Every little thing it’s good to know in regards to the iPhone replace forward of the Apple occasion subsequent week

Apple’s iPhone 17 event is ready to run on Tuesday, September 9. Meaning we should always lastly get the thin on the presumed iPhone 17 lineup — together with the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air — in lower than every week. (Within the meantime, we have now a breakdown of how you can watch the iPhone 17 launch.)

Assuming Apple sticks to custom, this additionally means we should always have the ability to set up iOS 26 a few week or so after the showcase. However you do not have to attend to check out the brand new options, since you may download and install the newly launched public beta 6 or iOS 26 developer beta 9. (See our preview of the iOS 26 public beta release for more information.) The very first thing you will discover is a brand new clear design language Apple dubs Liquid Glass. The translucent look could be discovered inside apps in addition to your lock and residential screens. The overhaul is one among a number of massive modifications coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS and the remainder of Apple’s software program suite

After overpromising on AI plans final yr, Apple stored its iOS roadmap targeted extra on primary high quality of life enhancements with iOS 26. There are a number of helpful additions coming to the Cellphone and Messages apps, as an example: Apple execs outlined the flexibility to weed out spam texts or unknown senders and an possibility to carry your spot on a telephone name while you’ve been ready for a consultant to select up.

It looks as if further new enhancements are popping up (or a minimum of hinted at) with every beta, equivalent to an AirPods live translation feature and a brand new bouncy animation on the passcode display and within the Management Heart. A few of these modifications have already migrated into the separate public beta. Most newer iPhone fashions are eligible to download iOS 26 (each the betas and ultimate model). We have rounded up a full checklist of latest options coming this fall beneath.

What’s iOS 26?

The present iPhone working system is iOS 18, which Apple continues to be actively updating — model 18.6.1 was launched final month, for instance, to restore Apple Watch blood oxygen monitoring performance for sure customers within the US. Extra just lately, Apple released iOS 18.6.2 to deal with a vulnerability associated to picture processing. Apple has formally stopped signing iOS 18.6, MacRumors reports, which implies it may well now not be put in in your iPhone because of a “server-side software program verification examine.” That is fairly regular when newer variations can be found to obtain.

However do not count on to ever see an iOS 19. As an alternative, Apple is skipping its naming conference forward to iOS 26. (Apple can be anticipated to launch iOS 18.7 on the identical time, per MacRumors, to deal with safety points.) 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 methods shall be launched in late 2025, they’re all designated “26” to replicate the yr forward.

What’s Liquid Glass design?

Let’s be sincere. Out of all the things introduced at WWDC this yr, the new Liquid Glass design was the star of the present. The iPhone’s house and lock screens have appeared just about the identical yr after yr — the final thrilling factor (for my part) was the choice so as to add your individual aesthetic to your house display 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, nicely, the apps and widgets are clear. Nevertheless, the display can nonetheless adapt to darkish and light-weight modes, relying on environment. You may 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 straightforward to see. Whereas the design overhaul has confirmed to be controversial since its announcement, some — together with Engadget’s Devindra Hardawar — like the brand new path, even when it is considerably paying homage to Microsoft’s translucent Windows Vista Aero designs from practically twenty years in the past.

That stated, 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 a minimum of some locations. And whereas it should proceed to evolve, Apple customers will not have the ability to escape it: The corporate says Liquid Glass was designed to make all of its platforms extra cohesive. This is a take 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 latest options. Among the many most worthwhile:

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

Stay Translation in Cellphone, FaceTime and Messages: iOS 26 is bringing the flexibility to have a dialog by way of telephone name or textual content message with somebody who speaks one other language. Stay 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: Uninterested in sorting by means of what looks as if tons of of messages in your group chat? You and your mates will quickly have the ability to create polls in group messages for deciding issues like which brunch spot you are consuming at or whose automotive you are taking on a street journey.

Filtering unknown senders in Messages: If you have not acquired 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 will let you seek for something that is in your iPhone display. As an example, for those who spot a pair of footwear somebody is carrying in an Instagram picture, you may screenshot it and use Visual Intelligence to seek out these footwear (or related ones) on-line.

Photographs tabs are again: For anybody who’s been pissed off with final yr’s changes to the Photos app, you will be pleased to know that your tabs are coming again. Library and Collections may have their very own separate areas so you do not have to scroll to infinity to seek out what you are searching for.

Camera app updates: Navigating the Digicam app ought to be easier in iOS 26, as all of the buttons and menus are in handy spots — much less swiping, extra picture taking. Plus, there is a new function that tells you in case your lens must be cleaned.

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 will get extra customizable in iOS 26, with a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper results, extra widgets and higher focus mode choices.

New alarm setting: You may now not be caught with the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms. As an alternative, you will have the choice to alter your snooze time from one to fifteen minutes.

Screenshots look different: You may discover a number of new options while you take a screenshot, together with “spotlight to look,” the choice to look your picture on Google and ChatGPT is there for any questions you might have in regards to the picture.

New modifications coming to iPadOS 26

Your iPad is not getting left behind on the subject of massive updates. This is what’s coming this fall.

Multitasking and actual windowing: If you obtain the latest replace, you’ll have a number of apps operating in your display on the identical time. When you open an app, it’s going to seem in your display as regular however you’ll resize and transfer it throughout your display to make room for different apps. This function is elective so you may flip it off for those who 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: If you swipe down in your display, the brand new menu bar will seem with choices like File, Edit, Home windows and extra. There’s additionally a search possibility for those who’re searching for one thing particular.

There’s extra past that, so remember to try 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 capabilities.

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 may take a photograph or begin and cease video recording with only one press in your AirPods. When taking photographs, you will get a three-second countdown earlier than your iPhone or iPad snaps the image.

Stay translation function: Whereas not formally introduced or confirmed, it seems that the long-rumored stay translation for AirPods could be coming with iOS 26. The proof comes from a system asset noticed within the in iOS 26 beta displaying a gesture that is triggered by urgent each earbud stems on the identical time. The picture additionally reveals phrases in a number of totally different languages.

Coronary heart price monitoring (rumored for now): Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes Apple will introduce new AirPods Professional earbuds this yr, which might have coronary heart price monitoring. It will work with Apple’s Well being app and different health apps that monitor coronary heart charges.

Will Siri get an replace?

Siri 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 experiences that Apple is aiming to present Siri a much bigger mind transplant by basing it on third-party artificial intelligence models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, which might make 2026 a pivotal yr. The corporate can be reportedly engaged on a “stripped-down” AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT.

Which iPhones will have the ability to improve to iOS 26?

A couple 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 from 2019 or later shall be eligible for iOS 26:

• iPhone SE (second era or later)

Not listed below are the 4 presumed iPhone 17 models which are all however sure to be introduced and launched in September.

Find out how to set up iOS 26 beta

The iOS 26 public beta is now out there to obtain by way of the Apple Beta Software Program. For those who’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 together with your telephone quantity or e-mail tackle. It is free.

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

A phrase of warning: Do not enroll together 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 shall be launched to the general public this fall. It often is available in September, inside every 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. For the reason that iPhone 17 occasion falls on September 9 this yr, it is potential the downloads will hit our telephones on September 16.

For those who’re extra within the Apple Intelligence options coming, this is everything Apple revealed for iOS, macOS and more throughout WWDC. Additionally, try how iOS 26 screenshots could possibly be an intriguing preview of Apple’s delayed Siri rework.

Replace, September 4: Added particulars about how screenshots are totally different in iOS 26.

Replace, September 3: Famous Apple is predicted to launch iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26.

Replace, September 2: Added extra new options coming with iOS 26.

Replace, August 29: Added new part about Siri and a hyperlink to what’s new with the iOS 26 Digicam app.

Replace, August 27: Added the official iPhone 17 occasion date, in addition to the potential iOS 26 launch.

Replace, August 25: Added a rumor about new AirPods Professional having coronary heart price monitoring.

Replace, August 22: Famous that Apple has formally stopped signing iOS 18.6.

Replace, August 20: Famous that iOS 26 public beta 4 and iOS 18.6.2 are actually out there to obtain.

Replace, August 18: Added particulars a few potential iOS 18.6 replace.

Replace, August 15: Added to hyperlink to what to anticipate on the Apple iPhone occasion and particulars about what’s out there within the iOS 26 screenshots editor.

Replace, August 13: Added new AirPods element noticed within the iOS 26 beta.

Replace, August 11: Famous that iOS 26 developer beta has hit beta 6.

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 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 out there.

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

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

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

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