.
Maintain Help will provide to take over while you’re positioned on maintain. It autodetects maintain music and provides to fold the decision into the background so you’ll be able to transfer on with different issues, routinely notifying you to choose again up when a dwell agent turns into accessible.
Messages
Whereas Apple’s Messages app has pulled forward of the competitors in some areas, equivalent to the flexibility to edit and unsend messages, it lags behind in others. This yr, it’s coming in from behind once more by including backgrounds and polls for group chats.
These will likely be readily acquainted to anybody who has used almost some other messaging app on the planet. You possibly can select from a set of dynamic backgrounds, any photograph out of your library, or an Picture Playground-generated picture.
Polls work precisely the way you’d anticipate, with the extra twist that Apple Intelligence-capable units may even be capable to recommend a ballot when one is acceptable. As with Apple’s different AI options, this depends solely on on-device processing, so your chats aren’t despatched to any AI clouds within the sky.
Apple can be including Apple Money assist for Group Chats to make it simpler to gather for joint ventures like items or to recoup the prices of an evening out. Group Chats are additionally lastly getting typing indicators, so you already know when somebody is about to say one thing.
Genmoji and Picture Playground
Apple Intelligence wasn’t almost as outstanding at this yr’s WWDC, and Apple didn’t actually announce any groundbreaking new options. Nevertheless, it made a degree of speaking about what number of little AI-powered issues had been baked in all through its working techniques. It additionally introduced two small however attention-grabbing enhancements to its AI picture technology instruments.
Genmoji will acquire the flexibility to combine any two customary emojis to create a brand new one. You should use a default mixture or refine it additional with an outline. You’ll additionally be capable to simply change expressions when making a Genmoji primarily based on the image of a good friend or member of the family.
Picture Playground will add assist for ChatGPT to allow you to use the extra superior AI system to create new photos. This can empower new kinds, and whereas it can ship your requests to ChatGPT to course of these photos, it gained’t accomplish that with out your permission.
Reside Translation
Maybe essentially the most outstanding AI-powered function on this yr’s iOS 26 launch is Reside Translation. Apple is integrating translation options into Messages, FaceTime, and Telephones to translate conversations on the fly — all totally on-device.
Translation in Messages works very similar to you’d anticipate, though it may be carried out transparently. Messages you ship may even be auto-translated into the opposite social gathering’s language. We’re unsure how that will likely be decided, however presumably, it may possibly depend on the default language of the sending and receiving units or a language specified by the chat members.
For FaceTime, dwell captions will translate what the opposite individual is saying into text-based subtitles. Nevertheless, throughout Cellphone calls, it can really be translated dwell into synthesized speech as you speak (and because the different individual talks to you).
Whereas that is much like the AirPods “Common Translator” function we heard rumored over the previous few months, Apple had nothing to say about translating real-world conversations. Both these rumors have been off the mark, or Apple is holding that again for a fall announcement.
Music
Apple Music will be capable to translate track lyrics and provide help to pronounce them. Plus, a brand new AutoMix function will leverage AI to combine between songs extra seamlessly, like a DJ, utilizing time shifting and beat matching slightly than counting on a hard and fast crossfade interval.
A brand new pinned part will allow you to pin your favourite artists, albums, and music to the highest of your music library.
Maps
Apple Maps will now use on-device machine studying to maintain observe of your most popular routes — together with any stops you often make alongside the best way, equivalent to hitting your favourite espresso store on the best way to work — and provide them up as default routes when navigating to these places.
These will adapt in case your routine modifications, and the Apple Maps widget may even present a fast view of your anticipated commute time primarily based in your common routes and notify you if there are issues on an anticipated route.
A brand new Visited Locations function will provide help to hold observe of the place you’ve been. You possibly can browse or search from a collected library. This information is protected with end-to-end encryption, and particular person places might be deleted at any time.
Pockets
Whereas Apple was the primary to announce assist for digital driver’s licenses years in the past in iOS 15, final yr Google beat it to the punch on supporting US passports in Google Pockets. Apple now matches that with its personal digital ID growth in iOS 26.
This fall, you’ll be capable to retailer your US passport, however Apple made it clear this gained’t be a alternative for carrying your bodily passport throughout worldwide journey. Like a digital driver’s license, it will likely be useful for identification however not for many locations the place you’d must show you’re a sound passport holder.
Apple can be refreshing boarding passes to supply extra options, together with entry to indoor airport mapping, a hyperlink to Discover My to assist observe your baggage, and the flexibility to share your flight standing proper from the Pockets app.
Apple Pay will permit customers to redeem factors or pay with installments throughout in-person purchases. Apple Intelligence will scan for order affirmation emails from the Mail app and add them to the Orders part in Pockets.
Video games App
Apple unveiled a brand new Video games app that can present a one-stop hub the place you’ll be able to see all of the video games you’re enjoying, with updates, suggestions, and in-game occasions, plus a devoted Apple Arcade tab to obtain new titles from Apple’s subscription gaming service.
A Library tab will present a listing of each sport you’ve ever downloaded, and new Play Collectively and Challenges screens will encourage multiplayer gaming and competitions.
This doesn’t technically exchange Recreation Heart a lot as present a brand new unified interface. Years in the past, Apple discontinued the standalone Recreation Heart app in favor of letting every sport developer present its personal gateway into the underlying system. With iOS 26, it’s principally bringing that standalone app again.
Visible Intelligence
One other AI development in iOS 26 would be the capacity to make use of visible intelligence to determine something in your display screen slightly than simply what you’ll be able to level your digital camera at.
This will likely be powered by new buttons that seem while you take a screenshot. Along with the usual buttons for modifying, sharing, and saving screenshots, a set of visible intelligence buttons on the backside will allow you to Ask ChatGPT for extra details about a photograph or carry out a Google Picture Search on it. You’ll additionally be capable to choose part of a photograph to carry out the search or question solely on a selected merchandise inside a bigger picture.
As with the present camera-based visible intelligence, extra particular buttons will likely be proven for photos that include related textual content data, equivalent to an “Add to Calendar” button when a date is detected.
When’s It Coming?
One factor that hasn’t modified with the brand new design and massive bounce to iOS 26 is Apple’s launch schedule. As standard, we are able to anticipate a public launch this fall, possible alongside the brand new iPhone 17 lineup.
This will likely be preceded by a public beta someday in July. The iOS 26 Developer Beta is offered now however is restricted to registered builders to be used on units devoted to testing new apps.