The biggest changes coming to your iPhone with iOS 26

Apple conscionable announced the adjacent large bundle update for iPhones: iOS 26 (a leap from what, until recently, was expected to beryllium called iOS 19), and it’s packed with a full clump of caller features for your phone. The biggest alteration is simply a caller design, but determination are tons of smaller improvements and additions arsenic good that could marque a quality successful however you usage your iPhone each day.

Here’s a spot much item connected what you tin expect from iOS 26 erstwhile it releases for everyone this fall. If you privation to effort it early, Apple has already launched a developer beta, and it volition connection a nationalist beta sometime successful July.

A refreshed plan crossed the OS

Apple has a caller plan connection called “Liquid Glass” that it’s being introduced crossed each of the company’s devices, not conscionable the iPhone. It’s inspired by the visionOS bundle utilized with Apple’s Vision Pro headset, and it features a batch of translucency that Apple says “behaves similar solid successful the existent world.” On-screen elements present usage “real-time rendering” that lets them respond to question with highlights and colour shifts.

It seems similar changes from Liquid Glass volition interaction conscionable astir each portion of the operating system, including apps, buttons, sliders, the Control Center, and your homescreen. Tab bars volition besides alteration due to the fact that of Liquid Glass, shrinking and expanding arsenic you scroll up and down.

Messages is getting amended for radical chats

In Messages, iOS 26 is adding a batch of updates that could importantly amended radical chats. You’ll beryllium capable to customize the inheritance of a chat to springiness it much personality. To assistance marque radical decisions oregon get an sentiment connected something, you tin make polls. And, astatine agelong last, Apple is adding typing indicators to radical chats, which should marque them consciousness much lively.

Some caller Phone features volition assistance you prevention time

Apple is taking immoderate cues from Google by adding a telephone screening diagnostic and a “Hold Assist” diagnostic that tin hold connected a telephone for you. The institution is besides adding a caller unified layout enactment that combines Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails each into 1 view.

Live Translation tin construe calls successful existent time

Apple is adding an Apple Intelligence-powered diagnostic that tin construe substance connected your surface and construe code backmost and distant successful the mediate of a telephone call. The institution is gathering the diagnostic into Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app, and Apple says its models for Live Translation tally wholly connected your instrumentality for privacy.

Some tiny Apple Intelligence improvements

Even though we’re inactive waiting for Apple to denote erstwhile it volition really merchandise its delayed improvements to Siri, iOS 26 volition see immoderate caller Apple Intelligence-powered features. Visual Intelligence volition fto you bash searches astir and instrumentality enactment connected things you spot connected your screen. With Genmoji, you’ll beryllium capable to harvester 2 emoji into one. And Shortcuts volition beryllium capable to usage Apple Intelligence models to amended your workflows.

The caller Games app is for everything astir your games

Apple’s caller Games app volition supply a centralized hub for everything astir your games connected your iPhone. The Home tab shows things similar updates and events successful your games. The Apple Arcade tab lets you browse the company’s catalog of games connected the service. The Library tab shows each of the App Store games you’ve ever downloaded. And the Play Together tab lets you spot what your friends are up to.