If you are an Apple user or a fan, you must have expected the iOS 19 update to follow iOS 18. But guess what? That’s history now! Because Apple is here with iOS 26! They have aligned it with the 2025-2026 release season. This bold update is now available as a stable release. It introduces a stunning “Liquid Glass” design, advanced AI features, and seamless cross-device integration. It has other new features, design changes, and things that Apple has worked hard on improving. Let’s explore them now!
Also Read: Apple’s WWDC25 5-Day Event Confirmed: Check All Details!
Why iOS 26: What’s Wrong With iOS 19?
So when I woke up this morning, I got to know about the iOS 26 news. I was like, “Woah, Apple is really making this change. It’s bold!”. Fast forward to now, Apple is here with the iOS 26 which comes with the liquid glass design.
Now, the ecosystem is more aligned with a year-based naming of OS. This includes iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 for the year 2026. This way, people are associating better with the software updates. Overall, iOS 26 surely brings major changes in the overall ecosystem.
Also read: Everything About iOS 18.5: Release Date, Features, And More!
iOS 26 Launch Date – Announced!
The iOS 26 was unveiled at Apple’s WWDC on June 9, 2025. The stable version will be released on September 15, 2025. Yes, that’s shortly after the iPhone 17 series launch on September 9, 2025. The iPhone 17 series, including iPhone 17, 17 Plus, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max, ships with iOS 26 pre-installed. The public beta was available in July 2025, but the stable version is now accessible to all eligible devices. Advanced Siri features are delayed to iOS 26.2. We can expect that in March 2026.
Here’s the timeline:
| Event | Date | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| iOS 26 Announcement | June 9, 2025 | Apple showcased iOS 26 features at WWDC 2025. |
| iOS 26 Beta Release | June 9, 2025 | Developer beta released, followed by public beta in July 2025. |
| iOS 26 Stable Release | September 15, 2025 | Final version released for eligible iPhones alongside iPhone 17 series launch. |
| Advanced Siri Update | March 2026 | Smarter Siri with on-screen awareness and personal context in iOS 26.2. |
Also read: How To Use Check In On iPhone With iOS 17?
Eligible Devices For iOS 26
iOS 26 supports iPhones from the iPhone 11 series onward, as confirmed at WWDC 2025. Devices older than the iPhone 11, such as the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, and earlier models, are not compatible. Here’s the full list of supported devices:
| iPhone Generation | Models Included |
|---|---|
| iPhone 11 Series | iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max |
| iPhone 12 Series | iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max |
| iPhone 13 Series | iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max |
| iPhone 14 Series | iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max |
| iPhone 15 Series | iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max |
| iPhone 16 Series | iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e |
| iPhone 17 Series | iPhone 17, 17 Plus, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max (shipped with iOS 26 pre-installed) |
| iPhone SE | iPhone SE (2nd generation and newer) |
Note: Apple Intelligence features, such as Visual Intelligence and Genmoji, require newer hardware (iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 series, or iPhone 17 series).
Key Features Of iOS 26
iOS 26 is a new update that will make your iPhone better. It may look different, feel smarter, and be easier to use. Here’s what you might get:
1. Revamped User Interface Design
iOS 26 will feature a visionOS-like aesthetic with translucent menus, glassy effects, and simplified navigation.
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Rounded App Icons | App icons now have smooth, curved edges that look more modern. |
| Floating Tab Bar | A menu bar floats at the bottom of the screen to help you switch between apps easily. |
| Control Center 2.0 | You can change the buttons in Control Center and use swipes to open it faster. |
| Stage Manager for iPhone | Lets you use more than one app at the same time with movable app windows. |
2. Apple Intelligence Enhancements
When the world is going crazy over AI, how can Apple not embrace it? The Apple Intelligence is getting better towards perfection with the upcoming iOS 26. There are so many enhancements like:
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Enhanced Siri | Smarter, gives helpful tips, better at tasks. |
| Cross-Device Sync | Keeps settings the same on all Apple devices. |
| AI Health Coach | AI audio coaching for runs/hikes, gives health tips using Apple Watch data. |
| Real-Time Collaboration | Work on files across devices and see changes instantly. |
Also Read: 10 iPhone 15 New Features We Bet You Did Not Know!
3. Health and Fitness
The iOS 26 enhances health tracking, with some features requiring specific hardware. Apple has always put health features as a priority, and this time, too, it’s no different. These are a few things to look forward to for precise health tracking in your beloved Apple device.
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Non-Invasive Glucose Monitoring | Not currently available; future hardware may enable blood sugar tracking. |
| Mental Wellness Suite | AI-driven mindfulness tools in the Mindfulness app for meditation and stress relief. |
| Fitness+ Integration | Seamless workout transitions across iPhone, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. |
| Family Health Sharing | Securely share health data like goals or heart rate with family members. |
4. Connectivity And Accessibility Features
iOS 26 shows much focus on seamless integration. Let’s check out connectivity features:
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Ultra-Wideband (UWB) 2.0 | AirDrop is faster and helps find AirTags better. |
| Universal Control 2.0 | Easily move stuff between iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision. |
| Accessibility | Videos have spoken descriptions, fonts can change size, and Voice Control can translate languages live using AirPods. |
CarPlay got an upgrade with inline messaging and dynamic widgets. You get compact call views, Tapbacks in Messages, widgets, and Live Activities.
Also Read: iOS 16 Vs iOS 17: Is It Worth Upgrading Your iPhone?
5. Third-Party Integration
The iOS 26 will open new avenues for third-party developers. It is something new for Apple, and was earlier more acceptable for Android. Here’s what you get:
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| App Intents API | Siri works better with apps like Notion and Slack. |
| Cross-Device Extensions | Widgets work on all your devices at the same time. |
| Gaming Support | Play Xbox games on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. |
| HomeKit Expansion | More smart home devices can be controlled by Siri. |
6. AI-Powered Battery Management Mode
For the first time, Apple introduced AI-powered battery management. This will help people analyse their battery usage patterns so that they can better adjust them to save more energy. Here are a few things you can expect.
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Adaptive Charging | Learns when you use your device to keep battery healthy. New Adaptive Power learns your habits to prevent unexpected shutdowns. |
| Cross-Device Sync | Shows battery for iPhone, Watch, and AirPods in one place. |
| Lock Screen Widget | Shows battery charge and tells you when full; View per-app battery hogs right on your home screen |
| Eco Insights | Gives tips to save energy and help the planet. |
Also read: What Is RCS Support For iOS And Android? The Latest Messaging Service By Apple!
7. Liquid Glass Design
The liquid glass design in iOS 26 is not just a visual update, but it is a complete transformation of how the interface feels. This design is inspired by responsive lighting and layered materials, which bring depth and softness across the system. Now, menus, buttons, and backgrounds will respond dynamically to motion, touch, and ambient light.
The benefit of this design upgrade is that now the user interface feels alive and reacts to your environment. Whether you’re navigating apps, using Control Centre, or managing notifications, everything feels more connected. This design improves accessibility, provides improved visual clarity and motion control for sensitive users.
8. Live Translation During Calls
iOS 26 lets you enjoy real-time multilingual conversations through your iPhone. All credit goes to Apple Intelligence live translation. This feature is built into the FaceTime app and the Phone. So that you can speak in your language and hear translated replies, automatically find out and switch between supported languages, and view live subtitles mid-call.
The best thing is that now you don’t require any third-party app for this. You can enable or disable this feature during mid call. The translation feels robotic and natural. In short, with the live translation feature, now iOS 26 becomes your pocket interpreter, which eliminates communication barriers during daily calls.
9. In-Built App Features By iOS 26
How the apps look and behave after the software is important for user experience. They form the backbone of daily iOS use. Below are a few updates you will find in iOS 26 updates.
- Safari With Advanced Fingerprinting Protection: This is an upgrade to Apple’s long-standing Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP). The feature works automatically (no extensions needed) to block “advanced trackers”. By altering certain signals, this feature makes your browsing harder to profile for targeted ads.
- Upgraded podcast: Podcasts get smarter audio cleanup and finer speed controls for binge-listening.
- Productivity With Preview App: This new feature on iPhone with iOS 26 boosts productivity. Preview App is now on iPhone for on-the-go PDF editing.
- Polling Feature: iOS 26 introduces a polling feature for group chats in the Messages app. Create quick, interactive polls within group chats (iMessage or RCS-based conversations). Tap the “+” (or attachment) icon, select “Poll,” and enter a question (e.g., “Where should we eat tonight?”) with up to 5 answer options.
- Better Maps: Maps now remembers your visited spots for quick revisits, all on-device.
10. Security and Privacy Enhancements:
Apple always makes efforts to maintain this. Now, with Apple Intelligence’s on-device processing, your device is more secure in various aspects, like:
- It screens unknown calls (asks for name/reason). You can preview without even answering the calls or give Live Reply for follow-ups.
- Passwords App autofills verification code from notifications.
- FaceTime tracks nudity content and blurs out sensitive content during calls.
- eSIM can be quickly transferred with Face ID/Touch ID if Stolen Device Protection is active
11. Other Interesting Features
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Apple Games App | A hub for App Store and Apple Arcade games with Game Center integration. |
| Live Translations in AirPods | Translates languages during calls with AirPods Pro 2 or newer, with live captions. |
| Privacy Dashboard | Enhanced controls to monitor and manage app permissions. |
| Apple Music Enhancements | AutoMix for seamless song transitions, Lyrics Translation, and phonetic pronunciation. |
| Apple Wallet Updates | Digital passport support (U.S. only), airport maps, and real-time flight updates. |
iOS 18 Vs iOS 26: Ultimate Comparison
Let’s check out the comparison with the previous version to get a rough idea about iOS 26 update.
| Feature | iOS 18 | iOS 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Name Style | Sequential (“iOS 18”) | Year-based (“iOS 26” for 2026) |
| Look and Feel | Dynamic Island, customizable widgets, enhanced Lock Screen | Liquid Glass design, translucent UI, rounded icons, floating tab bar |
| AI Features | Basic Apple Intelligence, smarter Siri, text corrections | Advanced Apple Intelligence, Visual Intelligence, Genmoji, smarter Siri |
| Battery Features | Dedicated Games app, Xbox streaming, enhanced Game Centre | AI-powered battery management, cross-device sync, Lock Screen widget |
| Third-Party Apps | Limited third-party integration, basic HomeKit | App Intents API, cross-device widgets, Xbox streaming, HomeKit expansion |
| Health & Fitness | Fitness+ and Apple Watch integration, basic health tracking | Mental wellness suite, Fitness+ integration, family health sharing |
| Connectivity | AirDrop with UWB, basic Universal Control | UWB 2.0, Universal Control 2.0, seamless device switching |
| Accessibility | Voice Control, magnifier, basic tools | Real-time video descriptions, dynamic fonts, live translation |
| Gaming | Apple Arcade, basic Game Center | Apple Arcade, basic Game Centre |
How To Download And Install iOS 26?
To experience iOS 26’s new features, follow these steps to install the stable version:
Check Compatibility: Ensure your device is listed among supported iPhones (iPhone 11 and newer).
Backup Your Device: Use iCloud or Finder to back up your data.
Install the Stable Version:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Download and install iOS 26 when prompted.
For Developers (optional):
- Developer beta testing is available via developer.apple.com.
- Sign in with your Apple ID, enrol your device, and select the iOS 26 Developer Beta under Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates.
Take Backup
Before installing the beta, take a complete backup using iCloud or Finder.
Enroll and Download
For the public beta,
- Visit beta.apple.com
- Sign in with your Apple ID
- Enrol your iPhone
- Go to Settings -> General -> Software Update
- Select “Beta Updates” and choose iOS 26 Public Beta
iOS 26 Unsupported Devices
iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone SE, and iPhone XS are likely to be dropped from support.
FAQ
Why did Apple jump to iOS 26?
Apple changed the name to iOS 26 to match the year 2026.
Will my iPhone XS work with iOS 26?
Probably not. If you have an iPhone XS or an older model, it may not be compatible with iOS 26.
How does iOS 26 compare to Android 16?
Android 16 is all about letting you customise your phone to a great extent. iOS 26 focuses more on smart features using AI and making it easier to use your Apple devices together.
When will Advanced Siri be available?
You can expect the new, smarter Siri after March 2026 in one of the updates to iOS 26.
Which one is better, iOS 18 or 26?
iOS 18 is stable with useful upgrades. iOS 26 is more advanced with a fresh design, AI tools, and better battery features. If your device supports it, iOS 26 is the smarter pick.
Is iOS 18 draining your battery?
Some users saw faster battery drain after updating, mostly due to background indexing and settings. It usually settles in a few days with tweaks like restarts or resetting network settings.
Is iOS 26 stable?
Currently in beta, iOS 26 is already running smoothly with fewer bugs. The final beta version was released just a few days before the official stable version launch on September 9, 2025.
Why did Apple skip to iOS 26?
Apple adopted a year-based naming system, so iOS 26 represents the 2026 version. It keeps numbering consistent across all Apple platforms.
Should I update to iOS 18?
Yes, if your device supports it. You’ll get new features and Apple Intelligence. But if you want the biggest upgrade, waiting for iOS 26 may be better.
What is Liquid Glass Apple?
Liquid Glass is the new design language in iOS 26, giving apps, menus, and icons a translucent, glass-like look that adapts to light and motion.
In A Nutshell
In the end, I can say that iOS 26 is entirely new, bold, and unique in its own way. It will feature a revamped UI, AI enhancements, and practicality, with year-based naming. The official iOS 26 release date remains September 9, 2025 even though the final beta version is already out. We’ll have to wait for WWDC25 to get the full details on the device list that will receive it. Till then, one thing is for sure! Apple is going to redefine the iPhone experience with this launch.
Stay tuned for more details as we get close to WWDC25!
Also read: Apple iPhone 16 Vs iPhone 15: Expected Features And Upgrades!
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