Consider it or not, we’re lower than per week away from the announcement of iOS 26. Forward of that launch, rumors about new iOS 26 options, supported gadgets, and extra have began to floor. Right here’s all the things we all know thus far.
iOS 26, not iOS 19
Whereas all of us anticipated this yr’s iOS replace to be referred to as “iOS 19,” it seems that’s not the case. In accordance with Bloomberg, Apple is switching issues up and can as an alternative launch iOS 26 this yr.
The discharge of iOS 26 will correspond with iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26. Apple’s objective is to unify its naming throughout all of its totally different software program platforms.
As for why this yr’s replace is iOS 25, not iOS 26, it looks as if Apple is adopting the automotive mannequin yr technique. For instance, the 2026 Toyota Tacoma will really begin transport in the direction of the tip of 2025
Will your iPhone help iOS 26?
Yearly, one of the crucial essential questions is which iPhone fashions will help the latest iOS replace. To date for iOS 26, the rumors are conflicted.
First, the people at iPhoneSoft reported that each one gadgets that help iOS 18 will be capable to replace to iOS 26. This would come with the iPhone XR and newer.
Extra not too long ago, nonetheless, a non-public account on X that recurrently shares right particulars about Apple’s software program platforms stated that iOS 26 will drop help for 3 iPhone fashions: iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. All three of these telephones had been launched in September 2018.
The important thing context, in fact, is that not all options in iOS 26 will probably be out there on all iPhone fashions. Among the most power-hungry options, like Apple Intelligence, will probably be restricted to solely the latest iPhone fashions.
iOS 26 options
New design
Bloomberg studies that iOS 26 will probably be “one of the crucial dramatic software program overhauls” in Apple’s historical past. This can embody design modifications, new options, and extra.
In accordance with the report, iOS 26 will probably be “the most important revamp since iOS 7” in 2013. iOS 7 marked a dramatic redesign of the iPhone’s software program with new icons, fonts, consumer interface components, and extra.
iOS 26 will reportedly replace the “model of icons, menus, apps, home windows, and system buttons” for iPhone customers. The brand new interface will probably be “loosely” based mostly on visionOS. It is going to additionally “simplify the best way customers navigate and management their gadgets.”
YouTuber Jon Prosser has additionally reported on Apple’s plans for a redesign as a part of iOS 26. Prosser has shared mockups exhibiting iOS 26 with new icons, an up to date keyboard design, floating navigation bars, a revamped Messages app, and extra.
Digital camera app redesign
The Digital camera app will reportedly be one of many tentpoles of Apple’s new design language in iOS 26. In accordance with YouTuber Jon Prosser, the brand new Digital camera app will characteristic a design that “mirrors the design ethos from visionOS” with a concentrate on transparency.
Apple has reportedly streamlined controls on the backside of the interface into two toggles for “Photograph” and “Video.” Customers can swap between varied modes inside every menu, modify settings reminiscent of publicity, and extra.
On the high of the interface, customers have fast entry to controls for options like Stay Images and flash and settings for decision and body fee. Moreover, a devoted button stays to entry the consumer’s pictures library.
Siri modifications (kind of)
In accordance with Bloomberg, Apple is engaged on a basic revamp to how Siri works as a part of iOS 26. Presently, Siri is cut up into two distinct techniques underneath the hood. One system handles legacy instructions, like timers and alarms, and a separate system handles extra superior instructions.
As a part of iOS 26, Apple is predicted to merge these two techniques. This could streamline efficiency and make Siri quicker to answer queries of all kinds.
Apple has hit roadblocks in its plans for different main Siri modifications with iOS 26. Bloomberg initially reported that Apple would ship a brand new model of Siri that was “conversational” and extra like interacting with a human as a part of the iOS 26 cycle. That improve, nonetheless, is working not on time and won’t be introduced at WWDC in June.
Presently, iOS 18 affords ChatGPT integration as a part of Siri and Apple Intelligence. Nonetheless, Apple’s objective with iOS 26 was to deliver this performance in-house and emphasize the privateness advantages of its platform in comparison with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
AI for battery life
Constructing on the Apple Intelligence platform, iOS 26 will reportedly add new AI-powered battery administration instruments for iPhone. In accordance with Bloomberg, a brand new iOS 26 characteristic will use Apple Intelligence to “analyze how an individual makes use of their gadget and make changes to preserve power.
Apple is allegedly coaching this information on battery information that it has collected from iPhone customers. This information is beingj used to “perceive tendencies and make predictions for when it ought to decrease the facility draw of sure purposes or options.”
Talking of battery life, iOS 26 can even reportedly add a brand new indicator to the Lock Display when your iPhone is charging that tells you precisely how lengthy it is going to take to achieve a full cost.
Messages improve
This week, 9to5Mac completely reported that Apple is engaged on a number of updates to the Messages app as a part of iOS 26. First, the Messages app might add help for computerized inline translation of messages.
Apple can be engaged on help for polls in group messages. This may allow you to simply create and ship polls to vote on issues dinner plans and extra. Apple can be testing Apple Intelligence integration, which might mechanically counsel polls based mostly on the context of the group dialog.
CarPlay design
As talked about earlier, iOS 26 will deliver an all-new design to your iPhone’s software program. Because it seems, this redesign can even lengthen to CarPlay. In accordance with 9to5Mac sources, Apple is engaged on a redesign for CarPlay to match the brand new iOS 26 design.
Whereas particulars are sparse proper now, the brand new CarPlay design will seemingly embody issues like up to date icons, menus, buttons, and extra.
A concentrate on stability
Whereas iOS 26 will embody main modifications, just like the aforementioned all-new design, Apple is working to make sure these modifications don’t deliver glitches and bugs for iPhone customers. Bloomberg says that “Apple is pushing engineers to make sure that this yr’s releases are extra practical and fewer glitchy.”
Wi-Fi upgrades
Rounding out what we find out about new iOS 26 options, a latest help steered the replace will add a brand new characteristic that makes it simpler to connect with public Wi-Fi networks.
From the Bloomberg report:
What does this imply? Effectively, once you go to a brand new resort, workplace constructing or fitness center, you’re typically requested to fill out an online kind on all of your gadgets earlier than you possibly can entry the web. This new characteristic will allow you to enter that info on one gadget and have it synched to your different merchandise. That ought to make issues a bit extra handy subsequent time you should entry a brand new Wi-Fi community.
Delays
At the same time as we method the announcement of iOS 26 in June, Apple remains to be working to finish the rollout of options introduced for iOS 18 final yr. Among the most spectacular and highly effective Apple Intelligence options introduced for iOS 18 are delayed till the iOS 26 cycle.
In accordance with studies, Apple’s growth of iOS 18 options signifies that a “larger-than-usual variety of options scheduled for iOS 26” have already been postponed till spring 2026. It’s because Apple’s engineers are nonetheless engaged on iOS 18 initiatives “after they’d normally already be on to the next OS.”
Which means that iOS 26 may be lacking a lot of key options when it’s launched in September. The lacking options would then be added steadily over the approaching months as a part of iOS 26.1, iOS 26.2, iOS 26.3, and iOS 26.4.
Extra iOS 26 tidbits
Listed here are a couple of different options which have been rumored for iOS 16:
- New full-screen animated Apple Music album art work on the lock display.
- The skill to export notes in Markdown from Apple Notes.
- Help for a bi-directional keyboard to maneuver between Arabic and English.
- A digital reed calligraphy pen for Apple Pencil customers.
iOS 26 launch date timeline
iOS 26 will probably be introduced at WWDC subsequent week and can subsequently be out there in beta testing with builders. A public beta for iOS 26 will seemingly be launched in July, adopted by a launch to everybody in September.
Prior iOS developer beta launch dates:
- iOS 18: June 10, 2024
- iOS 17: June 5, 2023
- iOS 16: June 6, 2022
- iOS 15: June 7, 2021
- iOS 14: June 22, 2020
Prior iOS public beta launch dates:
- iOS 18: July 15, 2024
- iOS 17: July 12, 2023
- iOS 16: July 11, 2022
- iOS 15: June 30, 2021
- iOS 14: July 9, 2020
Prior iOS official launch dates:
- iOS 18: September 16, 2024
- iOS 17: September 18, 2023
- iOS 16: September 16, 2022
- iOS 15: September 20, 2021
- iOS 14: September 16, 2020
Wrap up
Do you could have any options in your iOS 26 wishlist? Are you hoping that Apple continues to double down on Apple Intelligence, or would you quite see a concentrate on non-AI options?
Tell us down within the feedback. We’ll preserve this information up to date as extra iOS 26 rumors emerge forward of WWDC 2025, which is ready to start on June 9.
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