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Apple iOS 26 Brings a New Look and Long List of New Features

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Monday, 1:21 PM by Rich Brome @rbrome.bsky.social

Apple has revealed iOS 26, the next major version of iOS (the current version is 18). It introduces a major new design language that Apple calls Liquid Glass, which is coming to all Apple devices, not just iPhone. Accompanying the new look is a home screen option with "clear" icons and widgets. Apple has also improved its smart wallpapers to automatically adjust the time size and photo framing to make room for notifications, as well as add 3D effects. The OS intros two major new AI features: Visual Intelligence is now integrated into the screenshot function, making it easy to perform image searches based on whatever is on your screen (instead of just using the camera). It will also offer to automatically create a calendar entry when it detects a date/time. And an "Ask" button lets you ask ChatGPT about what's on your screen. A new Live Translation feature provides real-time language translation for phone calls, messages, and FaceTime. It uses Apple's own AI models. Also in Messages, Apple promises improved AI spam detection, and all messages from unknown senders automatically get sent to a special "unknown sender" folder that doesn't trigger a notification (with exceptions for certain types of time-sensitive messages.) Groups chats also get typing indicators, polls, and custom backgrounds. In the Phone app, a new design puts favs at the top, with a timeline below that, combining recent calls and voicemails. Apple is also borrowing a few ideas from Google with Call Screening and Hold Assist, where the phone can take over annoying parts of calls for you. An all-new Games app shows your Leaderboards and lets you create challenges with your friends. It also shows updates for your existing games, and provides personalized suggestions for new games. The Music app gains AutoMix to blend song transitions like a DJ. It also add Lyrics Translation and Lyrics Pronunciation. CarPlay now supports widgets and Live Activities. Several other apps have been redesigned with simpler controls, including Camera and Safari. Developers also gain access to Apple's own on-device models with the new "Foundation Models framework". Apple is releasing iOS 26 to developers today, with a public beta version expected next month. The final version is expected "this fall". iOS 26 will run on iPhone 11 and later.

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