On September 15, 2025, Apple launched iOS 26, one of the largest iPhone updates in years, featuring a visual redesign, new communication tools, privacy protection, intelligence capabilities, and more; iOS 26 seeks to improve the user experience across multiple dimensions.
If you have one of the newest models or a supported older iPhone, there are new features to check out in iOS 26.
iOS 26 New Features
Here’s a summary of the main new features and changes that iOS 26 will bring:
Liquid Glass Design
- One of the things iOS 26 introduces is a completely new design language called Liquid Glass.
- User-interface elements (icons, toggles, menus, app controls, etc.) will use translucent, glass-like surfaces that are more active in visually refracting and reflecting the background surfaces. This will create a more fluid and “frozen-glass” feel.
- Lock Screen becomes even more dynamic: the time will drift ever so slightly, based on the subject matter of your wallpaper. Plus, there’s a new 3D feel when you turn the device.
Apple Intelligence & Live Translation
- iOS 26 will expand the features of Apple Intelligence to include live translation of voice, text, and FaceTime conversations, support more languages, and function offline in some cases.
- Visual Intelligence allows you to take action on what you see on the screen: you can use a screenshot to search for things, ask questions, or extract information.
Communication Enhancements
- Messages gets new features including polls in group chats, custom backgrounds, and typing indicators in group chats.
- Improvements to the Phone app include Call Screening for unknown numbers (which allows you time to ask who’s calling and why), Hold Assist to help maintain your position in line, and a unified layout options for Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails.
Home Screen/Lock Screen Updates and New Built-in Apps
- New apps launching: Apple Games (hub for games, friend integration, game center etc.), Preview (to view & edit PDF’s and images much more easily).
- Lock Screen updates are moving widgets to the bottom, adapting time position by wallpaper configuration, and creating 3D styles in Portrait that react to tilting/movement.
Privacy & Security
- iOS 26 introduces Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE) to increase security from mercenary spyware attacks.
- Seven GB of free storage is still the requirement when using the “Apple Intelligence” features (which is great if you worry about storage).
Performance & Other Useful Features
- Car Play updates include Widget Live Activities with better controls and mapping & navigation functionality.
- Adaptive Power mode, automatically adjusts some settings when usage is increased to help battery life.
- Preview app will function more like the Mac version, including much better editing and document viewing/image functionality.
A Look at Roll-Out & Device Compatibility
- iOS 26 is out now (or rolling out) for many iPhones starting with the iPhone 11 model and newer.
- Some advanced Apple Intelligence features only work on newer hardware or work best on newer hardware. Offline translation, for instance, works better on newer chipsets.
Initial Impressions: What Users Will See First
- This is a big, pretty visible, design change — open any default application or lock screen and you’ll see a branded UI (icons, transparency, motion).
- Communication upgrades are useful everyday magic now – messages feel more expressive (custom backgrounds, polls) and phone applications feel more capable of managing spam / unknown callers.
- Apple Intelligence tools/workflows are not clearly articulated, but screenshot-based search, live translation, etc. will become a handy, every day, tool quickly — particularly for multilingual individuals (especially with screenshot content dependencies!).
iOS 26 Features
| Category | What’s New | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Liquid Glass UI with translucent, glass-like elements | Brings a modern, dynamic, immersive look and feel |
| Lock Screen | Widgets at bottom, 3D effects, time adapts to wallpaper | More personalized and engaging |
| Communication | Polls in Messages, call screening, group typing indicators | Better group chat experience & protection against spam calls |
| Apple Intelligence | Live translations, screenshot intelligence, expanded AI tools | Smarter everyday interactions and multi-language support |
| Privacy & Security | Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE), advanced protections | Stronger defense against spyware and hacking |
| New Apps | Apple Games & Preview | Centralized gaming hub and built-in document/image editing |
| CarPlay | Live Activities & improved navigation controls | More seamless in-car experience |
| Performance | Adaptive Power Mode, smoother animations | Better balance of performance and battery |
| Camera/Media | Improved integration for screenshots, visual intelligence | Easier to extract info and act on images |
| Compatibility | Works on iPhone 11 and newer (full features on recent models) | Ensures older devices still benefit while new ones get full experience |
Conclusion
iOS 26 is more than just a skin-deep refresh. Apple has melded visual flair (Liquid Glass) with very effective improvements in communication, privacy, and Ai tools. This is one of those upgrades that will feel minor for some (if not many) parts, but then huge for other parts — eg, all dependent on your use pattern.
If you have a newer iPhone – you certainly want to install this for fresh visuals, practical upgrades and smarter features. If you are sensitive to UI elements (highly visible in Macbook Game Overlay especially, but throughout UI stay tuned), especially the transparency, or are used to battery spectrums in previous 12 – 24 month devices as your maximum unified battery experience for certain applications, you may give it a little wait for minor patches. Ultimately, this certainly feels like one of Apple’s more modernized and ambitious software updates in some long time.
💡 What do you think about iOS 26? Do the new features excite you, or were you expecting something more? Share your thoughts—we’d love to hear your take!
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The Review
ios 26
PROS
- Stunning visual overhaul with Liquid Glass adds fresh polish and makes using iPhone more immersive.
- Strong privacy and AI features: live translation, screenshot intelligence, call screening, etc., make everyday interactions smarter and safer.
CONS
- Liquid Glass design, while attractive, has drawn criticism over readability and distracting transparency for some users.
- As with major updates, there may be a dip in battery performance initially (due to background indexing, animations, etc.), and some features might not be immediately fully polished.
