Apple has officially revealed iOS 26 at WWDC 2025, bringing a striking visual overhaul and a host of intelligent new features to iPhones. Slated to launch this fall alongside the iPhone 17 lineup, iOS 26 introduces a rebranded design language called Liquid Glass, which gives the interface a fluid, translucent, glass-like feel—mirroring elements from VisionOS.

Liquid Glass: A Fresh Look for iPhone

After years of minimal flat design, Apple is switching things up with Liquid Glass, offering dynamic translucency and depth across system UI. From home screens to lock screens, users can now experience All Clear app icons, spatial backgrounds, and morphing elements that adapt based on content.

Lock Screen & Widgets: More Adaptive Than Ever

The lock screen reacts in real time: the time resizes, widgets float, and images adjust dynamically to notifications. Even widgets and the dock adopt the sleek glassy aesthetic, offering a new level of interaction.

Camera, Photos, and Phone App Redesigns

• Camera App: Redesigned for extreme minimalism—just swipe to switch between modes.

• Photos App: Now cleaner, easier to navigate, and backed by Liquid Glass visuals.

• Phone App: New layout with smart features like Call Screening and Hold Assist, which mutes hold music and notifies you when a real person joins the call.

Messages: Personalized and Poll-Ready

Messages now support chat backgrounds, better spam filtering, and group polls, making coordination with friends a breeze.

Safari, FaceTime, Music, and Gaming

• Safari: Shrinking tab bars, full-screen browsing.

• FaceTime: Minimal UI with contact posters.

• Music App: Adds lyrics translation, pronunciation, AutoMix transitions, and pinned artists.

• New Games App: A unified hub for Apple Arcade and more, recognizing the 500 million+ iPhone gamers globally.

Maps, CarPlay, and Wallet Updates

• Maps: Adds frequently visited routes, delay alerts, and “visited places” tracking.

• CarPlay: Widgets, Live Activities, and minimal overlays for navigation and messages.

• Wallet: Supports digital IDs for TSA, installment plans, and smarter order tracking using Apple Intelligence.

Apple Intelligence: Smarter Everything

• Live Translation: Real-time multilingual conversations across Phone, Messages, and FaceTime.

• Genmoji Mix: Combine emojis and customize expressions.

• Visual Intelligence: Scan screenshots or event posters for context or calendar entries.

• Image Playground: Enhanced with ChatGPT-powered visuals.

Extra Features

• AirPods Camera Remote, custom snooze, HD audio recording, multi-journal support, improved Parental Controls, and smarter Reminders via Apple Intelligence.

iOS 26 Availability

• Developer Beta: Available now.

• Public Beta: Expected July 2025.

• Final Release: Fall 2025, alongside iPhone 17 models.

iOS 26 Compatibility

Compatible with iPhone 11 and newer, including the iPhone SE (2nd gen and later).