Everything You Need to Know About iOS 26 after WWDC 2025

Yesterday, June 9, 2025, Apple finally gave us the WWDC keynote that everyone has been waiting for – both die-hard fans and the usual haters – because where would we be without them? And finally, we got our first official preview of iOS 26. Yes, you read that right – iOS 26, not iOS 19, as the rumor mill had us believe. Apple decided to skip a few numbers and sync all its platforms to version 26, because apparently, version numbers are now a group activity. The highlight of the event? A new design that Apple claims is the most significant visual overhaul in the last decade. They call it ‘Liquid Glass,’ which sounds like something you’d accidentally spill on your couch.

Apple also introduced a slew of new features, some of which might actually be useful. While we’ll have to wait for the full release this fall to give a final verdict, we can already share some first impressions. Spoiler alert: it’s cool, so grab your popcorn – whether you’re here for the design, the AI features, or just the drama, there’s something for everyone.

iOS 26 Beta and Supported Devices

Before we discuss the main point, a quick heads-up on the release schedule. Apple dropped the first developer beta immediately – actually, the very next day. The public beta will arrive next month, with the full polished release slated for fall 2025. So, if you belong to the Apple Developer Program, you can already update your iPhone to iOS 26 and take it for a spin before anyone else. Just make sure you back up your device first. Early betas come with bugs, and nobody wants to wake up to missing photos or their favorite memes vanished into the void. Testing on a daily driver without a backup? Well, that’s one way to learn the hard way.

If you own an iPhone older than the iPhone 11, with the exception of the second-generation SE and later models, Apple has politely asked you to sit this one out. You won’t get the chance to update to iOS 26. Instead, you’ll have to make peace with your classic device while the rest of us get to test the new software.

A Breakdown of the iOS 26 Design Update

Apple introduced a fresh design language for iOS 26 called Liquid Glass. This new style uses translucent, glass-like layers that add depth and subtle visual effects throughout the system. It aims to create a more dynamic and immersive interface experience across iPhones and other Apple devices.

On the Lock Screen, the design emphasizes clean minimalism with a clock and widgets that adjust their position and size depending on your wallpaper and context. The clock now appears integrated into the background rather than just sitting on top. Apple also introduced new ‘spatial scene’ wallpapers that add subtle 3D parallax effects as you tilt or move your device.

The Home Screen benefits from this Liquid Glass style as well, with app icons and widgets adopting a translucent, glassy appearance as an option alongside the classic light and dark modes. The overall interface uses consistent rounded corners and translucent layers that give the screen a more unified and polished feel.

Standard Apple apps received a fresh coat of paint, too, but we’ll get into those changes later.

Now, despite Apple’s claim that this represents the biggest design change in the last decade, we wouldn’t quite agree. The updates are noticeable and provide a fresh aesthetic, but calling them revolutionary feels like a stretch.

Interestingly, the internet quickly filled with comparisons between iOS 26 and Android. The first videos comparing the two systems already appeared, and yes, the resemblance feels stronger than ever. Whether that’s a compliment or a critique depends on your point of view. Either way, the ‘Liquid Glass’ design certainly gives iOS a new vibe – one that feels surprisingly familiar if you’ve used other platforms lately.

iOS 26 vs Android 16 – We’ve Come A Long Way! pic.twitter.com/4TcaUKUXQa

— TechDroider (@techdroider) June 10, 2025

What’s New in Apple’s Built-In Apps with iOS 26

Besides the Lock Screen and Home Screen, iOS 26 brings changes to Apple’s built-in applications. Some updates prove more noticeable than others. Among the most talked-about are the Camera, Photos, and Messages apps.

• Apple has polished the interface of the Camera app to minimize distractions. The viewfinder now takes center stage, with controls and buttons tucked away neatly. No flashy new shooting modes stole the spotlight this time around, which might disappoint those waiting for a ‘galaxy-class’ night mode or an astrophotography feature. Instead, Apple focused on subtle improvements, like letting you use AirPods as a remote shutter. Yes, your earbuds double as a camera button now – because why not? The AI enhancements work mostly behind the scenes, analyzing what’s in your frame to offer smarter search and identification later. In short, Apple aimed to make snapping photos simpler and smarter, but without turning the app into a complicated Swiss Army knife.
• Messages finally caught up with some long-requested features. Apple added a separate inbox for unknown senders, helping you dodge spam without blocking grandma’s texts. Group chats now support instant polls because apparently, deciding where to eat still causes more drama than politics. Typing indicators for group conversations have finally arrived, so you know when someone’s firing off a reply in real time. Apple also lets you customize chat backgrounds – because nothing says “serious conversation” like a psychedelic wallpaper. Payments in group chats got easier with Apple Cash requests built right in, so you can split the pizza bill without leaving your message thread. These upgrades push Messages closer to the modern chat apps everyone else has used for years.
  

  

• The Photos app in iOS 26 gets a subtle but welcome makeover that puts more focus on your memories without overwhelming you with options. Apple reorganized the interface to separate your Library and Collections more clearly, making it easier to find that vacation shot from 2019 without endless scrolling. The familiar Memories feature gets smarter, using on-device intelligence to highlight moments you might actually care about – yes, fewer blurry selfies and more real highlights. Editing tools remain robust but now blend more smoothly into the Liquid Glass design, giving you a cleaner workspace to tweak your images. While Apple didn’t announce any groundbreaking new editing modes, the app feels more polished and user-friendly overall. If you’re the type who likes to revisit your photo library often, these improvements quietly enhance the experience without shouting for attention.

Other Noteworthy Features of iOS 26

But wait, there’s more! Apps like Notes, Calculator, Reminders, and a whole bunch of other Apple staples also got updates. The list goes on and on, but we’re not about to break down every tiny tweak here – it’d take forever and probably cost you a coffee or two. If you want all the nitty-gritty details, check out Apple’s official site or watch the video reviews flooding YouTube. That said, a few changes deserve a special shoutout:

• Apple brings Live Translation to the iPhone, letting you chat, call, or text in one language while the other person hears or reads another. This system works across Messages, FaceTime, and even live phone calls. The best part? Apple processes everything on your device, so no snooping third parties get to eavesdrop. Currently, it supports major languages like English, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese, with plans to add more.
  

  

• Apple’s AI game steps up with new Visual Intelligence tools that understand what’s on your screen. You can point your camera at an object or photo and ask detailed questions about it. The system can identify plants, landmarks, products, and more, even letting you search online or shop right from the image. Apple integrates OpenAI’s ChatGPT to answer your queries, but keeps it private by running things mostly on-device. The Shortcuts app also gains smarter AI-powered actions, helping automate common tasks with a tap. Overall, this turns your iPhone into a mini AI assistant that actually knows what’s around you.
• CarPlay gains a smarter, slicker interface in iOS 26. Incoming calls now show as a compact banner rather than a full-screen takeover, so you don’t lose your map or music controls mid-drive. Messages support Tapback reactions and pinned conversations, making hands-free chatting a bit less chaotic. Plus, CarPlay finally supports widgets and Live Activities, meaning you can glance at your trip’s ETA or live sports scores without opening apps.
• Apple Music introduces AutoMix, an AI-powered DJ mode that blends songs in your playlists with smooth transitions and beat matching. Perfect for parties or workouts when you don’t want awkward silence between tracks. Lyrics get some love too, with real-time Lyrics Translation for foreign-language songs and Lyrics Pronunciation guides that help you sing along even if you don’t speak the language. For Apple TV and Fitness+ fans, iOS 26 lets you use your iPhone as a karaoke mic, streaming your voice straight to the big screen. This cross-device party trick turns your living room into a mini concert venue – minus the ticket price.
  

  

• Apple Maps adds Visited Places, a private log of the spots you’ve been to – restaurants, shops, landmarks – helping you remember that amazing café or cool store. Apple encrypts this data end-to-end, so even the company can’t peek. Maps also learns your routines and suggests preferred routes or alerts you about delays before you ask. This proactive routing makes daily commutes less of a headache, though no GPS can save you from traffic caused by people rubbernecking.
  

  

• Apple launches a brand-new Games app, a hub for your mobile and Apple Arcade titles. The app offers personalized recommendations, highlights new releases and in-game events, and shows what your friends play. It acts as a single gateway to your gaming life, syncing progress across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
• Settings gain improvements focused on families and safety. Apple makes it easier to create child accounts and manage communication limits. Parents now get approval requests when kids try to add new contacts, giving them more control over who their children can message. The system also blurs sensitive images shared via Messages, AirDrop, FaceTime, or shared albums to protect kids from inappropriate content. These features add extra layers of security and peace of mind for parents who want to keep digital life a little safer without playing full-time watchdog.
• Apple continues to lead in accessibility with new features like an Accessibility Reader, offering a customizable way to read text aloud across the system. A new Braille Access interface makes iPhones friendlier to users relying on Braille displays. Improvements to Live Listen help users hear conversations better through hearing devices, and Background Sounds get refined for a calmer environment. Apple also enhances the Personal Voice feature, making it easier to create a synthetic voice.
• The Phone app now offers a unified view that combines your Favorites, Recent calls, and Voicemail on a single screen. Apple also expanded its call screening features. Unknown callers get answered automatically by your iPhone, which transcribes the caller’s message in real-time so you decide if you want to pick up. Additionally, a new Hold Assist feature monitors calls where you’re put on hold and alerts you when a human finally picks up. In other words, your iPhone fights telemarketers and saves you from endless hold music torture.
  

  

• iOS 26 finally introduces a dedicated Preview app, letting you view PDFs, images, and documents without resorting to third-party tools. This app offers quick markup tools, annotation features, and seamless integration with Files and Notes. It’s a solid addition for those who work with documents on their iPhones, filling a gap that’s been glaring for years. No more fumbling between apps just to sign a PDF or scribble a quick note.
• Playground returns in iOS 26 as a creative playground (pun intended) for generating images and emoji using AI. Users can combine multiple emoji, add text prompts, or remix existing visuals right on their iPhone. The app runs all AI models locally, ensuring privacy and quick response times. Playground makes it easy to create personalized stickers or art without needing Photoshop or a degree in digital design. It’s a fun little distraction that also hints at Apple’s growing focus on integrating AI into everyday creativity.

Final Thought

The wait is over – Apple finally unveiled iOS 26, putting an end to all the rumors and wild speculation swirling around.

Now, about the design: the new style sometimes feels cramped and, frankly, a bit confusing. With all the icons wearing the same translucent ‘Liquid Glass’ look, it’s harder to spot your favorite apps at a glance. If you relied on colors before – say, the familiar blue of Safari or the bright green of Messages – you’ll now have to squint at the logos and text labels to find what you want. It’s a bold move, but not without its quirks.

On the other hand, the new and improved features? Wow. Apple clearly aimed to impress, and it succeeded. Some functions fans have waited years for have finally arrived, while others caught us by surprise. Take Apple Music’s seamless track transitions – sure, you survived without it, but now that it’s here, it feels like an obvious and welcome addition.

All in all, we’re pretty satisfied and looking forward to the full iOS 26 release this fall. How about you? Ready to take the plunge or still hanging on to your trusty old iPhone?