Design
Experience the Liquid Glass design, a stunning system-wide aesthetic that reflects light and subtly refracts elements beneath it. Dynamic tab bars and toolbars adapt seamlessly, expanding to offer more tools or receding to maximize screen space.
- New animations enhance interactions with the Control Center, Lock Screen, and other interfaces.
- Buttons, sliders, switches, and controls feature a reflective Liquid Glass finish with smooth, polished animations.
- App icons adopt a layered glass effect, with an option for transparent, glass-like icons.
- The Lock Screen’s time display dynamically adjusts to your iPhone wallpaper and notifications, with customizable size options.
- UI elements like buttons, keyboards, menus, and navigation bars embrace a softer, more rounded appearance.
Apple Intelligence
- Live Translation: Real-time translation for calls and texts in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone. In-person translation is supported with AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3.
- Emoji Customization: Combine two or more emoji to create unique designs. Personalize Genmoji based on people, adding expressive emotions like joy or sadness, and modify hairstyles using your Photos Library.
- Image Playground: Generate images in any style using ChatGPT, with customizable expressions and emotions via emoji.
- Siri Enhancements: Siri understands on-screen and device context (e.g., settings, model, software) for more relevant assistance. It can act on ChatGPT responses, such as playing Apple Music songs recommended by ChatGPT. The Siri-ChatGPT integration now leverages GPT-5 for improved performance.
Visual Intelligence
- Analyze your screen to identify products, objects, or scenes, using the screenshot interface.
- Summarize, read aloud, or translate on-screen text.
- Add events directly to your Calendar from on-screen information.
- Enhanced object recognition identifies art, books, landmarks, sculptures, and more.
Music
- AutoMix: Seamlessly transitions between songs using time-stretching and beat-matching, like a personal DJ.
- Pin favorite albums, songs, or playlists to the top of the Music app.
- Organize playlists into folders directly on your iPhone.
- Access monthly Replay insights, not just yearly reports.
- View translated lyrics and pronunciation guides.
- Share AirPlay audio with others in your home, allowing them to see and control playback on HomePod speakers.
- Use your iPhone as a karaoke microphone with Apple TV.
Safari
- Add any website to the Home Screen as a web app for seamless access.
- Choose a compact tab bar design, with Top and Bottom options still available.
- Advanced Fingerprinting Protection obscures browser and device data across all browsing modes.
Camera
- Streamlined two-button navigation for easier control.
- Capture panoramic photos faster with reduced motion blur.
- Receive alerts to clean a dirty camera lens.
- Use AirPods as a remote camera trigger or to record high-definition audio.
Photos
- Reintroduces the tabbed layout separating Library and Collections.
- Add 3D motion to 2D photos with Spatial Scenes.
- Search results now include video thumbnails for easier video discovery.
Messages
- Set custom backgrounds for each conversation using built-in options, photos, or Image Playground creations.
- Create polls, with Apple Intelligence suggesting when they’re relevant.
- On-device spam detection filters messages, with regular model updates based on user feedback.
- Filter unknown numbers into a separate, hidden list for spam, transactions, or promotions.
- Copy and paste specific parts of a text message.
- Group chats now show typing indicators and support Apple Cash payments.
- Search supports natural language and related terms (e.g., searching “sand” may show ocean or beach results).
- Save unfinished messages in a Drafts section.
- Dictation now supports spelling out names for accuracy.
Phone
- Unified interface combining Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails.
- Hold Assist: Stays on hold for you during calls.
- Call Screening: Requests names and reasons from unknown callers, with Live Reply for further inquiries.
- Filter spam and unknown calls into a separate list, with the option to mark numbers as known.
- SharePlay now supports Phone calls.
- Report voicemails as spam and view summaries of incoming voicemails.
- Simplified eSIM setup for travel, with automatic deactivation upon returning home.
- SIM-based Focus Mode: Customize Focus filters for dual-SIM iPhones.
- eSIM Quick Transfer requires Face ID or Touch ID with Stolen Device Protection enabled.
- Seven new ringtones, including six Reflection variants and “Little Bird.” Save custom ringtones via the Files app and Share Sheet.
Battery
- Adaptive Power: Optimizes battery life during high usage by adjusting performance, background tasks, and screen brightness (available on Apple Intelligence iPhones).
- View estimated charging time when plugged in.
- Revamped Battery UI provides detailed daily insights and identifies high-drain apps.
Shortcuts
- Leverage Apple Intelligence to summarize text, generate images, organize or compare documents, and more.
- Pre-set options integrate Image Playground and Writing Tools into Shortcuts.
FaceTime
- New main page showcases Contact Posters for recent callers.
- Filter unknown callers to block unrecognized numbers.
- Detect and blur nudity during calls when Communication Safety is enabled.
Files
- New list view option for easier navigation.
- Customize folders with emoji and colors, syncing across devices.
- Choose specific apps to open file types via the “Open With” option.
CarPlay
- Supports Live Activities for real-time updates.
- Messages offers tapbacks and pinned conversations.
- Compact call UI minimizes screen obstruction.
- Display glanceable widget information from the Home Screen.
- Wirelessly stream videos to CarPlay via AirPlay when parked (requires car manufacturer support).
Maps
- Learn your commute patterns and receive alerts for delays or severe weather at your destination.
- Automatically track visited places for future reference.
- Support natural language search for more intuitive results.
Wallet
- Add U.S. passports for use at TSA checkpoints (coming soon).
- Boarding passes support Live Activities and include airport maps.
- Track orders by pulling data from the Mail app.
Games
- New Games app highlights App Store and Apple Arcade titles.
- Compete in single-player challenges or team up for multiplayer games.
- Games Overlay adjusts settings and tracks friends’ activity without leaving the game.
Clock
- Customize snooze intervals (1 to 15 minutes).
Home
- HomeKit thermostats feature Adaptive Temperature, adjusting based on your location and sleep schedule to save energy.
Notes
- Import and export notes in Markdown format.
- Math Notes supports 3D graphs for equations starting with “z=.”
Reminders
- Suggests tasks from emails, notes, and other sources.
- Add recipe ingredients from Safari to Reminders via text sharing.
- Group related tasks into categorized sections (e.g., grocery lists).
Podcasts
- Enhance Dialogue: Reduces background noise on a per-show basis.
- Adjust listening speed from 0.5x to 3x.
Passwords
- Autofill verification codes from app notifications.
- View a timeline of password changes.
Preview
- The Mac Preview app is now available on iPhone.
- AutoFill completes PDF forms with your information.
- Markup, resize, rotate, or convert scanned images to PDFs.
Feature Notes
- Apple Intelligence features (e.g., Live Translation, Genmoji, Visual Intelligence, Adaptive Power, Messages polls, Reminders suggestions) require an iPhone 15 Pro or later.
- Spatial Scenes requires iPhone 12 or later; lens cleaning alerts require iPhone 15 or later.
- In-person Live Translation supports AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3, with limited languages (English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish).
Compatibility
iOS 26 supports iPhone 11 and later, including iPhone SE 2.
This refined version enhances clarity, conciseness, and flow while maintaining all key details and improving readability. Let me know if you need further adjustments or a different tone!