At WWDC 2025, Apple announced iOS 26, a major software update with the biggest redesign since iOS 7 in 2013. With iOS 26 (other Apple-made operating systems now also carry the number 26 for more unified naming), Apple is introducing "Liquid Glass," a new material across the operating system, featuring Windows Vista-like glass material with translucency, reflections, light refraction, parallax, and more.
Here is what Apple's senior VP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, said about the release:
iOS 26 shines with the gorgeous new design and meaningful improvements to the features users rely on every day, making iPhone even more helpful. Experiences are more expressive and personal, from the Lock Screen and Home Screen, to new capabilities across Phone and Messages that help users focus on the connections that matter most.
The redesigned UI is available on the Lock Screen and Home Screen, giving you more ways to personalize your iPhone and iPad. The Lock Screen can now generate a 3D effect for your photos and keep the most interesting parts of them as you receive notifications.
With iOS 26, Apple is introducing new Apple Intelligence capabilities like Live Translation in iMessage, FaceTime, and Phone, allowing users to communicate across languages and translate text on the fly. You can also ask ChatGPT questions about what is happening on the screen, and Genmoji can mix your favorite emojis.
Apple also redesigned the Phone app with a new UI and Call Screening feature, which eliminates interruptions by gathering information from the caller to let the user decide if they want to pick up the call. iMessage can filter out messages from unknown callers, set backgrounds for your chats, add polls, and display typing indicators in group chats.
Apple Music now features Lyric Translations so you can understand music in foreign languages, and Lyrics Pronunciations will help you sing along regardless of language. Additionally, iOS 26 features a new Apple Games app, a single place for all your games, improved parental controls, new accessibility features, and more.
You can read more about iOS 26 in the official announcement post on Apple Newsroom.
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