The 5 Biggest iOS 26 Updates Coming to Your iPhone

At WWDC ’25, Apple announced the new iOS 26, which brings quite a few updates to existing core apps and a major design overhaul. The update will roll out to selected devices in September, but developers can now opt in public beta.

Here are the biggest new changes to iOS 26, from the “Liquid Glass” aesthetic to changing the way certain apps interact with you.

1. A new translucent, glass look

After nearly twelve years, iOS is getting a major aesthetic redesign. Apple is shifting all its major systems to a “Liquid Glass” design that heavily banks on a translucent, glassy look. The colours are now informed by the content on-screen, and the “liquid” refers to the idea of dynamically bending and shaping light in morphing UI elements according to the screen’s shape.

You can now choose a third way to view apps via the “All Clear” icon look on your home screen. This theme makes icons transparent, blending into the general aesthetic of a “glass” look. It adapts to both light and dark environments.

2. The new “Games” app

Apple has finally given iOS its due: a dedicated “Games” app, an all-in-one hub for gaming on iOS. It now fully replaces the Game Centre and has options to download new games, check pending updates, and “can’t miss” events. Based on your history, the app also gives recommendations and supports navigating the interface with a controller.

Apple Games will have a dedicated section for checking up on your achievements, online friends, and communication tools. The company recently brought AAA titles like Resident Evil Village, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Death Stranding to iPhones, and is expected to push into the gaming space more.

3. The Phone app can now identify (and deal with) spam calls

The Phone app also gets a visual upgrade, where the main screen is now more of an all-in-one space to look at everything important, quickly. It is divided into three sections, the top one being “Favourites,” the middle being occupied by “Recent calls,” followed by “Voicemails” at the bottom.

4. The Messages app gets polls, better privacy controls, and AI-powered custom backgrounds

The Messages app also adapts to the “Liquid Glass” aesthetic. But, for proprietary upgrades, it now has the option to set a custom background or even generate one via Image Playground. In group chats, users will now see typing indicators and can post “Polls” to get input from multiple people.

You can even send and receive Apple Cash from the app itself now. A new “Live Translation” feature has also been added that can translate text and audio from different languages almost instantaneously, using on-device AI.

5. Visual Intelligence is now easier to access and use

You can now access Visual Intelligence features from anywhere on your iPhone. For any app you’re on, take a screenshot, like usual, which will open up the edit menu. You now have screenshot tools on the top, with Visual Intelligence features on the bottom. Now, you can use them to find similar images on Google or even ask ChatGPT about the content on-screen.

These tools can help you search images and also perform specialised tasks. If the image on-screen is a date, the system automatically suggests “Add to calendar.” It’s somewhat reminiscent of Circle to Search on Android.