Although we are always in the iOS 18 era, the next big update – which rather than iOS 19 is rather called iOS 26 – has been unveiled at WWDC 2025.
As such, we now know what to expect, and for the intrepid among you, it is even possible to download a beta version of the software and to try it for yourself.
This could also be tempting, as a new name, iOS 26 also has a brand new look, among many new and improved features.
Below, you will find everything you need to know about this software update, including all its main features and when it starts to deploy.
Pursue
- What is this? The next major iPhone operating system update
- When did it come out? Announced on June 9, probably deployed in September
- Who will get it? All iPhone 11 models will be compatible
IOS 26: release date
IOS 26 was announced at WWDC 2025 on June 9 and it is available in beta now. If you want to catch it yourself, we have a guide covering how to download the iOS 26 beta developer.
However, the finished version will probably not be launched before September 2025, where it is likely to land alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and a possible iPhone 17 air.
However, since it was announced, we already know what to expect, so read the rest to know everything about iOS 26.
iOS 26: compatibility
Although iOS 26 has not yet been released, we know the full list of phones compatible with iOS 26.
In short, if you have a model in the iPhone 11 series or later or an iPhone SE (2020) or later, you can download iOS 26.
This means that almost all phones that can get iOS 18 can also get iOS 26, except the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR.
iOS 26: a new design
Although there are many new features in iOS 26, the biggest change is the appearance of the operating system, Apple having given it a complete overhaul.
This is the largest overhaul of the iPhone software experience since the launch of iOS 7 alongside the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C, so it is a massive change, and it is focused on a digital “ material called liquid Glass.
What this means in practice are many rounded and transparent elements inspired by visionos, as well as a new clear theme, which you can possibly choose instead of light or darkness.
This should refresh the interface, and a version of this new style is also applied to most other Apple operating systems, so there will be more unit between devices.
iOS 26: new features
iOS 26 includes a multitude of new useful features, ranging from revised applications to improvements in Apple intelligence, from which you will find details below.
A new camera application
IOS 26 offers a redesigned camera application, which rationalizes photo and video modes to make them easier to use.
When you launch the application, the only options you will see under the shutter button are “photo” and “video”, rather than the large number of options that are present in iOS 18. Then, once you select one of those you can display other related options with a right or right.
Other camera menus have also been reorganized to make them clearer and more intuitive, so navigating in the camera application should be much smoother with iOS 26.
Apple intelligence improvements
Siri has still not had the chatgpt overhaul that we are expecting, but iOS 26 includes certain improvements in Apple intelligence.
There is a live translation, which translated the text and the audio on the application, the messages and facetime, and the visual intelligence has been upgraded to allow you to get help with anything on your screen.
The shortcut application has also been improved, with a new set of available shortcuts that have been made by Apple Intelligence, and Genmoji and Image Playground now allow you to combine Emoji, Genmoji and Descriptions, for all new creations.
Apple games
Apple Games is a new application that replaces Game Center, but unlike Game Center, you can manually launch that, and you can find and start games inside.
You will also find rankings here and you can follow the achievements, and the same application arrives at MacOS, adding to the meaning of the unit between these operating systems.
A revised telephone application
The telephone application also had a lot of attention in iOS 26, which now has a simpler provision that puts favorites, recents and voicemail on a single screen.
More exciting, however, it also has a call screening function which allows you to hear what a call is before deciding to take into account. There is also Hold Assist, who will inform you when you are no longer waiting.
Battery boost
The battery life of your phone could also be improved with iOS 26, because a new adaptive power mode will make changes in the background to reduce battery leak to the detriment of things like screen brightness and performance, so it will be useful when your battery operates low.
There is also a new estimate of charging time, which will predict how long it will take your battery, and you will see more deep battery statistics in the battery section of the Settings application.
Best flight features
Frequent leaflets should appreciate iOS 26, as Apple has made sure that if you have a boarding card recorded in the wallet, you will be able to see related live activities, offering real -time updates on flight.
This improved boarding experience also provides shortcuts for mapping at the airport and to find my luggage tracking.
Other small updates
In addition to the major features above, there are also smaller features in iOS 26.
These include the translations of translation and pronunciation of words in Apple Music, a new screen of places visited in Apple Maps, the option of paying in several payments for store purchases made with Apple Pay, the alerts of the camera lenses on your phone are dirty and additional fundamental sound options.
iOS 26 will also filter the messages from unknown shippers so that they do not get your reception box, and you can create surveys in messages of messages.
In addition, Carplay also has a new design and features – as a tapback tool in messages – as part of iOS 26.
