Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is here, giving us an exciting glimpse into the future of the iPhone. This year, the highlight is a stunning new Liquid Glass design that will redefine the look and feel of Apple’s product line, resembling the immersive VisionOS interface from the Vision Pro. Alongside this visual overhaul, iOS 26 introduces significant enhancements to the Phone, Camera, and Photos apps, plus a wealth of AI-driven features.
Transparent New Liquid Glass Design
After years of maintaining a flat, minimalist user interface introduced with iOS 7, the iPhone is set for a visual reinvention. This Liquid Glass interface extends beyond the iPhone, influencing iPadOS, WatchOS, and TVOS. Now, iOS 26 offers a new home screen display option: All Clear. Here, icons appear as transparent glass, free of color. Lock screens can also feature enhanced 3D content, utilizing machine learning to add depth to your images.
Dynamic and Adaptable Lock Screen
The Liquid Glass design isn’t just visually appealing; it dynamically adapts. Controls morph seamlessly, as shown in Apple’s demo where the time numerals on a lock screen adjust to accommodate your background image. Additionally, widgets and the dock are presented as rounded, glassy panels, giving your home screen a modern touch.
Camera and Photos Apps Go Even More Minimal
One of the most welcome changes is the Camera app’s newly simplified interface. While it was already focused on ease of use, the updated app takes minimalism to new extremes. Users now only need to swipe to toggle between Video and Camera modes, significantly streamlining the shooting experience. Meanwhile, the Photos app adopts a more user-friendly Liquid Glass menu, moving away from the cluttered scrolling layout that defined previous versions.
The Phone App Gets a Revamp
The Phone app is shedding its old, sparse design. iOS 26 brings a unified layout that better utilizes the expansive screens on modern iPhone models. Key enhancements focus on usability; a new Call Screening feature answers calls from unknown numbers, while Hold Assist detects and mutes hold music during calls, ringing you once an agent is available.
Messages Updates
Your texting experience is set to become more vibrant. With customizable chat backgrounds and dynamic options showcasing the fresh Liquid Glass aesthetic, group chats can now include polls where members can contribute suggestions without endless scrolling. Enhanced spam detection also aims to keep unwanted messages at bay, allowing users to focus on what matters most.
Safari Gets Out of Its Own Way
In Safari, the Liquid Glass design offers a sleek tab bar that floats above the active web page, dynamically shrinking as you scroll. This user-friendly approach ensures easier navigation without cluttering your browsing experience.
FaceTime Focuses on Calls, Not Controls
Similarly, FaceTime adopts a minimal look, allowing call controls to disappear while you’re chatting, ensuring a more immersive experience. The app’s landing page showcases contact posters and clips from previous calls, enhancing the overall appeal.
New Music App Features
Music enthusiasts will appreciate the new lyrics translation feature in the Music app, allowing you to enjoy songs in a language you’re not familiar with. A lyrics pronunciation tool also provides guidance when tackling foreign lyrics. The AutoMix feature smoothly blends tracks, giving your listening experience a professional DJ vibe.
New Games App: A Gamer’s Delight
With half a billion gamers on the platform, the new Games app simplifies access to Apple Arcade and other titles, making it easier to dive straight into gameplay without navigating through the App Store.
Live Translation Enhances Calls and Texts
Apple’s new live translation feature, perfect for multilingual conversations, integrates seamlessly into the Messages, FaceTime, and Phone apps, providing real-time captions to bridge language gaps.
Maps Gets More Personal
The Maps app is also evolving, taking note of frequently traveled routes to alert you of potential delays. A useful feature allows users to see how many times they’ve visited specific places, making it easier to keep track of their favorite spots.
New CarPlay Features
In CarPlay, the Liquid Glass aesthetic ensures that incoming calls don’t obstruct your view of maps or other critical data. Widgets and Live Activities notifications keep you informed while you’re on the go.
Wallet Improvements
The Wallet app now introduces the ability to create a Digital ID for easier identity verification during domestic travels, alongside convenient features for managing rewards and installment payments. Apple Intelligence also enhances order tracking, gathering details from various communications.
New Features Powered by Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence plays a pivotal role this time around, allowing users to combine existing emojis or adapt expressions in Genmoji. The ability to perform image searches directly from your screenshots further enhances the overall usability of your iPhone.
Some iOS 26 Updates Apple Didn’t Mention
There are exciting features that went unmentioned during the keynote, including an AirPods Camera Remote for starting video recordings and advanced audio recording capabilities. The Reminders app now leverages AI to suggest tasks based on prior communications.
iOS 26 Availability
iOS 26 is anticipated to be released this September or October, coinciding with the launch of new iPhone models. Developers can access the first betas now, with a public beta rollout expected in July.
iPhone Models Compatible with iOS 26
The upcoming iOS 26 will support the iPhone 11 and later models, including the iPhone SE (2nd generation and up), ensuring compatibility across a wide range of devices.
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)