Yearly, iOS is likely one of the star points of interest of Apple‘s Worldwide Builders Convention keynote. It is our first official take a look at new options and different modifications which are coming to iPhones within the fall. The 2025 WWDC keynote was no exception, and the most immediate change is to the iOS naming system.
As was recently reported, Apple working programs will all be named after years to maintain every thing aligned. So as an alternative of iOS 19, we’re leaping as much as iOS 26. The identical goes for iPadOS, watchOS, macOS and so forth. The variations will probably be named for the yr after main annual OS updates (so iOS 26 for the model that arrives in fall 2025 and so forth), but it surely ought to nonetheless assist mitigate some confusion as to which is the present model.
There’s much more to this model of iOS than a change to the numbering system, so let’s dig proper in.
A significant redesign
Past the naming system, the largest change this yr is a major visual overhaul throughout Apple’s working programs. These responsive, translucent person interfaces are impressed by the look of visionOS, the OS that powers Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. It has been over a decade for the reason that final main change to the look of the iPhone person interface. With iOS 7, which debuted in 2013, Apple jettisoned its skeuomorphic design language for a flatter, extra simplified look.
It was reported over the weekend that Apple’s new person interface design language can be constructed round an idea referred to as Liquid Glass, and that turned out to be lifeless on. There’s a bigger concentrate on elements like mild and transparency right here.
App icons and buttons have new seems to be, whereas toolbars and tab bars can have a see-through look. Apple can also be making use of pop-out menus that’ll supply fast entry to sure choices — that jogs my memory a little bit of the “peek and pop” 3D Contact capabilities Apple launched to the iPhone a decade in the past.
Widgets aren’t going anyplace, although they’re getting a brand new look to match the remainder of the design updates. On the lock display, the clock font can change measurement dynamically, so it will probably shrink as alerts are available.
CarPlay is among the many different person interfaces that is getting this visible redesign. It should function a extra compact view for incoming calls so the show does not obfuscate instructions. Tapbacks (i.e. emoji responses) and pinned conversations are coming to Messages in CarPlay, and widgets and Stay Actions could be mirrored on the infotainment system. These updates will probably be current in CarPlay Ultra too.
Core app updates
Apple is giving a number of core apps notable updates in iOS 26. Within the Cellphone app, it is pulling collectively your latest calls and voicemails right into a single tab, together with your favourite contacts above these. You’ll see Apple Intelligence summaries of voicemail transcripts.
A name screening software can robotically reply calls from unknown numbers as nicely. You’ll see in your iPhone display who is looking and why, so you’ll be able to determine whether or not to reply. On the opposite aspect of that, a Maintain Help function can let you recognize when a dwell agent is accessible, so would possibly by no means must hearken to interminable maintain music ever once more. (Android has had these options for ages, for what it is price.)
On FaceTime calls, you will see that Apple has moved the key controls to the underside proper of the display for simpler entry. Safari can have a extra clear deal with bar within the up to date OS, in addition to “superior fingerprinting safety” for all looking by default for further privateness.
As for the Digital camera app, Apple is seeking to simplify {that a} bit after including a number of options like slow-motion video and panoramic pictures during the last a number of years. You may swap between nonetheless photograph and video choices with a swipe. Tabs are blessedly coming again to the Pictures app too.
In Messages, you will have the flexibility to set a background picture and create polls (a lot as you’ll be able to in different messaging apps). The backgrounds would be the similar for everybody within the chat, as they’re within the likes of Messenger. It’s going to be doable to ship and obtain Apple Money funds in group chats, which can even be getting typing indicators.
On-device spam detection for Messages is within the pipeline. That is a really welcome replace, although if Apple handles all of that for me, I will kinda miss replying to scammers with a fastidiously crafted insult earlier than instantly blocking and reporting them. Anyway, you will have the choice to display messages from unknown senders and place them in a separate folder out of your common chats, although it ought to nonetheless be straightforward to search out two-factor authentication codes.
As for Pockets, you can create a digital ID out of your passport. A refresh of boarding passes will present real-time updates on flights in Stay Actions, in addition to maps for airport navigation, a fast solution to report missing bags and extra.
Maps will have the ability to study most popular routes (for issues like making the college run earlier than going to work). It may present updates about these discovered routes, resembling what the site visitors is like. A Google Maps-like location historical past choice will probably be accessible as nicely. Apple says that is end-to-end encrypted and it will probably’t see your information.
There will probably be a brand new core app in iOS 26: Video games. From right here, you can view and obtain titles from Apple Arcade and have entry to your library, multiplayer choices (resembling achievements) and extra.
Apple has been making a bit extra of a push into video games over the previous few years between Apple Arcade and getting ports of main video games like Death Stranding and multiple Resident Evil titles for its gadgets. It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see how this works in motion and if there’ll really be curiosity from avid gamers. In any case, did anybody ever really use Sport Middle?
AI options
Apple Intelligence hasn’t exactly been a huge success for the corporate up to now, however there are AI-powered options that appear genuinely helpful coming to iOS 26. Apple is integrating translation instruments extra deeply into the working system, so chances are you’ll not have to change over to Translate (or, maybe extra probably, Google Translate) as typically.
Essentially the most impactful side of that will probably be live translation for textual content and audio in telephone calls, FaceTime and Messages, powered by on-device fashions. That might be a large deal for a lot of iPhone customers.
Stay translation and pronunciation guides for lyrics in Apple Music is cool — I would lastly have the ability to sing a good model of the Babymetal verse in “Ratatata.” As regards to Apple Music, an AutoMix function will use intelligence to maybe make for smoother, DJ-style transitions between songs by way of time stretching and beat matching. Shifting album artwork goes to be a factor within the app too.
Since WWDC is an occasion that is largely for builders, information that they will be able to tap into on-device Foundation Models for his or her apps might be a boon. Amongst different issues, they’re going to have the ability to combine dwell translation into their apps.
Apple is taking one other leaf out of the Google playbook with a visible intelligence replace. You’ll ask ChatGPT questions on what’s displayed in your display, and search extra info from supported apps resembling Google and Etsy. Visible intelligence will detect while you’re an occasion and will recommend including it to your calendar.
The Shortcuts app is getting an replace together with choices powered by Apple Intelligence and devoted actions for the likes of Writing Instruments and Picture Playground. In the meantime, Apple Intelligence will have the ability to choose up and summarize monitoring info from emails associated to your purchases, together with ones that you just did not make with Apple Pay. Apple says it will allow you to see your order particulars and supply progress particulars multi functional place. That is one thing the Store app from Shopify has been useful for, and now Apple’s seeking to deal with that itself.
There are minor AI updates elsewhere, resembling to Genmoji (you will have the choice to mix two current emoji). The upgraded Siri Apple has been speaking about for some time remains to be within the works, and we’ll hear extra about that later this yr.
Different updates
Apple is making some modifications to parental controls in iOS 26. The corporate says it’s going to be simpler so that you can create Little one Accounts and transfer your youngsters into them. Different updates embrace with the ability to grant youngsters exemptions to obtain apps with age scores which are exterior of the restrictions that folks set. Apple can even blur “delicate content material” in FaceTime calls and pictures in Shared Albums.
There are a number of new accessibility options too. Accessibility Reader is alleged to supply “a custom-made systemwide studying expertise,” whereas Braille Entry is a brand new interface for iPhone gadgets which have linked braille shows. In the meantime, Apple says it can ship a “new degree of accessibility” throughout its ecosystem with updates to Stay Hear, Background Sounds, Private Voice and different instruments.
You’ll be able to install iOS 26 in case you have an iPhone 11 or later (or a second-gen iPhone SE). Apple Intelligence options will run on iPhone 16 gadgets, Cellphone 15 Professional, iPhone 15 Professional Max and future fashions, in addition to suitable iPads and Macs.
Builders can check out the iOS 26 options beginning right now by way of the Apple Developer Program. Public betas of the new operating systems will probably be accessible in July. Apple will make iOS 26 and the opposite new working programs accessible this fall, probably quickly after its annual iPhone occasion, which generally takes place in September.
