WWDC 2025: Apple Announces iOS 26 With New Liquid Glass Design, Apple Intelligence Enhancements and More

iOS 26 was unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 on Monday. The firm previewed a number of new options and synthetic intelligence (AI) capabilities that may quickly be accessible on iPhone. One of probably the most notable adjustments is to the design language of the OS. Apple has launched a brand new UI dubbed Liquid Glass, which bundles glass-like iconography and different components. The newest model of iOS can even carry Apple Intelligence options and a unified interface within the Phone app, up to date Camera app structure, typing indicators in Messages, new CarPlay options, and extra, when it’s rolled out on eligible iPhone fashions later this 12 months.

iOS 26 Compatible Models

Apple says iOS 26 might be supplied as a free over-the-air (OTA) software program replace for iPhone 11 and later handsets. However, the Apple Intelligence options might be restricted to the iPhone 16 sequence and iPhone 15 Pro fashions.

Registered Apple builders can obtain iOS 26 on their gadgets and begin testing out the brand new options. A public beta might be accessible via the Apple Beta Software Program subsequent month.

Visual Improvements in iOS 26

According to Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President (SVP) of Software Engineering at Apple, Liquid Glass in iOS 26 is a brand new translucent materials that displays and refracts its surrounding visible components. It is carried out throughout controls, navigation, app icons, and widgets within the OS. This new design language brings new customisation choices for the house and lock screens, enabling customers to customize app icons and widgets with a brand new clear look.

Photo Credit: Apple

On the iPhone’s lock display screen, the time widget now adapts to the free area in a picture, shrinking and increasing mechanically. Meanwhile, there’s additionally a 3D impact which seems when customers transfer their iPhone.

iOS 26 additionally features a streamlined structure within the Camera app, separate tab for Library and Collections views within the Photos app, flowing internet pages in Safari, and a redesigned tab bar in apps like Apple Music, News and Podcasts. This bar is claimed to drift close to the highest and dynamically shrink to focus on the content material on the display screen.

Apple Intelligence Updates

Building upon the introduction of Apple Intelligence options on iPhone from final 12 months, Apple is increasing upon its capabilities. It has launched Live Translation which is built-in in apps like Messages, FaceTime, and Phone. Powered by the corporate’s proprietary on-device AI fashions, this characteristic mechanically interprets textual content and audio in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, and different languages.

Photo Credit: Apple

Updates to Visual Intelligence, Apple’s different for Google’s Circle-to-Search, allow customers to ask ChatGPT questions on what they’re at present taking a look at on their display screen. They may also seek for comparable photographs and merchandise on Google, Etsy, and different supported apps. Further, it mechanically recognises if a person is taking a look at an occasion and suggests them so as to add it to their calendar with date, time, and different key particulars.

Apple has additionally launched AI-powered shortcuts and devoted actions for Writing Tools and Image Playground. The firm’s AI mannequin may also determine and summarise particulars, comparable to bill in emails obtained from retailers. Users may also combine their favorite emojis, Genmojis, and descriptions for distinctive creations. Meanwhile, the brand new Foundation Models framework offers builders entry to Apple’s on-device basis mannequin which powers Apple Intelligence.

Changes to Apps

Apple has revamped the Phone app with a unified structure which mixes the Favourites, Recents, and Voicemails tabs. It additionally takes benefit of Call Screening which makes use of Live Voicemail to collect data from the caller, enabling the recipient to determine whether or not they want to decide it up. On the opposite hand, Hold Assist can come in useful when the person is caught on maintain, notifying them when the particular person on the opposite finish of the road, comparable to an agent, is obtainable.

With iOS 26, customers can display screen messages from unknown senders within the Messages app, which seem in a devoted folder and stay silenced until chosen in any other case. Users may also create polls, generate backgrounds for chats utilizing Apple Intelligence, and see typing indicators in group chats.

There are Lyrics Translation and Lyrics Pronunciation options in Apple Music, together with an AutoMix characteristic that makes use of AI to seamlessly transition from one monitor to the following utilizing time stretching and beat matching. Meanwhile, Apple Maps will get a characteristic dubbed Visited Places which allows the person to recollect the locations they have been. Apple says iPhone can use on-device AI to analyse their day by day route and current them with a most well-liked possibility, whereas additionally notifying them of potential delays.

In addition to updates, Apple has launched a brand new app dubbed Apple Games. It is claimed to behave as a one-stop-shop for all gaming wants of iPhone customers. It presents customers with an outline of the actions of their video games together with main occasions. Further, they will additionally launch the sport from the app and swap between them.

New CarPlay Features

With iOS 26, Apple has introduced a compact view for incoming calls in CarPlay. It lets customers test who’s calling them with out lacking out on upcoming instructions. The replace additionally brings Tapbacks and pinned conversations to Messages, together with widgets and Live Activities.