The final version of iOS 26 was unveiled at Apple’s big event on September 9, 2025 (along with iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Series 11, SE 3 and AirPods Pro 3). Since then, iOS 26 has been officially introduced and made available on iPhones with an update on September 15 and integrated directly into new models as they come out.
Initially announced at WWDC 2025, iOS 26 remained in beta for some time, initially reserved for developers and later available to the public.
Therefore, Apple has had enough time to perfect this version and now that it is available, we know all the new features. Here’s everything you need to know about this software update and its key features.
The essence in a nutshell
- What is this? The next major update to the iPhone operating system.
- When will it be released? It was announced on June 9th and will be implemented on September 15th.
- Who will benefit from it? All iPhone 11 models are supported.
iOS 26: release date
iOS 26 was first introduced on June 9, 2025 during WWDC, and the final version was released on September 15. All supported devices can now take advantage of it.
The next expected update is iOS 26.2, currently in beta. Market launch is expected in late 2025. New features include a “liquid glass” slider on the lock screen, the ability to add alarms to reminders, more accurate sleep statistics, and other improvements.
Previously, iOS 26.1 was released with a number of useful features, such as a redesign of the alarm screen that makes it harder to accidentally turn off an alarm, a color option for Liquid Glass, new control gestures for Apple Music, and a redesigned logo for the Apple TV app.
iOS 26: Compatibility
iPhone XS is not compatible with iOS 26.
If you have an iPhone 11 series or later or an iPhone SE (2020) or later, you can download iOS 26.
This means that almost all phones that can receive iOS 18 can also receive iOS 26, with the exception of the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
iOS 26: a new design
Although iOS 26 introduces many new features, the most noticeable change is the appearance of the system. Apple has completely redesigned the interface.
This is the biggest iPhone software overhaul since iOS 7, which debuted with the iPhone 5s and 5c. A big change that revolves around a new digital ‘material’ called Liquid Glass.
In practical terms, this means lots of rounded and transparent elements directly inspired by visionOS, as well as a new light theme that can replace the usual light or dark modes.
This gives the user interface a fresher look, and this aesthetic has been carried over to most of Apple’s other operating systems, strengthening the visual unity between devices.
However, some users are skeptical about this redesign. Some even mention vision problems or…
iOS 26: new features
iOS 26 includes a number of useful new features, from app redesigns to improved Apple Intelligence. Details can be found below.
A new photo application
iOS 26 features a redesigned camera app that streamlines the photo and video modes to make them easier to use.
When you launch the app, the only options shown below the trigger are “Photos” and “Video” instead of the plethora of options in iOS 18. Then, after selecting one of those options, you can see other related options by swiping left or right.
Other camera menus have also been reorganized to make them clearer and more intuitive. Therefore, navigating the camera app should be much easier with iOS 26.
Improvements in Apple Intelligence
Siri hasn’t yet received the ChatGPT-like makeover we were hoping for, but iOS 26 includes some Apple Intelligence improvements.
Live Translation translates text and audio in the Phone, Messages and FaceTime apps, while visual intelligence has been enhanced to help you understand what’s on the screen.
The Shortcuts app has also been improved and includes a new set of shortcuts powered by Apple Intelligence. With Genmoji and Image Playground, you can now combine emoji, genmoji and descriptions to create something completely new.
Apple games follow Game Center
Apple Games is a new app that replaces Game Center, but unlike Game Center, you can launch it manually and find and launch games from there.
There you will also find rankings and track your progress. The same application will soon also be available on macOS, reinforcing the sense of unity between these operating systems.
A completely redesigned phone app
Call tracking in iOS 26
The Phone app also got some attention in iOS 26, with a simpler design that merges Favorites, Recent Calls and Voicemail into one screen.
What’s even better is that it now has a call monitoring feature that lets you hear what a call is about before you decide whether to accept it or not. There’s also a hold assist feature that alerts you when you’re no longer in standby mode.
iOS26 will improve battery life
Your phone’s battery life can also be improved in iOS 26, thanks to a new adaptive power mode that makes changes in the background to reduce battery usage at the expense of screen brightness and performance. Therefore, this feature is useful when the battery level is low.
There is also a new load time estimate. Indicates how long it takes to charge the battery. More detailed battery statistics can be found in the “Battery” section of the “Settings” section.
New flight tracking features
Frequent travelers will appreciate iOS 26 because if your boarding pass is stored in Wallet, Apple lets you see the associated activity in real time, giving you real-time information about your flight.
This enhanced boarding pass experience also provides the airport map and shortcuts to track your bags.
Other minor updates
Apple Maps in iOS 26
In addition to the major innovations discussed above, iOS 26 also offers some minor innovations.
These include text translation and pronunciation tools in Apple Music, a new screen for visited places in Apple Maps, the ability to pay for in-store purchases in installments with Apple Pay, notifications when the phone’s camera lens is dirty, and additional options for background sounds.
iOS 26 also filters messages from unknown senders so they don’t clutter your inbox, and you can create polls in the Messages app.
And there’s a new feature called “Recovery Assistant,” which Apple describes as “a new way to restore your device if it won’t boot normally.” You can look for problems and try to solve them if you encounter them.
Also, as part of iOS 26, CarPlay gets a new design and new features, like the tapback tool in Messages.
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