iOS 26 launch date, new options, beta newest and iPhone compatibility

Apple revealed its plans for its subsequent iOS replace on the WWDC keynote on June 9, 2025. iOS 26, coming to iPhones later this 12 months, will deliver a model new look and plenty of new options that may simplify and improve the best way we use current apps.

On this article we cowl the whole lot it is advisable to find out about iOS 26, together with when iOS 26 will launch, which iPhones will probably be suitable with, and all the brand new options and apps which might be coming with the iPhone replace. We even have the newest details about the iOS beta, for individuals who are eager to get iOS 26 on their iPhones now.

It’s iOS 26, not iOS 19

The upcoming iOS is named iOS 26, slightly than iOS 19. In 2025 Apple is breaking with custom and switching to a less complicated naming conference that pertains to the 12 months, slightly than a sequential quantity: it’s 26 as a result of iOS 26 is not going to launch till late 2025, and would be the working system till late in 2026. Apple is utilizing 26 for the entire working system updates throughout the board, together with the subsequent iPadOS replace, macOS Tahoe, the brand new watchOS and extra, all of which had been introduced at WWDC. 

iOS 26 Launch date: When is the brand new iOS popping out?

• Date TBC: (we predict September 15, 2025)

iOS 26 isn’t out but, at the very least not for most of the people. It is going to doubtless be out there to put in on suitable iPhones in September. This can doubtless occur shortly after the September occasion and the launch of the iPhone 17 and new Apple Watches. 

iOS 26 Beta launch date: What’s the newest beta

• Newest Developer Beta: Model 6 second launch, August 14, 2025
• Newest Public Beta: Beta 3 August 14, 2025

You don’t have to attend till the complete launch to strive the brand new software program out. Apple runs a developer beta and a public beta for individuals who wish to check out the brand new options earlier than they’re launched to most of the people. Each betas are free, although the developer beta requires a free registration as a developer.

The primary model of the iOS developer beta was launched following the WWDC keynote, so builders might instantly start testing it with their merchandise. This beta is just not secure and there have been reviews of points from those that put in it immediately. Apple up to date the primary developer beta a number of days after the launch. As of August 14 the developer beta is in model 6.

Apple launched the primary Public Beta on July 24. It corresponds with the the second launch of Developer Beta 4 (construct 23A5297m). Model two of the general public beta arrived on August 7.

Between WWDC and the official launch within the fall, Apple will launch a string of beta releases, usually eight or so in whole. We’ve got a separate article that particulars be part of Apple’s beta software program program so you’ll be able to check the brand new software program as quickly because the beta arrives.

Anybody utilizing the beta is inspired to file bug reviews utilizing the included Apple’s Suggestions Assistant app in order that the corporate can tackle them. If you wish to study extra concerning the beta learn: What’s within the newest iOS beta and get it. And ensure you learn why we advise in opposition to putting in the iOS beta in addition to why you shouldn’t set up the iOS 26 public beta but.

• iOS 26 is a free software program replace for iPhone 11 and later
• The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max will miss out on iOS 26

Apple

Apple has confirmed the next iPhones will get iOS 26, we’ve included the 12 months that cellphone launched.

• iPhone 16e (2025)
• iPhone 16/16 Plus/16 Professional/16 Professional Max (2024)
• iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Professional/15 Professional Max (2023)
• iPhone 14/14 Plus/14 Professional/14 Professional Max (2022)
• iPhone SE (third gen) (2022)
• iPhone 13/13 mini/13 Professional/13 Professional Max (2021)
• iPhone 12/12 mini/12 Professional/12 Professional Max (2020)
• iPhone SE (2nd gen) (2020)
• iPhone 11/11 Professional/11 Professional Max (2019)

iOS 26 supported gadgets: Which iPhones get iOS 26

When Apple updates the working system for its gadgets it usually implies that sure fashions should not suitable with the replace. The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, which had been supported by iOS 18 and launched in 2018, will miss out on iOS 26. 

This doesn’t imply that these 2018 iPhones are unsupported by Apple. Apple will proceed to concern security-related software program updates to iOS 18 for a number of extra years. Examine how lengthy iPhones are supported to seek out out which iPhones are not supported with safety updates. 

Nor does this imply that every one the supported iPhones get all the brand new options. As was the case in 2024, solely sure iPhones can help Apple Intelligence powered options. That’s the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max and the entire of the  iPhone 16 vary. Because of this in case your cellphone isn’t a type of talked about you miss out on options such because the Visible Intelligence and Genmoji updates, in addition to the Cellphone app capability to handle your undesirable calls. 

Learn the way the brand new iOS compares with the present model in our comparability of iOS 26 vs iOS 18: What’s completely different, what’s new, and do you have to replace?

iOS 26 design: Liquid Glass and different design modifications

Apple

Through the WWDC keynote Apple previewed the brand new iPhone options coming later in 2025. The most important change is a visible one: a daring new redesign referred to as Liquid Glass.

What’s Liquid Glass?

The brand new design incorporates a graphical person interface that Apple is looking Liquid Glass, which creates a translucent impact that mimics the qualities of glass.

The brand new Liquid Glass theme represents the largest change to iOS since iOS 7 was launched in 2013. Again then Apple dropped the skeuomorphic design in favor of flat symbolic icons. This time the whole lot is extra curved, much less flat, with translucent parts reflecting or refracting the content material within the background, and resizing to suit round what’s onscreen. The Liquid Glass parts will even change coloration to mirror the content material beneath as you scroll and will probably be doable to see blurred and refracted parts of the background via the highest layer.

Apple says that it’ll really feel extra like interacting with the bodily world, with parts dynamically reacting to your contact. The corporate additionally says the modifications “blur the traces between {hardware} and software program”.

This new Liquid Glass design extends to all of Apple’s merchandise and to all of Apple’s apps. You’ll see the impact on the Dock, widgets and icons. Panes, home windows, buttons and menus can be introduced as translucent layers with specular highlights.

Apple says that it’ll additionally make design modifications that may simplify app interfaces to make the controls extra seen.

Preliminary suggestions to the brand new Liquid Glass design was unfavorable with some beta testers complaining that content material wasn’t seen because of the overlaying of menus over background pictures, later variations of the beta have dialled this again to make the menus extra seen.

Interface modifications 

Apple

Apple is adapting the interface to focus extra on what’s on the display slightly than cowl issues with instruments and menu bars. Menus will shrink as you scroll to disclose the content material under. Apple can be eradicating a few of the muddle from menus to simplify issues and emphasise the extra often used choices. For instance, slightly than occupying an oblong bar on the backside of the display, teams of controls will seem on floating parts that come out further controls, change as you progress between views, and are tucked away if you scroll.

These modifications to the menus are designed to make it simpler to entry the options you utilize most frequently, and uncover others. Apple is attempting to make iOS and its apps extra intuitive. 

instance of how these design modifications can be utilized is the Lock Display, which can be extra adaptive. The picture you select as your wallpaper can be scaled to suit the peak and width of the Lock Display and positioned to fill the out there house round parts just like the time. Moreover, the wallpaper picture will slide up as notifications are available in.

We’ll talk about the modifications coming to particular person apps under, however primarily Apple is making it simpler to seek out the instruments you often use, with out the muddle of all the opposite options you don’t want.

iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence

Apple has been having hassle with a few of it’s AI efforts, particularly the Siri options that had been touted at WWDC 2024. Apple had promised that iOS 18.4 would deliver a serious replace to Siri, the place it will be higher at pure conversations with the person, utilizing private context, consciousness of what’s on display, and the flexibility to carry out in-app actions.

Apple has since confirmed that these Siri-related options have been pushed again till 2026, which suggests they need to come as an replace to iOS 26, maybe in March, however we could possibly be ready even longer.

Apple nonetheless had various spectacular Apple Intelligence powered options to point out off at WWDC although. The truth is, a few of the new options coming to Highlight on the Mac appear like a few of the options promised for Siri.

A few of these new Apple Intelligence options will make a big effect in apps, particularly the Cellphone app, which we are going to talk about under. One other beneficiary of Apple Intelligence is Visible Intelligence, which was launched in iOS 18 and features a really helpful capability in iOS 26.

Visible Intelligence in iOS 26

IDG

In iOS 18 you should use Visible Intelligence by holding up the iPhone to view one thing you’re interested in, triggering Visible Intelligence (by way of the Digicam Management button you probably have one, or by way of the Management Centre if not) and viewing details about what you had been pointing the digital camera at. It might determine a constructing, or supply so as to add the date from a poster to your calendar, for instance. That’s all very properly when you’re out and about, however what about when you’re simply looking the net and wish to know the place one thing somebody is carrying is from or the place a video is being filmed?

In iOS 26 will probably be doable take a screenshot and lookup details about that picture and merchandise in it utilizing Visible Intelligence. It’s also possible to ask ChatGPT for details about the screenshot. 

Genmoji and Picture Playground in iOS 26

Apple

Additionally benefitting from Apple Intelligence is Genmoji, one other characteristic that arrived with iOS 18. Genmoji allows you to create customized emoji utilizing AI. To create a Genmoji you kind an outline within the Describe an Emoji discipline and faucet on Create New Emoji. You should use photographs of individuals you realize as a foundation and refine the emoji till it represents what you’re in search of. The emoji will then be out there in your emoji keyboard to make use of.

In iOS 26 the Genmoji interface is getting a redesign. Customers will be capable to combine two emoji collectively, or alter an current emoji to create one thing new, and even mix an emoji and a Sticker (which could be created from a photograph). Customers will be capable to additional customise emoji inside Picture Playground, altering expressions.

Picture Playground, which is Apple’s app for making AI-generated pictures, arrived in iOS 18 and is getting an replace in iOS 26. In iOS 26 will probably be doable to make use of ChatGTP types and prompts, equivalent to an oil portray in addition to these offered by Apple to create pictures in Picture Playground.

iOS 26 new apps and up to date apps 

• Cellphone: Name Screening and Maintain Help
• Translations
• Digicam app overhaul

With every iteration of iOS the set of apps Apple gives grows and evolves, and most of the modifications coming to the apps on the iPhone are shared by those self same apps on Apple’s different gadgets. iOS 26 is not any completely different.

This time a few of the upcoming modifications are going to be fairly transformative to how you utilize the cellphone – and by which we imply the phone side to the iPhone.  

Cellphone app

The cellphone app won’t be the one we use essentially the most, however as Apple says, it’s elementary to the iPhone. With iOS 26 the cellphone app is getting an enormous replace that primarily turns it right into a PA and a spam filtering software. 

Apple is tapping into Apple Intelligence to deliver new Voice Mail summaries to floor a very powerful data, however much more thrilling, it’s aiming to remove undesirable calls with a brand new Name Screening choice that may reply the decision within the background, ask the caller to clarify their purpose for calling, after which present a textual content abstract of these particulars to you earlier than you determine whether or not or to not take the decision. After all this may occasionally make it more durable to disregard calls from individuals you ought to really converse to, however will probably be a great way to siphon off spam and hoax calls from unknown numbers.

That’s not all. One other new characteristic is Maintain Help, which can routinely detect maintain music and mute the decision till it’s linked to an agent. In consequence you may get issues achieved with out having to maintain your cellphone speaker enjoying irritating maintain music till somebody solutions. When an agent turns into free they are going to be knowledgeable that you’re there and your cellphone will ring alerting you to the connection and you may take the decision. It’s going to be like having your personal receptionist. 

One other change within the Cellphone app ought to make it inconceivable to by accident faucet on contact within the Recents record and name them. At present, in case you faucet on a reputation in your Recents record it’ll routinely name that particular person. A brand new setting will permit you to flip off “Faucet Recents to Name”.

Stay Translations

Additionally coming to the Cellphone app, but additionally current as a options in Messages and FaceTime, is Stay Translations, which can assist you to talk with somebody who speaks one other language.

With this characteristic it is possible for you to to have a dialog with some who speaks a special language to you. In case you are conversant in the Hitchhiker’s Information to the Galaxy that is virtually on the degree of getting a Bable Fish.

In case you are talking to some by way of the cellphone app the iPhone will translate what it being mentioned, with a spoken voice translating what has been mentioned into your language. The recipient will even hear translations in their very own language. Apparently they don’t have to have an iPhone. The principle restriction proper now’s that Stay Translation for Cellphone is out there just for one-on-one calls in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.

As we mentioned above, it’s not solely the Cellphone app that may get the Stay Translation options. FaceTime and Messages will as properly. And Translation can be discovering its means into the Music app.

FaceTime 

When talking to somebody by way of FaceTime you will notice real-time captions in your personal language. Stay Captions aren’t solely new to FaceTime, you’ll be able to already activate that performance in Accessibility > Stay Captions – though this solely works in case your language is about to English U.S.

In addition to the brand new Stay Translation characteristic, FaceTime additionally will get modifications to the interface designed to floor the controls you want whereas conserving the caller seen. For instance, controls float to the underside proper and recede if you don’t want them. 

The FaceTime name record additionally will get a brand new look, with video messages autoplaying as you scroll. 

Messages

Apple

In case you are utilizing Messages to speak with somebody who speaks a special language what you kind is translated into their language and vice versa.

As with the cellphone, Messages is getting a screening software to fight spam. On-device spam detection provides you with “whole management over who seems in your dialog record,” in accordance with Apple.

It’s already doable to filter out spam through the use of the Unknown Senders record in Messages, however in iOS 26 Messages could have a higher capability to display for spam, and it’ll ensure you nonetheless obtain verification codes and different important or time delicate messages.

Additionally in Messages it is possible for you to so as to add a background picture to Group Chats and a brand new choice to create a ballot can be out there. Messages will even counsel a ballot if a state of affairs requires one. Anybody can add choices to the ballot, as properly. 

Those that have entry to Apple Money (nonetheless U.S. solely) may also entry this from group chats. 

A small however sensible replace coming to Messages is the flexibility to copy elements of a textual content, slightly than the entire thing. That is a type of incomprehensible failures of Messages on iPhone proper now: the one choice is to repeat your complete message, paste it, after which edit out what you don’t need. When utilizing Messages on the Mac you’ll be able to simply copy the a part of the Message you want. So it’s a protracted overdue characteristic for iPhone Messages.

Apple

Music

In Apple Music it is possible for you to to observe the lyrics alongside the interpretation into your personal language. For some languages you’ll even see a pronunciation information.

Additionally coming to the Music app is a brand new auto-mix choice that makes use of AI to fade between songs and match beats like a DJ would.

There may be additionally a brand new animated Apple Music art work choice for the Lock Display. 

Interface modifications must also imply it’s quicker and simpler to get to the music you’re in to. For instance, you’ll be able to pin your favorite album or playlist to the highest of your library. 

Apple

Digicam & Pictures

In iOS 26, Apple is redesigned digital camera app, hiding a lot of the lesser used digital camera taking pictures modes and choices to simplify the more and more cramped structure and giving customers fast entry to settings.

Within the Pictures app there would be the capability so as to add 3D results to photographs.

We’ve got a separate article masking use the iOS 26 Digicam app, together with the place to seek out digital camera modes and options, change seize settings and use AirPods as a distant.

Video games

Apple is lastly tidying up the gaming expertise on the iPhone with a model new Video games app. With half a billion individuals enjoying video games on iPad, in accordance with Apple, it’s about time. 

Apple says it’s creating a brand new vacation spot to assist its avid gamers get extra out of their video games. The Video games app will supply varied tabs to make discovering the video games you’re enjoying or have performed simpler. The Residence tab reveals what’s most related to you. The Library tab reveals all of the video games you might have ever downloaded. 

There may be additionally a Play Collectively tab the place you’ll be able to see what your folks are enjoying, play video games with them, evaluate scores, and invite them to play video games. It’s also possible to problem them to beat your highest rating in single participant video games. Turning single participant video games into enjoyable competitions with buddies, with scores in actual time. This can be Apple’s second try to get customers to attach socially: bear in mind iTunes Ping? (Apple would most likely slightly you forgot).

Apple

One other change coming to gaming on iPhone (and iPad) is a brand new consistency to hoe contact controls are utilized in video games. Builders engaged on an iPhone or iPad recreation that requires extra superior controls have all the time needed to design their very own contact controls, and this may be inconsistent. In iOS 26, Apple will gives its personal contact controls for buttons, thumbsticks, dpads, throttles, and touchpads.

Apple Pockets

Like Apple Money most of the new Apple Pockets options are U.S. solely, equivalent to the flexibility so as to add Drivers Licenses to Apple Pockets. 

Apple says there can be extra methods to pay with Apple Pay in iOS 26, for instance you’ll be able to redeem factors or select to pay in instalments. That characteristic is presently out there in 9 states. From the autumn Apple says will probably be doable so as to add a U.S. passport, however just for use for flights contained in the U.S. 

There can be a brand new API for builders to benefit from, enabling them to supply prospects with extra data inside the Pockets app, equivalent to particulars of the providers included with the fare and improve choices that may be accessed from inside the Pockets app.

It’s also possible to observe Apple Pay orders, with Apple Intelligence discovering the order particulars and monitoring data and conserving them collectively for you. 

Passwords & Autofill

The Passwords app, launched in iOS 18, can be getting an replace. You possibly can verify modifications that you simply’ve made to accounts logged within the Passwords app, view earlier passwords that had been used for these accounts and see once they had been altered.

As well as, iOS 26, Apple is introducing enhancements that may make utilizing passkeys simpler. Passkeys is an authentication methodology that replaces conventional passwords with safety keys and biometrics. Many apps and web sites already present help for passkeys, and with the iOS 26 replace, will probably be doable for iPhone and iPad apps to allow customers to create a passkey with only a faucet. Passkeys could be authenticated with Face ID or Contact ID, and credentials can be synchronized between your Apple gadgets by way of iCloud.

It is going to even be doable to pre-fill private information, equivalent to title and electronic mail, so that you not must waste time filling in lengthy sign-up kinds. Even higher, iOS 26 will be capable to autofill verification codes from Gmail and WhatsApp. Verification code autofill might also work in Google Chrome, presently verification codes solely work with Apple’s Safari browser.

Apple Maps 

Apple

The Maps app additionally will get an replace, utilizing Apple Intelligence to know your common commutes and study your favourites. With this data will probably be in a position to warn you in case you ought to take a special route as a consequence of visitors. 

One other change to Maps is that if you would like it to it could log (with encryption) Visited Locations, which can make it simpler to seek out and recall locations you might have been to up to now. It’s straightforward to delete this historical past too. 

Reminders

In iOS 26, Reminders will counsel issues equivalent to duties and grocery gadgets, plus follow-ups primarily based in your emails or different textual content in your iPhone, Mac, and extra.

Notes

Notes will achieve Markdown.

Climate

Satellite tv for pc-based climate.

Clock

You’ll lastly be capable to set a nap length of between one and quarter-hour, slightly than being caught with set eight minute snoozes!

Additionally, you will achieve the flexibility to set alarms from inside different apps. For instance, you can set an alarm from inside a recipe app with out you needing to open the Clock.

AirPods associated options: Pause Media When Falling Asleep

Current AirPods ought to get some new options because of the iOS 26 replace. These embody a brand new characteristic that may allow AirPods to pause once they sense the wearer has fallen asleep. Code within the iOS 26 beta signifies that this characteristic is tied to iOS 26, slightly than the AirPods line particularly – it could even work on Apple’s Beats headphones.

As well as will probably be doable to simply swap between completely different audio enter gadgets – so you can swap from AirPods as devoted microphones to a different machine, for instance.

Different new options in iOS 26

There are many different modifications coming to iOS itself, lots of which can enhance the general expertise.

Working duties within the background

iOS 26 could have a brand new API for working duties within the background. So that you received’t must hold an app open once they’re doing one thing essential, equivalent to importing recordsdata or exporting a video. Customers can swap to different apps with out interrupting the earlier job.

Adaptive Energy Mode

This characteristic goals to increase battery life by adjusting efficiency primarily based on utilization patterns. The place Low Energy Mode throttles your iPhone’s efficiency and kills sure background actions to save lots of power, Adaptive Energy Mode makes smaller changes to your iPhone’s efficiency primarily based on how you utilize it. In consequence the impression ought to be subtler, and doubtlessly one thing customers might carry on always.

Battery Intelligence: AI-powered battery administration

iOS 26 will introduce a characteristic dubbed Battery Intelligence. This presents the estimated charging length to achieve 80% (then 100%) when linked to a charger – so you understand how lengthy you will have to alter your iPhone earlier than you’ll be able to depart the home.

A new adaptive low energy mode has been noticed within the iOS 26 developer beta. This doesn’t exchange the common low energy mode (that’s nonetheless round) however as a substitute makes use of machine studying to make changes that might assist eke out a bit of extra juice out of your battery.

As well as, the Lock Display will now show estimated charging instances to hit 80 % and 100% battery energy.

RCS Common Profile 3.0 and different Android ‘pleasant’ options

Help for RCS Common Profile 3.0 could are available in an replace to iOS 26. RCS 3.0 will encrypt iPhone-to-Android messages, and supply different options to make speaking between iPhones and Android telephones extra seamless. At present, Android customers can edit a message inside quarter-hour of it being despatched – this works in iOS 18.5 and the iOS 26 developer beta however the iPhone shows the edited message as a brand new one with an asterisk slightly than changing the message with the edited message.

iPhone customers are in a position to edit messages despatched to different iPhones, however they don’t seem to be but in a position to edit RCS messages despatched to an Android cellphone. RCS 3.0 must also make this out there to iPhone customers.

There even be simplified eSIM switch from Android.