It’s lastly right here. Earlier this week, Apple absolutely unveiled iOS 26, the following main iPhone software program replace that can arrive this fall. Listed below are six new options coming with iOS 26.
#1: New design with Liquid Glass
That is the characteristic you’ve seemingly already heard about—but it surely’s an enormous one.
iOS 26 introduces a main new design that impacts each a part of utilizing your iPhone.
A key a part of the brand new look is a fabric Apple calls ‘Liquid Glass’:
This translucent materials displays and refracts its environment, whereas dynamically remodeling to assist convey larger focus to content material, delivering a brand new degree of vitality throughout controls, navigation, app icons, widgets, and extra.
Liquid Glass will make your iPhone really feel contemporary and new, whereas nonetheless retaining the familiarity of the present iOS expertise.
#2: Group chat upgrades in Messages
iOS 26 provides Apple’s Messages app a number of new options, with a particular give attention to group chat upgrades.
Now you can create polls in your group chats, cut up payments with Apple Money, and for the primary time typing indicators are supported in teams too.
Teams have lengthy allow you to set a customized identify and picture for the chat, however now you’ll be able to set a customized background picture too. This may work not solely in teams, but additionally one-on-one conversations.
#3: Pinned music to your Apple Music library
Apple Music places over 100 million songs in your pocket. However the Music app hasn’t at all times supplied the most effective instruments for protecting your most vital music on the forefront.
iOS 26 provides a brand new instrument to the lineup: pinned music.
Now you’ll be able to pin your favourite albums, artists, or playlists to the highest of your library for straightforward entry.
This works nice for go-to music, in fact. However it’s additionally useful when somebody makes a suggestion, and also you wish to preserve it high of thoughts.
#4: Pictures app re-gains navigation tab bar
Final yr in iOS 18, Apple utterly overhauled the Pictures app—and upset a number of customers within the course of.
With iOS 26, one of the vital jarring modifications from final yr is largely being reversed.
Pictures is re-gaining a navigation tab bar on the backside of the display.
It’s not fairly the identical because it was once, however you’ll now discover separate buttons for Library, Collections, and Search. General, this could make the Pictures app really feel far more like its pre-iOS 18 model.
#5: Maintain Help for the Cellphone app
No one likes ready on maintain with a buyer help line. And in iOS 26, Apple has constructed a brand new instrument to make that have as painless as potential.
Once you’re positioned on a maintain, Maintain Help lets your iPhone do the ready for you. Whereas maintain music is enjoying, you received’t have to concentrate however can as a substitute go about your day.
Why? As a result of iOS 26 will notify you when the maintain ends and somebody is again on the road to speak to.
#6: Model new ‘Apple Video games’ app
A brand new ‘Apple Video games’ app comes pre-installed with iOS 26, including one other media-focused app to the lineup of Apple TV, Apple Podcasts, and so forth.
Video games will provide a fast strategy to:
- soar again into any sport you’ve been enjoying
- browse your full library
- uncover new video games
- see your folks’ exercise
- full challenges
- and extra
Apple hopes its new Video games app could be the one-stop hub to your iPhone gaming wants.
New iOS 26 options and launch date: wrap-up
There’s far more coming with iOS 26. The options outlined above are only a small pattern of every little thing new—like clear app icons, new Maps and Notes options, Lock Display and boarding move upgrades, and a complete lot extra.
iOS 26 is at the moment out there in an early beta preview, however it is going to launch to all customers this fall—seemingly in mid-September.
Which new iOS 26 options are you most enthusiastic about? Tell us within the feedback.
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