iOS 19: Called as iOS 26 - Talks About Major Updates and Features
While everyone had anticipated that this year’s iOS upgrade would be known as “iOS 19,” it turns out that’s not the case. Bloomberg claims that Apple is making a change and will instead launch iOS 26 this year.
iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26 will all be released alongside iOS 26. Apple wants to use the same name for all of its software systems.
It seems that Apple is using the automobile model year technique, which explains why this year’s upgrade is iOS 25, not iOS 26. For example, the 2026 Toyota Tacoma will start shipping by the end of 2025.
iOS 26 Features
With iOS 26, Apple will add a number of new features and updates to existing apps and services, in addition to a new design that will change the way you use your iPhone.
A New Design
While iOS 26 has several new features, Apple has completely changed the appearance of the operating system, which is the biggest change.
Designed around a digital 'material' called Liquid Glass, it's the biggest overhaul to the iPhone software experience since iOS 7 was released with the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c.
In practical terms, this means a lot of translucent and rounded features inspired by visionOS, as well as a new clear theme that you can choose from instead of light or dark.
The interface should look more modern as a result, and the majority of Apple's other operating systems are also adopting this new design, which will increase device consistency.
Home and Lock Screen Improvements
iOS 26’s home screen features a new design that follows the fluid glass pattern. Now, the clock has a glass shape that changes when you tilt your device. It even adjusts its size to fit your chosen background image. The focus point of your background image, such as the face, moves the clock and resizes it as you browse your notifications, too.
“Native” backdrop graphics now have a more pronounced 3D effect that gives 2D images more depth and makes them respond to your movements. Additionally, you can view Apple Music album art in full-screen mode (with animation for supported albums) by tapping on the album image in the Now Playing widget that appears on your Lock screen.
Additionally, Apple says the lock screen is more responsive (we’ll have to wait and see, but the base iPhone 17’s switch to 120Hz will probably have a much more noticeable impact here).
Camera App Redesign
According to reports, a key pillar of Apple’s new design language for iOS 26 will be the camera app. YouTuber Jon Prosser claims that the new camera app will feature a transparent appearance that “mirrors the design ethos from visionOS.”
The controls at the bottom of the interface have apparently been simplified by Apple into two toggles for “Photos” and “Video.” Within each menu, users can change exposure and other settings, as well as alternate between different modes.
CarPlay
With iOS 26, it’s a relief to see improvements to CarPlay, which Apple has neglected in recent iOS updates. The most important thing is that there are benefits for those who own new vehicles that support the new CarPlay Ultra interface, but most of the updates apply to all users.
First, the CarPlay components also have a glass look. This design choice has resulted in a new, smaller, more compact incoming call notification box, which allows you to accept or decline calls without the incoming call screen taking up the entire screen.
Your pinned conversations now appear in the Messages app on your car’s display, just like they do on your iPhone (a long-overdue feature), and Messages in CarPlay now includes Tapbacks for quick replies that don’t require much of your attention.
Apple claims that the widgets included in CarPlay are the same as those designed for use with the iPhone. Additionally, Apple is integrating live activity into your car to provide relevant data. Apple used it as a flight tracker, for example, but it could also be used for other things like food delivery or sporting events.
The higher-end CarPlay Ultra will get all of these enhancements, including more layout and style customization in iOS 26.
Siri Updates
As part of iOS 26, Apple is reportedly working on a major redesign of Siri. Under the hood, Siri is currently split into two separate systems. Legacy commands, such as timers and alarms, are managed by one system, while more complex instructions are managed by another.
Apple is expected to unify these two platforms as part of iOS 26.
Apple’s intentions for additional major Siri modifications with iOS 26 have hit a snag. As part of the iOS 26 cycle, Bloomberg first reported that Apple would be releasing a new version of Siri that was more “conversational” and more like talking to a human. Unfortunately, this improvement is behind schedule and won’t be revealed until WWDC in June.
Phone App gets Call Screening and Hold Assist
Similar to iOS 18’s Live Voicemail, the iPhone can now answer calls for you, determine who’s calling and why, and then call you back while displaying a message explaining the nature of the call thanks to the new Call Screening feature. The feature, which is intended to reduce spam, is automatically enabled for unknown callers.
Similarly, Hold Assist is a feature that allows you to put your phone on hold and mute hold music for a period of time. When the operator is ready to answer your call, you’ll hear a chime. Apple even suggests putting your phone aside during this time.
Additionally, Apple’s VP of Internet Technologies, Darren Adler, unveiled the app’s new Unified View that you can “select” (perhaps Apple is learning from its Photos mistake). Your favorite contacts appear first, followed by a list of your recent contacts (which includes voicemail messages that you can listen to with a tap) and floating tabs for calls, contacts, and the keypad.
AI for Battery Life
According to reports, iOS 26 will introduce new AI-powered battery management tools for iPhones, building on Apple’s Intelligence Platform. Bloomberg claims that a new feature in iOS 26 will use Apple Intelligence to “analyze how a person uses their device and make adjustments to conserve energy.”
Apple is reportedly using battery data collected from iPhone users to train the algorithm. It will use this data to “understand trends and make predictions about when it should reduce the power draw of certain apps or features.”
In terms of battery life, iOS 26 is also expected to feature a new indicator on the Lock screen that will show you how long it will take for your iPhone to fully charge.
A New Live Translation Feature
Live Translation, another innovation from Apple Intelligence, adds on-device translation capabilities to FaceTime, Phone, and Messages. It requires an iPhone 15 Pro or later to work offline, but can also be used on Apple Watch when paired with a phone that supports Apple Intelligence.
As you type, Messages can automatically translate into your preferred language, and received messages can be translated into your native language. You can hear the other person during a FaceTime video call as the text displays a real-time translation of what’s being said.
By translating your whispered words out loud (and back again), your iPhone goes a step further than standard phone calls. The other person doesn’t need to have an iPhone for it to work because it happens on your smartphone. There’s even a Live Translation API for developers to add the capability to their calling apps.
As expected, the feature’s initial reach is limited. For now, it’s limited to the following languages: Spanish (Spain), Portuguese (Brazil), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, French (France), English (UK, US), and Chinese (Simplified). As has happened in the past, expect Apple to gradually introduce other languages over time, usually in smaller iOS upgrades.
iOS 26 Release Date
While Apple has yet to reveal an official release date for iOS 26, the previous three updates were released on September 12, 18, and 16. This suggests that mid-September would be a good time to do it.
A public beta will be available for anyone to test before then. The public beta of iOS 18 was released on July 15, 2024. While the developer beta is available now, it is often lacking features and unreliable (last year's beta was notably lacking in Apple Intelligence capabilities, for example).
To access the developer preview, you need to sign up for Apple Developer. Once it’s finished, select “iOS 26 Developer Beta” from the “Beta Updates” menu under Settings > General > Software Update.
How to Install the iOS 26 Beta?
You can now download the iOS 26 public beta through the Apple Beta Software Program. To test out all the latest features, you’ll need to sign up if you’re not already a member. Simply head to beta.apple.com and sign up using your email address or phone number. It’s free.
Once you’re logged in, select iOS 26 Public Beta under Settings > General > Software Update to install it.
A word of caution: Don’t join using your primary iPhone unless you’re comfortable with the risks associated with running an unfinished operating system.
Final Wordings
In addition to the big new features mentioned above, iOS 26 also has some lesser-known features.
These include the ability to pay for in-store purchases with Apple Pay in installments, the ability to translate and pronounce lyrics in Apple Music, a new Visited Places panel in Apple Maps, notifications when your phone's camera lens is dirty, and more background sound settings.
In addition to letting you create polls in the Messages app, iOS 26 will screen messages from unknown senders to prevent your inbox from getting cluttered.
