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Having access to iOS 26 in your iPhone is getting nearer, however the launch remains to be over a month away, coming this fall. However you can begin testing the brand new options now by downloading and installing Apple’s public beta, which CEO Tim Cook dinner just lately mentioned is (together with the opposite present beta working programs) “by far the most well-liked developer betas we’ve had,” 9to5Mac reports. You may as well check out our preview of the iOS 26 public beta release, which exhibits off the contemporary house and lock display screen redesign. Known as Liquid Glass, the brand new translucent look will lengthen throughout all of Apple’s upcoming working programs. The overhaul is considered one of a number of massive modifications coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the remainder of Apple’s software program suite, all of which have been showcased through the firm’s WWDC keynote on June 9.

After overpromising on AI plans final yr, Apple saved its iOS roadmap centered extra on fundamental high quality of life enhancements this yr. There are a number of helpful additions coming to the Cellphone and Messages apps in your iPhone, for example: Apple execs outlined the flexibility to weed out spam texts or different unknown senders and an choice to carry your spot on a telephone name once you’ve been ready for a consultant to choose up. Plus, a treasured function that we took without any consideration is coming again (trace: it is within the Images app).

Siri, in the meantime, is in a holding sample. Apple has beforehand specified that its smarter voice assistant — first promised at WWDC 2024 — is delayed till some level “in the coming year,” so that you should not count on any main modifications within the present betas. However there are stories that Apple is aiming to present Siri an even bigger mind transplant by basing it on third-party artificial intelligence models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, which may make 2026 a pivotal yr. The corporate can be reportedly engaged on a ‘stripped-down’ AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT.

With every beta, it looks like extra new enhancements are popping up, like this FaceTime function that’ll freeze your video if it detects nudity. Now that iOS 26 developer beta 5 is obtainable, we’re seeing extra added options, like a brand new bouncy animation on the passcode display screen and within the Management Heart, MacRumors reports. Some or all of these modifications will probably quickly migrate into the separate public beta (see beneath). Most newer iPhone fashions are eligible to download iOS 26 (each the betas and remaining model). Need to see the total checklist of recent options coming this fall? Learn on.

What’s iOS 26?

The present iPhone working system is iOS 18, and Apple remains to be actively updating it — version 18.6 was only recently launched. However do not count on to see iOS 19. As an alternative, Apple is skipping the numbering forward to iOS 26 later this yr. The corporate has determined to line up its iOS model numbers with a year-based system, much like automotive mannequin years. So whereas iOS and its sibling working programs can be launched in late 2025, they’re all designated “26” to replicate the yr forward. (In the meantime, iOS 18 is still getting new versions this summer, too.)

What’s Liquid Glass design?

Let’s be sincere. Out of all the pieces introduced at WWDC this yr, the new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone’s house and lock screens have regarded just about the identical yr after yr — the final thrilling factor (in my view) was the choice so as to add your personal aesthetic to your own home display screen by customizing your apps and widgets. So seeing the house and lock screens’ new facelift is refreshing.

So what precisely is Liquid Glass? Apple calls it a “new translucent material” since, properly, the apps and widgets are clear. Nevertheless, the display screen can nonetheless adapt to darkish and light-weight modes, relying on environment. You will additionally discover buttons with a brand new floating design in a number of apps, like Cellphone and Maps. They’re designed to be much less distracting than the present buttons, however are nonetheless simple to see. Whereas the design overhaul has confirmed to be controversial since its announcement, some — together with Engadget’s personal Devindra Hardawar — like the brand new path, even when it is considerably paying homage to Microsoft’s translucent Windows Vista Aero designs from almost twenty years in the past.

That mentioned, as of the discharge of the iOS 26 beta 2, Apple has already incorporated some user feedback into the design, dialing again the transparency in at the least some locations. And whereas it should proceed to evolve, Apple customers will not be capable to escape it: Liquid Glass was designed to make all of Apple’s OSes extra cohesive. This is a have a look at how the translucent aesthetic will look with the new macOS Tahoe 26 in your desktop.

What are the brand new and notable options of iOS 26?

iOS 26 has a laundry checklist of recent options. Among the many most worthwhile:

Cellphone app redesign: You will lastly be capable to scroll by means of contacts, latest calls and voicemail messages all on one display screen. It additionally comes with a brand new function referred to as Maintain Help that’ll notify you when an agent involves the telephone so you possibly can keep away from the elevator music and proceed on with different duties.

Dwell Translation in Cellphone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the flexibility to have a dialog through telephone name or textual content message with somebody who speaks one other language. Dwell Translation will translate your dialog in actual time, which leads to some stop-and-go interactions within the examples Apple shared throughout its presentation.

Polls in group chats: Bored with sorting by means of what looks like a whole lot of messages in your group chat? You and your pals will quickly be capable to create polls in group messages for deciding issues like which brunch spot you are consuming at or whose automotive you take on a street journey.

Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you have not obtained spam texts about unpaid tolls or different citations, you are fortunate. For these of us who’ve, these annoying messages will quickly be filtered away in a separate folder.

Visible Intelligence: Just like a reverse Google picture search, this new function will can help you seek for something that is in your iPhone display screen. As an illustration, when you spot a pair of footwear somebody is carrying in an Instagram photograph, you possibly can screenshot it and use Visible Intelligence to seek out these footwear (or comparable ones) on-line.

Images tabs are again: For anybody who’s nonetheless pissed off with the Photos changes made last year, you will be comfortable to know that your tabs are coming again. Library and Collections could have their very own separate areas so you do not have to scroll to infinity to seek out what you are searching for.

FaceTime “Communication Security” function: A more recent addition to iOS 26 seems to be the FaceTime “Communication Safety” feature that pauses communications if and when nudity is detected. The function seems to be a baby security function that makes use of on-device detection, thus obviating any cloud-based privateness points.

New lock screen options: The iPhone lock display screen will get extra customizable in iOS 26, with a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper results, extra widgets and higher focus mode choices.

New modifications coming to iPadOS 26

Your iPad is not getting left behind with regards to massive updates. This is what’s coming this fall.

Multitasking and actual windowing: Once you obtain the latest replace, you’ll have a number of apps operating in your display screen on the similar time. When you open an app, it’s going to seem in your display screen as regular however you’ll resize and transfer it throughout your display screen to make room for different apps. This function is non-obligatory so you possibly can flip it off when you do not prefer it.

Visible replace: Together with the opposite new OSes, iPadOS 26 is coming with the Liquid Glass aesthetic. This new look will seem on the lock and residential screens, in addition to the drop-down menus.

New menu bar: Once you swipe down in your display screen, the brand new menu bar will seem with choices like File, Edit, Home windows and extra. There’s additionally a search choice when you’re searching for one thing particular.

Checkout our first impressions of iPadOS 26.

What about AirPods?

AirPods are also getting updated with iOS 26. Listed here are a number of the extra notable features.

Enhanced audio recording: Apple calls this “studio-quality” audio recording, and with it, you will discover extra readability whereas in noisy environments.

Digicam distant management: Utilizing this, you possibly can take a photograph or begin and cease video recording with only one press in your AirPods. When taking images, you will get a three-second countdown earlier than your iPhone or iPad snaps the image.

Which iPhones will be capable to improve to iOS 26?

A number of iPhone fashions that run the present model of iOS — iPhone XR, XS and XS Max — will not be suitable with the newest improve. However any iPhones launched in 2019 or later can be eligible for the iOS 26 update.

• iPhone SE (second technology or later)

Not listed below are the presumed new iPhone 17 models (or possibly iPhone 26?) which can be all however sure to be introduced and launched in September.

The best way to set up iOS 26 beta

The iOS 26 public beta is now obtainable to obtain through the Apple Beta Software Program. Should you’re not already a member, you will want to enroll to check out all the newest options. Simply go to beta.apple.com and enroll along with your telephone quantity or e mail deal with. It is free.

When you’re in, you possibly can set up it by going to Settings > Basic > Software program Replace and choosing iOS 26 public beta.

A phrase of warning: Do not enroll along with your most important iPhone until you are OK with any dangers that happen with utilizing an OS that is not finalized.

When will the ultimate model of iOS 26 be launched?

iOS 26 can be launched to the general public this fall. It normally is available in September, inside per week of the Apple iPhone occasion. Final yr, it rolled out to iPhone customers on September 16 — precisely one week after the iPhone 16 lineup was introduced.

Should you’re extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, here is everything Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and more throughout WWDC. Additionally, take a look at how iOS 26 screenshots might be an intriguing preview of Apple’s delayed Siri rework.

Replace, August 8: Added new options coming with iPadOS 26 and AirPods.

Replace, August 6: Famous the discharge of iOS 26 beta 5 and the brand new bouncy function on passcode display screen and Management Heart.

Replace, August 4: Famous that Apple is reportedly engaged on a ChatGPT rival.

Replace, August 1: Added quote from Tim Cook dinner about iOS 26.

Replace, July 31: Famous that iOS 18.6 is now obtainable.

Replace, July 24: Famous the iOS 26 public beta is now obtainable.

Replace, July 3: Famous new FaceTime function discovered within the developer beta.

Replace, June 30: Famous ongoing iOS 18 releases, and stories that Apple is contemplating extra exterior LLMs for Siri.

Replace, June 25: Famous modifications added in iOS 26 beta 2.