iOS 26: The Top 14 New Features You Need To Try

Apple’s next major iPhone update, iOS 26, was officially announced earlier this week. From a bold new visual design to AI-powered experiences that stretch across apps, iOS 26 lays the groundwork for what's coming in the iPhone’s future, including the anticipated 2027 20th anniversary redesign.

Here’s a breakdown of the 14 most important changes coming to iOS 26 this fall.

1. Phone

Apple is reimagining how we handle phone calls:

• Call Screening answers unknown numbers and lets the caller state their name and purpose. Your phone only rings if they pass the test.
• Hold Assist listens for hold music and alerts you when a real person picks up.
• A redesigned layout better fits larger iPhone screens and modern call habits.

Photo via Apple // Apple is finally taking the Phone App seriously with iOS 26.

2. Messages

Messages now includes:

• Dynamic backgrounds, giving your chats more personality.
• Polls in group chats, so no more chaos over lunch plans.
• Better spam filtering, separating unknown senders quietly without missing important texts.

Also, AI-powered translations in real-time enhance conversations across language barriers in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone apps.

Photo via MacRumors // Exciting new updates are coming to the Messages App with iOS 26.

3. Camera & Photos

The Camera app is now simpler:

• Just two core options: Video or Photo.
• Swipe gestures reveal hidden modes and settings.

Best of all: Say goodbye to the disaster of iOS 18's Photos app. The Photos app also gets a redesign, moving essential controls to the bottom with Liquid Glass styling—addressing years of user complaints about cluttered navigation.

4. Liquid Glass

Arguably the biggest change to iOS with iOS 26 is the new design language called Liquid Glass. iOS 26 introduces a glossy, translucent interface inspired by the aesthetics of the Vision Pro headset. This new look reimagines how system elements, menus, and apps appear across iPhones, iPads, Macs, and even CarPlay. It’s Apple’s most significant design change since the flat UI of iOS 7 in 2013.

By making controls and menus see-through, you’ll be able to focus more on your content.— Apple, WWDC 2025

This design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s part of Apple’s strategy to unify its platforms and pave the way for the 2027 iPhone redesign, according to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg.

Photo via Apple // Apple's new 'Liquid Glass' design language.

5. The New Name

Gone are the days of ambiguous update names. Apple now ties iOS version numbers to the calendar year, meaning iOS 26 ships in 2025. Think of it like car model years: you get the 2026 model before 2026 actually begins.

6. FaceTime

FaceTime’s controls now auto-hide, letting the conversation take center stage. Your contact list gets a visual upgrade with live posters and call previews.

Photo via Apple // FaceTime is getting an overhaul with iOS 26.

7. Safari

Safari’s tab bar now floats with a glassy transparency. It shrinks as you scroll, maximizing screen space. Whether this improves usability or just looks cool remains to be seen—but it certainly looks sleek.

Photo via Apple // Now that looks sleek. Apple's Safari app is getting a much-needed facelift with iOS 26.

8. Music

Apple’s Music app introduces:

• Live translated lyrics so you can finally sing along in another language.
• Pronunciation guides help you sound it out.
• AutoMix DJ-style blending between songs.
• Pinned artists and albums for faster access to your repeat favorites.

Photo via Lifehacker // The Music App has been refined with iOS 26.

9. Games

Gaming on iPhone just got real. The new Games app centralizes access to Apple Arcade and other titles, cutting out App Store clutter. Apple claims over 500 million people play games on iPhone—now the software reflects that importance.

10. Apple Intelligence

Unlike last year’s big splash, this year’s AI upgrades are integrated quietly:

• Workout Buddy offers personalized encouragement during exercise via Apple Watch.
• Real-time translations and smart message sorting show off Apple’s large-language models.
• Developers now get access to these models, too.

One thing missing? The long-promised Siri overhaul. Apple admitted during the livestream that it has been delayed.

11. Enhancements to Visual Intelligence

What used to require a camera now works on your screen:

• Take a screenshot, and Visual Intelligence can parse event details, text, or items to create calendar events or search Etsy listings.
• Great for capturing concert posters, QR codes, or recipes you want to save.

12. Wallet

In iOS 26, Wallet isn’t just for boarding passes and payments:

• Create a Digital ID using your passport, good for TSA domestic checkpoints (but not a passport replacement).
• Track online orders automatically—even if you didn’t use Apple Pay—by scanning receipts in emails and messages.
• Set up installment payments for in-store purchases.

Photo via TechCrunch // New features and an enhanced design are coming to the Wallet App with iOS 26.

13. Apple Maps

New features in Maps include:

• Frequent route alerts for delays before you leave.
• A visited places feature that tracks your most-loved spots and categorizes them by city or type.

14. Apple CarPlay

CarPlay is getting more responsive:

• Compact call view so directions don’t get blocked.
• Widgets for essentials like weather or calendar.
• Live Activities on your dashboard so you know when your UberEats is arriving or your friend’s flight lands.

Device Compatibility

Which devices will support Apple's latest operating system, iOS 26? iOS 26 supports the iPhone 11 and newer, including:

• iPhone 16e
• iPhone 16
• iPhone 16 Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

Final Thoughts

iOS 26 is more than a facelift—it’s a philosophical shift. Apple is merging beauty with utility and blending its platforms under a unified visual and functional vision. And while some of the most ambitious AI features (like a smarter Siri) are delayed, the updates that did arrive feel carefully considered and genuinely useful.

It’s not radical—but it is refined.

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Oliver West

Journalist

With 5 years of experience in tech journalism, Oliver West focuses on creating detailed how-to guides, list articles, and practical tips for optimizing the Apple experience. Whether you're troubleshooting a device or exploring hidden features, Oliver’s guides are trusted by Apple users around the world.