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IOS 26
2025 mobile operating system From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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iOS 26 is the nineteenth and the next major release of Apple's iOS operating system for the iPhone. It was announced on June 9, 2025, at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC),[3] and is expected to be released in September.
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It is the direct successor to iOS 18; its version number was brought forward to 26 due to a newly-announced policy of unified version numbers for Apple operating systems, which are now based on the year that follows their release (similarly to vehicle model years).[4][5]
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System features
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User interface
iOS 26 introduces a new unified design language across all Apple platforms known as Liquid Glass. Influenced by visionOS, the design replaces the flat design language introduced in iOS 7 to utilize rounded, translucent elements with the "optical qualities of glass" (including refraction), which would react to motion, content, and inputs. It also comes with the return of skeuomorphism from iOS 6 and earlier, most notable in the Camera app's new icon (which resembles the icon from iOS 6 and earlier). Multiple apps (including the camera and Safari among others) have redesigned user interfaces to reflect the new design language.[6][7]
Apple Intelligence
iOS 26 introduces new Apple Intelligence features; Apple Intelligence models were made more efficient and support additional languages.[8] It will support live translation of voice and text conversations using on-device models, while Genmoji can now be invoked to merge existing emojis together rather than needing to use a prompt.[9][7] The Shortcuts app will support the integration of AI actions.[9] Visual Intelligence and Image Playground will also feature additional ChatGPT integration[9], however, rumored integration with Google Gemini did not appear.
The new Foundation Models framework will allow Apple Intelligence features to be integrated into third-party apps; Apple stated that a Swift app can implement the framework in as little as three lines of code.[8]
Settings
The battery menu in the Settings app has been updated, adding comparison displays for battery usage on a daily basis. A new "adaptive power" mode is also introduced, which automatically performs optimizations (such as screen brightness adjustments and throttling) to improve battery life when device usage is higher than normal.[10][11]
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App features
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Messages
The Messages app will support adding backgrounds to conversations, polls, end to end encryption with RCS messaging, typing indicators for group chats, sending money through Apple Cash in group chats, and directing messages from unknown senders to a dedicated folder for screening.[7][12]
Apple Music
Apple Music includes several new features, including "AutoMix"—a playback mode that will automatically generate transitions between songs using Apple Intelligence, the ability to view inline translations and pronunciation guides for song lyrics, and integration with the Apple Music Sing karaoke feature on the tvOS Apple Music app (including the ability to use an iPhone as a microphone, and for participants to control karaoke from their devices[Notes 1]).[13]
Home
Home only supports the redesigned Apple Home architecture introduced in iOS 16 and ends support for the legacy architecture.[14]
Games
A new Games app provides an interface to games from App Store and Apple Arcade, as well as Game Center social features.[7][15]
Photos
Amid negative user reception to its redesign on iOS 18, the user interface of the Photos app reverted back to a tab-based interface, though now only with separate "Library" and "Collections" areas. It also adds the ability for photos to be converted to "spatial photos" with a parallax-like effect.[16][17]
Notes
The Notes app can record and transcribe calls into notes, while Markdown is added as a new export option.[18]
Maps
Maps will use "on-device Intelligence" to determine a user's most commonly–travelled commutes (such as travelling from home to work), allowing them to be automatically recalled, and the user to receive notifications of potential delays and alternate routes. It also adds a new "Visited Places" menu leveraging the user's location history.[19]
Apple Wallet
The Apple Wallet app adds additional functions for boarding passes, including the ability to display interior maps of the respective airport, and real-time flight information as a Live Activity. Users in the United States will also be able to add their digital passport to Wallet.[20][21]
Accessibility
iOS 26 includes new accessibility features, such as Accessibility Reader for systemwide narration, Braille Access, which allows connection to braille displays, as well as updates to Live Listen, Background Sounds, Personal Voice, and more.[22]
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Supported devices
iOS 26 requires a device with an Apple A13 Bionic processor or newer, thus dropping support for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.[23][24] Apple Intelligence requires an Apple A17 Pro processor or newer.[25][26]
Release history
The first developer beta of iOS 26 has been released as of June 9, 2025.
| Previous release | Current release | Current beta release | Security response |
See also
Notes
- Only available on Apple TV 4K devices.
References
External links
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