iOS 26: every new feature that matters

TL;DR:

iOS 26 is out as of 2025-09-15 with a full visual refresh.
Liquid Glass brings clear icons, dynamic controls, and 3D lock screen effects.
Apple Intelligence adds Visual Intelligence and Live Translation across apps.
Phone gets Call Screening and Hold Assist, Messages adds polls and backgrounds.

Safari privacy improves, Preview arrives on iPhone, and Adaptive Power Mode debuts. Apple released iOS 26 on 2025-09-15, alongside updates for iPad, Mac, Watch, TV, and Vision Pro. The headline change is a new design language called Liquid Glass, plus expanded Apple Intelligence.

The big visual refresh: Liquid Glass

Liquid Glass adds a glossy, translucent look across iPhone. You will see it on the Lock Screen, Home Screen, Control Center, and in Apple apps. Controls reflect and refract the wallpaper, while toolbars morph as you scroll.

Icons now support light, dark, tinted, or a clear glass style. You can match widget and icon tint to your case with MagSafe. The Lock Screen clock adapts to your photo and keeps the subject in view. Moving the phone adds a subtle 3D effect.

Apple Intelligence, on-screen smarts, and ChatGPT hooks

Visual Intelligence lets you press the screenshot buttons to ask about what is on your screen. You can highlight items to search, identify objects, add events from flyers, and interact with text to summarize or translate. Apple also exposes a quick “Ask ChatGPT” option for on-screen questions.

Shortcuts gains new intelligent actions, including a “Use Model” step that feeds Apple Intelligence responses into your workflow. You can generate images, summarize folders of docs, or extract data from PDFs into spreadsheets.

Live Translation across Phone, FaceTime, and Messages

iOS 26 translates phone calls in real time, shows translated captions in FaceTime, and auto-translates incoming texts. AirPods can play live translations for nearby conversations. Availability varies by language and region, and Apple notes Live Translation is not available in the EU at launch.

Messages: backgrounds, polls, and sender screening

You can set chat backgrounds or use Apple’s gallery. Group polls help the chat decide where to go or what to eat. New screening tools keep unknown senders out of your main inbox until approved.

Genmoji gets upgrades. Mix emoji together, change hair and facial hair for people inspired by your Photos library, and even combine Genmoji with text prompts.

Phone upgrades: Call Screening and Hold Assist

Call Screening answers unknown callers, asks their name and reason, then lets you decide. Hold Assist waits on hold for you and rings when a live agent picks up. There is also a unified layout that brings Favorites, Recents, and Voicemail together.

Safari, Photos, and Camera changes

Safari’s floating tab bar moves to the bottom with Compact, Bottom, and Top options. Advanced fingerprinting protection now applies to all browsing, not just Private mode. Add any page to your Home Screen as a full-screen web app.

Photos gains spatial scenes that add depth when you move your phone. Camera adds a refreshed mode wheel, lens cleaning hints, and faster panoramas, plus AirPods as a remote on supported models.

CarPlay and driving

CarPlay picks up the new design, a compact call UI, widgets, and Live Activities on the dashboard. Messages Tapbacks and pinned conversations help while driving. Smart Display Zoom optimizes the map for your car’s screen.

Games and the new Apple Games app

A Games overlay lets you tweak settings and see updates without leaving your title. The Apple Games app adds a hub, library, challenges, and controller support, including easier pairing for DualSense via USB-C. MetalFX improvements aim for smoother frame rates.

Wallet, Preview, and other daily tools

Wallet now supports a Digital ID based on your passport in eligible places, improved boarding passes, order tracking powered by Apple Intelligence, and in-store rewards and installment options where available. Regional rules apply.

Preview comes to iPhone. You can view, mark up, scan, and export PDFs or images in different formats, a long-time Mac perk now on iOS.

The Clock app lets you set custom snooze durations. Small, welcome quality-of-life wins continue across Notes, Files, and more.

Battery and performance

A new Adaptive Power Mode can extend battery life by slightly lowering brightness, letting some tasks take longer, and toggling Low Power Mode at 20 percent. Apple says it is available on newer iPhones only.

Privacy and safety

Apple expands Safety Check to stop sharing quickly when you block a contact. Safari boosts anti-fingerprinting for regular browsing. Call and sender screening helps reduce spam across Phone, Messages, and FaceTime.

Compatibility and availability

Apple lists iPhone 11 and later as compatible, including SE 2nd gen and newer. iOS 26 is a free update. Some features and languages roll out in beta and may be limited by region. Apple

Quick-start checklist

Task	Why it helps
Back up to iCloud or a Mac	Protects photos and messages before updating.
Clear 10–15 GB of storage	Avoids stalled downloads and installs.
Update key apps	Ensures compatibility with new APIs and design.
Check language and region notes	Some Intelligence and translation features are limited.
Try Visual Intelligence	Learn gestures and build a few helpful Shortcuts.

Why it matters

This is the biggest visual change since iOS 7. It modernizes the look, adds on-screen intelligence, and reduces spam across calls and messages. The result should be a phone that feels fresher, faster to use, and easier to trust.

What happens next

Expect point releases that refine Liquid Glass legibility and expand Apple Intelligence features and languages. Watch Apple’s support pages for regional availability updates.

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