Apple has officially unveiled its next major software update for the iPhone: iOS 26. Introduced at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2025, this release represents a significant leap forward, promising to “elevate the iPhone experience” with a groundbreaking new design, powerful intelligence features, and substantial enhancements across core apps. While Apple didn’t provide an exact day for the public rollout, we have a clear timeframe for when iPhone users can expect to download the update this fall.
Here’s everything iPhone users need to know about the upcoming release of iOS 26, its expected timing, and the standout features announced by Apple.
When Will iOS 26 Be Released?
While a precise general release date is still pending confirmation, Apple has indicated that iOS 26 is expected to become available to the public in mid-September 2025.
This timing aligns with Apple’s long-standing tradition of releasing major iOS updates just a few days before the launch of the newest iPhone models, which in this case are anticipated to be the iPhone 17 series. The exact release date is likely to be announced during the dedicated iPhone 17 event, typically held in early September.
For those eager to get a preview, the developer beta version of iOS 26 was released immediately following the WWDC keynote on June 9, 2025. A public beta program is scheduled to open in July 2025, allowing non-developers to test the software and provide feedback. Users can sign up for the public beta via the Apple Beta Software Program.
A Stunning New Look: Introducing Liquid Glass Design
One of the most striking changes in iOS 26 is a completely revamped visual design language called “Liquid Glass.” Described as Apple’s most extensive design overhaul in years, this aesthetic is characterized by translucent, glass-like elements that subtly reflect and refract their surroundings.
The Liquid Glass design aims to put greater focus on your content by making interface elements like controls, navigation bars, icons, and widgets appear more dynamic and context-aware. You’ll see this new look integrated system-wide, affecting:
Home Screen & Lock Screen: Offering new personalization options, including a “clear look” for icons and widgets.
System Elements: Redesigned notifications, Control Center, and toolbars with semi-translucent effects and rounded corners.
Core Apps: Significant visual updates to apps like Phone, Messages, Safari, Photos, and Apple Music, creating a more cohesive and visually appealing experience across the platform.
The Liquid Glass material is also being extended to other Apple operating systems like iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe, bringing greater visual consistency across devices.
Unprecedented Intelligence Powered by Apple Intelligence
Another cornerstone of iOS 26 is the deeper integration of Apple Intelligence. These powerful new capabilities are built with privacy in mind, often processing information directly on your device or through Apple’s secure Private Cloud Compute. It’s important to note that many of the most advanced Apple Intelligence features will require newer iPhone hardware due to processing demands, specifically the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and all models in the upcoming iPhone 16 series.
Key Apple Intelligence features include:
Live Translation: Break down language barriers in real-time. Translate text and audio in Messages, FaceTime, and even during phone calls (call translation requires iPhone 15 Pro or later).
Visual Intelligence: Interact with content on your screen like never before. Search and act upon anything visible in screenshots or across apps. Ask questions about images using integrated AI (like ChatGPT), identify objects, find similar items online, and automatically recognize events to suggest adding them to your calendar with pre-filled details.
Genmoji & Image Playground: Get creative with AI. Genmoji lets you create custom emoji by combining existing ones or using text descriptions. Image Playground integrates AI image generation, allowing you to create new images in various styles (Anime, Oil Painting, Vector) using descriptions.
Intelligent Shortcuts: The Shortcuts app becomes even more powerful with AI-driven actions, enabling complex automations powered by on-device or cloud AI models.
Smart Order Tracking: Wallet can now scan emails for order details from any retailer (not just Apple Pay purchases) and consolidate tracking information.
Key Features Enhancing Your Daily iPhone Use
Beyond the major design and AI themes, iOS 26 brings numerous other enhancements and new functionalities to core iPhone apps and experiences:
Communication Enhancements
Messages: Create polls directly within group chats (with AI suggestions), customize conversation backgrounds, screen messages from unknown senders into a separate, silenced folder, use natural language search, get real-time Live Translation, see typing indicators in group chats, and easily add contacts or send/receive Apple Cash (U.S.).
Phone: Features a streamlined, unified layout for Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails. Call Screening uses Live Voicemail to ask unknown callers for their name and reason before you decide to answer. Hold Assist notifies you when a live agent is available while you’re on hold.
FaceTime: Will support Live Captions.
Third-Party Apps: A new Call Translation API will allow third-party communication apps to integrate real-time translation.
Enhanced Daily Life
Wallet: See AI-scanned order tracking information, use Apple Pay for in-store payments with installments or rewards, access updated boarding passes with Live Activities for real-time flight updates and integrated Maps/Find My links. Supports Digital ID for verification at select TSA checkpoints and online.
Maps: The app learns your preferred routes and provides proactive delay notifications and alternative suggestions using on-device intelligence. You can also save and revisit “Visited Places” securely.
Battery: An Adaptive Power mode intelligently adjusts settings during high usage to preserve battery life. The Battery section in Settings offers more detailed weekly usage insights and comparisons to your typical usage. You’ll also see an estimated charging time displayed directly on the Lock Screen.
Entertainment & Creativity
Apple Music: Features Lyrics Translation and Lyrics Pronunciation. AutoMix creates seamless DJ-like transitions between songs using intelligence. Pinned playlists and playlist folders make organization easier. The Lock Screen Now Playing widget showcases full-screen animated album artwork.
Photos: Reverts to separate Library and Collections tabs. Introduces Spatial Scenes to transform 2D photos into immersive 3D images with depth.
Camera: Features a simplified layout with expandable settings menus and notifies you if the lens is dirty. AirPod users (4th gen/Pro 2) can use their AirPods as a remote by pressing the stem.
Games: A brand new, pre-installed Games app serves as a central hub for discovering and playing all your games, including Apple Arcade titles. It includes features like recommendations, leaderboards, and challenges with friends.
Preview App: The beloved Mac app comes to iPhone (and iPad), providing native PDF and image editing capabilities.
Privacy & Security
Safari: Features enhanced Advanced Tracking Prevention enabled by default for all browsing sessions, not just Private Browsing.
AI Privacy: Apple emphasizes that many Apple Intelligence features run on-device or via Private Cloud Compute to protect user data.
Major Accessibility Improvements
iOS 26 brings significant advancements in Accessibility features:
App Store Labels: New labels detail an app’s accessibility support.
Accessibility Reader: A system-wide feature for customizing text appearance.
Braille Access: Use your iPhone or iPad as a braille note-taking device.
Background Sounds: Three new sounds added.
Personal Voice: Faster creation process, now supports Spanish.
Vehicle Motion Cues: Customizable cues to reduce motion sickness.
Eye Tracking & Head Tracking: Improved accuracy and control.
Brain Computer Interface Protocol: Support for Switch Control.
Assistive Access: Simplified Apple TV app experience.
Music Haptics: Customizable haptic feedback for music.
Sound Recognition: Can recognize someone calling your name.
Live Captions: Expanded language support.
Share Accessibility Settings: Option to temporarily share your settings.
What iPhones Will Get iOS 26?
iOS 26 will be a free software update compatible with a wide range of existing iPhone models. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook and confirmation on Apple’s website, the update will be available for:
iPhone 11 and later models (including iPhone 11 Pro/Pro Max)
iPhone 12 series (12 mini, 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max)
iPhone 13 series (13 mini, 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max)
iPhone 14 series (14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max)
iPhone 15 series (15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max)
iPhone 16 series (16e, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max)
iPhone SE (second generation) and later models.
This means models older than the iPhone 11, such as the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, will not be eligible for iOS 26.
Important Note on Apple Intelligence: As mentioned earlier, while iOS 26 is compatible with iPhone 11 and newer, the most advanced Apple Intelligence features require the Neural Engine capabilities found in more recent chipsets. These features will only be available on:
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
- All upcoming iPhone 16 models
- www.apple.com
- www.azcentral.com
- www.engadget.com
- 9to5mac.com
- www.macrumors.com
Get Ready for the Update
With a stunning new Liquid Glass design, groundbreaking Apple Intelligence features, and a wealth of improvements across essential apps, iOS 26 is shaping up to be one of Apple’s most significant iPhone software updates in years. While we await the final confirmation of the September release date, the availability of the public beta in July means many users can get an early look at what’s coming. Ensure your eligible iPhone is ready for the update this fall to experience the next generation of the iPhone experience.
