Apple Releases iOS 26: Transformational iPhone Software With New Design And Features

It’s here: the new-design software that will make your iPhone look brand new again. The biggest design overhaul in years, perhaps ever, is available to download now. Here are the changes, the new features and the design updates worth looking out for.

Which iPhones Can Run iOS 26?

The new iOS 26 software is compatible with all iPhones from 2019 onwards. That means the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are all covered by this new update, as well as all iPhones since, including the iPhone SE in both its second- and third-generation models. And all members of the iPhone 16 series are included, right up to the iPhone 16e. Later this week, on Friday, Sept. 19, the new iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air will come with iOS 26 pre-installed.

How To Get It

Here’s how you can upgrade: open the iPhone Settings app, then choose General, followed by Software Update. Next, click on Download and Install, and it’ll be on your phone shortly. This will be a big update and it’s likely to be in heavy early demand, so please practice patience. It’s a big update, 14.31GB on my iPhone 16 Pro Max.

iOS 26 — What’s In The Release

This is a big one. I’m really just scratching the surface with the more important updates, to be honest.

MORE FOR YOU

First up is the way it will make your iPhone appear different, thanks to something called Liquid Glass, a radically new look that is stylish and colorful. Once it’s installed, just take a look at how the edge of the display changes as you slowly drag the lock screen upwards: the extreme edge of where your finger sits shows colors morphing as though they are refracted through glass. It’s impeccably done. Related to that, the lock screen now has Liquid Glass in it and Spatial Scenes which let you create 3D-effect images from regular photos. Animated album art can also show on the lock screen if you tap it.

The Camera app has been streamlined for simplicity, with just two options, Video and Photo, showing initially. You can delve deeper with a tap. It’ll also tell you if the lens is smudged. Design for the Photos app has also been updated—the last update was controversial, but this may be more warmly received.

Next up, there are big changes coming to the Phone app, with a new design and a unified layout though if you don’t like it, you can change back to the previous design. It can now screen calls from unknown numbers, asking the caller to say why they’re ringing before the phone puts you through. And there’s Hold Assist, which will keep your place on hold for you and let you know when it’s your turn. Similarly, Messages shows messages with backgrounds and a new overall design.

Maps promises to be more personalized and smarter, with notifications to preview the route on your regular commute route. Your iPhone can, with your permission, detect places you visit, like restaurants, say.

New Apple Intelligence features, available on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and all later iPhones include Live Translation, which will translate in Messages, FaceTime and Phone. Messages automatically translate and live captions appear on screen in FaceTime. In a call, pressing the More button lets you hear the other person’s words spoken out loud or in transcription when you’re on speaker. Messages use Apple Intelligence to create polls and search with natural language and Reminders can review an email or note to suggest relevant tasks, for instance.

Visual Intelligence, for the same phones that run Apple Intelligence, means you’re not limited to getting information on what the camera sees.

There are more features coming, but this is a very big opening salvo.