Apple iOS 26 Brings Stunning New Design, Smarter Features, and More!

Apple just pulled the covers off of iOS 26 today at their annual WWDC event, and it’s packed with updates that elevate the iPhone experience across the board, from a sleek new design to smarter features powered by Apple Intelligence to solid upgrades for your favorite apps like Messages, CarPlay, and Wallet.

Whether you’re someone who lives on his phone or you just want to know what’s new before hitting the update button, here’s a closer look at what Apple’s latest iOS has in store.

A Fresh Look That’s Still Familiar

First up, the visual overhaul. iOS 26 introduces a new design language that Apple calls Liquid Glass. This gives the interface a translucent, almost holographic effect that reacts to your surroundings, kind of like looking through polished glass. It adds more depth and personality to everything from icons to widgets, while still feeling like the iOS you know.

The Lock Screen gets in on the action too, with time elements that adapt to your wallpaper and 3D-style spatial scenes that shift when you move your phone.

Even the Camera app has been simplified for easier access to the moment, and apps like Safari, Apple Music, News, and Podcasts now feature floating, dynamic tab bars that stay out of the way when you’re scrolling through content.

Apple Intelligence Gets Smarter – And More Personal

Apple’s version of AI, dubbed Apple Intelligence, now has deeper hooks into iOS 26. It’s baked right into your device, so most tasks are handled on-device, keeping your data private.

One standout addition is Live Translation, which works in Messages, FaceTime, and regular calls. It can translate text and speech in real-time on your device, so your private convos stay private. Visual Intelligence adds another layer of functionality by letting you interact with whatever’s on your screen. You can ask ChatGPT questions about what you’re looking at, or search platforms like Etsy or Google directly from within the interface.

There’s also a fun side to Apple Intelligence. The new Genmoji feature lets you create mashups of emojis and custom characters using descriptions. It’s like building your own memes on the fly. And Image Playground brings more creative options for sending images or even generating conversation-specific backgrounds in Messages.

Apple also beefed-up Shortcuts with smarter automation that adapts based on your habits. You’ll now get suggestions for writing tools, image creation, and even setting calendar events when your phone notices something that looks like a scheduled activity. If you’re the kind of guy who orders a lot online, Apple Intelligence can now automatically summarize shipping updates from emails (even ones not tied to Apple Pay) so you can track packages in one view without digging through your inbox.

And in a move developers will love (even if the rest of us never see it), Apple opened up its new Foundation Models framework. This gives third-party apps direct access to Apple’s on-device intelligence – fast, secure, and fully offline, without hidden fees.

Better Calls, Smarter Messaging, Fewer Distractions

If you’re tired of spam calls or being stuck on hold, iOS 26’s updates to the Phone app might be your new favorite thing. Call Screening builds on Live Voicemail by answering unknown calls for you and offering a transcript so you can decide whether to pick up. And Hold Assist monitors hold times and gives you a ping when a live agent finally answers, so no more listening to elevator music for 20 minutes.

Messaging also gets a major upgrade. Messages from unknown senders now get filtered into a separate folder so you can decide what to do with them: block, reply, or ignore. Group chats are more interactive, with typing indicators, Apple Cash support, and even the ability to create quick polls. If the AI notices you’re trying to make a group decision, it’ll suggest starting a poll for you. And with Image Playground baked in, you can generate custom chat backgrounds to set the tone however you want.

CarPlay, Apple Music, and Maps Just Got Cooler

For the guys who live in their cars (or just love tech on the go), CarPlay now offers a slick new compact call view that doesn’t hide your map or directions. You’ll also see pinned conversations and Tapbacks in Messages, along with widgets and Live Activities that make it easier to stay updated without looking away from the road. The new features are also integrated into CarPlay Ultra, a deeper in-dash experience for newer vehicles.

Apple Music is stepping up its game too. Lyrics Translation lets you understand songs in other languages, while Lyrics Pronunciation helps you sing along (even if your karaoke game needs work). And if you like clean transitions between tracks, the new AutoMix DJ-style mode syncs songs with beat matching and time stretching for smooth, nonstop listening.

Apple Maps now keeps track of Visited Places, like restaurants and shops you’ve been to, and stores them in a secure, encrypted list only you can see. It also offers smarter routing by recognizing your habits—like when you’re headed home—and adjusts for traffic or delays automatically.

Wallet gets some love too. You’ll be able to pay in-store with points or installments using Apple Pay, and your boarding passes will now offer real-time updates like flight status, maps of the airport, or reminders from Find My about missing bags.

Bonus Features Worth Checking Out

iOS 26 also debuts Apple Games, a dedicated app that collects all your games into one place and gives you updates, events, and new releases all in one feed. It’s also the easiest way to keep up with Apple Arcade, Apple’s game subscription service with 200+ games.

For AirPods users, there are new features including Voice Isolation and studio-quality audio recording for crystal-clear calls or content creation. If you’ve got AirPods Pro or the upcoming AirPods 4, you’ll even be able to use them as a remote for your iPhone’s camera, letting you snap photos or record videos with a press of the stem.

Parental controls have also been enhanced, letting parents manage Child Accounts more easily and set specific contact and content limits. Sensitive content in FaceTime or Shared Albums will be automatically blurred unless approved.

Safari now includes default fingerprinting protection for more private browsing, and accessibility tools have been expanded with new features like Accessibility Reader and Braille Access to make iPhone more inclusive than ever.

When Can You Try It?

Developers can get their hands on iOS 26 starting today, with a public beta coming next month. The full release is expected this fall for iPhone 11 and later. Apple Intelligence features, however, are only available on iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and select iPads and Macs with the latest Apple chips.

What do you think about the new Apple iOS 26 features?