Welcome, everyone! Today, we’re diving into a topic that has every iPhone user on the edge of their seats—the massive new update from Apple. No, it’s not iOS 18 or 19. Apple has made an unprecedented leap, jumping straight to iOS 26! This is no small step, and the changes are just as significant. I’ve installed the update, and I’m here to give you a detailed breakdown of everything new.
Apple’s WWDC 2025 event was packed with announcements, from watchOS and iPadOS to the highly anticipated iOS 26. In this article, we’ll explore the groundbreaking features that have been introduced, and I’ll walk you through how to download it (and whether you even should!).
While many of the new features might feel familiar to our Android friends, for iPhone users, this is a game-changer. So whether you’re a long-time Apple enthusiast or a curious Android user, you’re going to want to read this. Let’s get started and see what all the hype is about!
The Big News from WWDC 2025
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of iOS 26, there are a couple of major announcements from Apple that are worth noting.
First, during WWDC, Apple officially acknowledged that its Apple Intelligence platform is still a work in progress and needs more time to be fully refined. This is a rare admission from a company known for its perfectionism, and it shows they’re committed to getting it right. Second, they’ve now opened up the Apple Intelligence framework to developers, allowing them to integrate Apple’s AI capabilities into their apps. This is a huge step that could lead to some amazing innovations.
Now that we’ve covered the big picture, let’s zoom in on the star of the show: iOS 26.
Liquid Glass: A Brand-New Transparent UI
The first thing you’ll notice about iOS 26 is the complete overhaul of the user interface (UI). Apple is calling this new design language “Liquid Glass.” As the name suggests, it gives the entire operating system a transparent, glass-like appearance.
Imagine every button, switch, and menu having a smooth, fluid animation that looks like a sheet of glass. This aesthetic is applied universally across all of Apple’s apps, including Music, Maps, and Safari. The goal is to create a seamless, elegant experience where the UI feels almost invisible, blending in with your wallpaper.
This design is essentially a new theme or “skin” for your iPhone, making everything from the Control Center to the settings menus translucent. For example, when you go into your settings, you’ll see a clear, see-through background behind the options. This effect also extends to the home screen, where you can now select a “Clear” option in the customization settings to make app icons and widgets appear transparent.
This is a bold change, and it’s one that will likely divide opinions. Some people will love the sleek, modern look, while others might find it less practical or visually distracting. Personally, I think it looks incredibly cool and gives the iPhone a fresh, dynamic feel.
Lock Screen & Wallpaper Magic
Apple hasn’t stopped with just the home screen; they’ve also brought the Liquid Glass theme to the lock screen, giving it a transparent and dynamic look that works in both light and dark modes.
But that’s not all. iOS 26 introduces a significant AI-powered feature for wallpapers. When you set a new wallpaper, the OS will use AI to scan the image and intelligently adjust the time and date to fit seamlessly into the design. This creates a beautiful, dynamic lock screen where the elements feel perfectly integrated into the background, rather than just floating on top.
And for those who want to take their wallpapers to the next level, Apple has introduced 3D Wallpapers. You can now turn any photo into a three-dimensional wallpaper directly from your phone’s settings, no third-party apps needed. This gives your home and lock screens an incredible sense of depth and motion.
This is a great example of Apple taking a feature that has been available on other platforms and making it incredibly simple and intuitive to use.
A Completely Redesigned Camera UI
Now, let’s talk about the camera app. Apple has completely redesigned the camera UI in iOS 26, making it cleaner and more minimalist than ever before.
When you open the camera, you’re greeted with a smooth, fluid animation. The interface focuses on the two most-used features: a button for Photo and a button for Video. To access other modes like Portrait or Panorama, you simply scroll or swipe across the screen.
The idea behind this redesign is to simplify the user experience and put the most essential functions front and center. While some might miss the old, all-in-one menu, this new layout certainly makes the camera feel more streamlined and focused.
We’re just getting warmed up with the new features, so let’s move on to the Photos app.
Enhanced Photo and Safari Apps
The Photos app has also received a complete redesign, giving it a fresh, new look. When you open it, you’ll see two main options:
- Library: This is where you’ll find all of your photos and videos, organized by date.
- Collections: This is where all of your albums are stored, making it easier to find specific groups of photos.
The app also features a prominent search bar, which now makes it much easier to find specific photos or documents with a quick search.
Next up, we have the Safari browser, which has been given a stunning makeover. Apple has focused on a full-screen, edge-to-edge viewing experience. The buttons for back, URL, and reload have all been moved to the bottom of the screen, creating a sleek, immersive browsing experience. The overflow menu on the right gives you quick access to all your other options, like bookmarks and sharing.
Of course, for many of us, Chrome will always be our go-to browser. But if you’re a Safari fan, you’re going to love this update!
Face-to-Face and On-the-Go: FaceTime & CarPlay
FaceTime has also gotten a fresh new look. The app now features a landing page that showcases your favorite and most-called contacts with large, easy-to-tap icons. This makes starting a call with your loved ones quicker and more intuitive than ever.
CarPlay has also seen its biggest update yet, now called CarPlay Ultra. The UI has been completely redesigned with the Liquid Glass theme, featuring larger, bolder icons and a transparent design. A key improvement is how it handles incoming calls. Instead of the call taking over your entire screen and disrupting your navigation, a small call icon will now appear at the bottom of the screen, allowing the map to continue running in the background.
This is a long-awaited fix for a feature that has frustrated many users, and it’s a huge win for both safety and convenience. CarPlay Ultra also now supports widgets, which is another great addition that lets you customize your in-car experience.
The Unified Phone App and Smart Call Screening
The Phone app has also been completely redesigned with a new Unified Layout. Now, when you open the app, you’ll see three options at the bottom: Calls, Contacts, and Keypad. This makes it easy to switch between your recent calls, contacts, and the dial pad from a single, unified screen. There’s also a search button on the top right, and you can switch back to the classic Phone app layout if you prefer.
But what I find most impressive about the Phone app update is the new Call Screening feature. This is a game-changer. When an unknown number calls you, the feature will screen the call and tell you whether it’s a telemarketing call, a scam, or an important call. It basically acts as a digital assistant, answering on your behalf and giving you a summary of the call in real time, so you can decide if you want to pick up.
This is a huge step towards combating spam and fraud calls.
Another great calling feature is Hold Assist, which you can access from the three-dot menu during a call. When you put a call on hold, this feature transcribes whatever the other person is saying in real-time. This is incredibly useful for screening calls and quickly identifying if it’s a telemarketer or a scammer.
Messaging, Music, and More
The updates keep coming, with several other apps receiving major new features.
- Messages: You can now set custom wallpapers for your message chats, just like you can in other messaging apps. This update also allows you to create group polls and use a new Apple Cash feature to split bills and expenses within a group chat, making it perfect for planning trips. There’s also a new Spam Screening Tool that filters out unwanted messages, and a Live Translation feature that lets you translate messages in real-time. This is a fantastic tool for communicating with people in different languages.
- Live Translation in Calls: Beyond messages, iOS 26 brings live translation to calls as well. You can speak in your native language, and the app will translate it in real-time for the person on the other end, making cross-cultural communication easier than ever.
- Apple Music: The music app now supports lyrics translation, so you can read the lyrics in your language. It also includes a pronunciation guide, so you can learn how to sing along to songs correctly.
- Apple Maps: The app now uses AI to learn your favorite places and interests, and it will suggest destinations based on your travel habits.
- Apple Wallet: A major security feature has been added: you can now add a digital passport to your Apple Wallet. This is a big step towards a more seamless travel experience, though its availability will likely vary by country.
- Games App: For all the gamers out there, Apple has introduced a new, dedicated Games app. This app focuses on video gaming, showcasing the latest titles and offering full support for gaming controllers.
- Battery Status: A feature that iPhone users have been asking for for years has finally arrived. When your phone is charging, you can now go into the battery settings to see an estimated time for when your phone will reach 80% and 100% charge. This is a small but incredibly useful update.
- Visual Intelligence: Apple has also updated its Visual Intelligence feature to be more like Android’s “Circle to Search.” You can now take a screenshot and use it to search for information about any object in the image using tools like ChatGPT or an image search. This feature now works across all apps, making it more versatile than ever.
How to Download iOS 26 Beta & Supported Devices
So, you’ve seen all the new features and you’re ready to jump in. The good news is you can download the public beta right now. Just remember, beta versions can be buggy, so it’s a good idea to back up your data first.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Open your browser and search for the Apple Beta Program.
- Log in with the same Apple ID you use on your iPhone.
- Follow the instructions to install the beta profile on your device.
- Go to Settings, then General, and finally Software Update.
- You should now see an option to download and install the iOS 26 beta profile.
You might be wondering if your iPhone is even compatible. Here’s a list of all the supported devices that will get the iOS 26 update: .
My Final Take: Is It Worth It?
After using the iOS 26 beta, I can confidently say that this is a huge step forward for Apple. While some of the features may feel familiar to Android users, they are a massive upgrade for those who have been on the Apple platform for years. The new Liquid Glass UI is bold and visually stunning, and the improvements to core apps like the Phone, Safari, and Messages are incredibly useful.
However, I’m still not sure if the new transparent UI is something that will hold up over the long term, or if people will eventually tire of it. It’s a risk, but it’s a risk that has brought some much-needed freshness to the iOS experience.
I’m excited to continue using this update and see how it evolves. What do you think? Are you excited about the new changes, or are you happy with the current iOS? Let me know in the comments below!
Disclaimer
The iOS 26 features and information mentioned in this article are based on the public beta version. The final release may have additional features, bug fixes, or changes. It’s always recommended to back up your device before installing any beta software, as it may contain bugs that could impact your user experience.
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Apple, iOS 26, iOS update, iOS 26 features, Liquid Glass, WWDC 2025, iPhone, software update
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#iOS26 #Apple #WWDC2025 #iPhoneUpdate #LiquidGlass #Tech #SoftwareUpdate #AppleBetaProgram
