iOS 26: Liquid Glass Design, New Features & Everything to Know Before Apple’s iPhone 17 Event Today

**iOS 26: What to know about the free iPhone software update ahead of the Apple event today**

It’s here! The highly anticipated Apple iPhone 17 event is kicking off today at 1PM ET. While everyone’s buzzing about the new iPhone 17 lineup (including the sleek iPhone 17 Air), new Apple Watch models, and a fresh pair of AirPods Pro, there’s another major reveal on the horizon: iOS 26.

Traditionally, Apple releases its latest operating system about a week after the big showcase. But you don’t have to wait to get a taste of the future! You can already download and install the newly released public beta 6 or the iOS 26 developer beta 9. And trust us, the first thing you’ll notice is a significant visual overhaul.

What Exactly is iOS 26?

First things first: forget iOS 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25. Apple is making a bold move, skipping its traditional version numbers and aligning iOS with a year-based system, much like car model years. So, while iOS 26 will be released in late 2025, it’s designated “26” to reflect the year ahead. This new naming convention also applies to macOS and iPadOS, creating a more cohesive software suite.

For those curious, Apple is still actively updating iOS 18 (the current version) and is expected to release iOS 18.7 to address security issues. However, if you’re running anything older than iOS 18.6, you might find it difficult to revert to older versions as Apple regularly stops “signing” them once newer versions are available.

Dive into the New “Liquid Glass” Design

Out of all the announcements at WWDC this year, Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” design was the absolute showstopper. For years, our iPhone home and lock screens have looked largely the same. This refresh is a welcome change!

So, what is Liquid Glass? Apple describes it as a “new translucent material.” Essentially, your apps, widgets, lock screen, and home screen will adopt a clear, ethereal look. This new aesthetic adapts seamlessly to both dark and light modes. You’ll also spot redesigned, “floating” buttons in apps like Phone and Maps, designed to be less intrusive yet still easy to use. While the Liquid Glass design has sparked some debate online (with some comparing it to Microsoft’s old Windows Vista Aero), many, including tech reviewers, are embracing this fresh direction.

Apple has been listening to user feedback; the transparency was slightly dialed back in iOS 26 beta 2, and it will continue to evolve. Get ready, because Liquid Glass is designed to bring a unified visual experience across all Apple platforms, including the new macOS Tahoe 26.

Key Features and Improvements in iOS 26

Beyond the stunning visual update, iOS 26 brings a host of practical “quality of life” improvements, moving away from last year’s overpromised AI features. Here’s a rundown of what to expect:

* Phone App Redesign: Say goodbye to endless scrolling! Your contacts, recent calls, and voicemail messages will all be accessible on one streamlined screen. Plus, a brilliant new feature called Hold Assist will notify you when a representative is finally on the line, letting you ditch the elevator music and tackle other tasks.
* Live Translation for Calls & Messages: Break down language barriers! iOS 26 introduces real-time live translation for phone calls and text messages, making conversations with people speaking other languages smoother than ever.
* Polls in Group Chats: Tired of indecision in your group chats? You can now create polls to easily decide on dinner plans, road trip details, or anything else your group needs to vote on.
* Filtering Unknown Senders in Messages: Finally, a solution for spam texts! Annoying messages about fake tolls or citations will automatically be filtered into a separate folder.
* Visual Intelligence: Think of it as a reverse image search on steroids. You can now search for anything on your iPhone screen. See a cool pair of shoes in an Instagram photo? Screenshot it, and Visual Intelligence will help you find them (or similar styles) online.
* Photos Tabs Are Back: Good news for those who struggled with last year’s Photos app changes! Library and Collections are getting their own distinct tabs again, making it easier to navigate your photo library.
* Camera App Updates: The Camera app is getting a simplified interface with buttons and menus in more convenient locations, leading to less swiping and more snapping. It even includes a new feature to tell you if your lens needs cleaning!
* FaceTime “Communication Safety”: A crucial new child safety feature, this will pause FaceTime communications if nudity is detected. Importantly, this detection happens entirely on your device, ensuring privacy.
* Enhanced Lock Screen Customization: Your iPhone’s lock screen becomes even more personal with a cooler clock design, immersive 3D wallpaper effects, more widget options, and improved Focus Mode controls.
* Customizable Alarm Snooze: No more being stuck with a 9-minute snooze! You’ll now have the flexibility to set your snooze time from one to 15 minutes.
* Reworked Screenshots: Taking a screenshot now brings several new features, including “highlight to search,” direct Google search integration, and even ChatGPT integration for image-related questions.

New changes coming to iPadOS 26

Your iPad isn’t being left behind! iPadOS 26 brings significant upgrades, especially for productivity:

* True Multitasking and Windowing: This is a game-changer. You’ll be able to run multiple apps on your screen simultaneously, resizing and moving them freely to suit your workflow. This feature is optional, so you can disable it if you prefer.
* Liquid Glass Aesthetic: Just like iOS, iPadOS 26 will get the stunning Liquid Glass design across its lock screen, home screen, and drop-down menus.
* New Menu Bar: Swiping down on your screen reveals a new menu bar with options like File, Edit, Windows, and a convenient search function.

What about AirPods?

Your AirPods are also receiving some notable enhancements with iOS 26:

* Enhanced Audio Recording: Expect “studio-quality” audio recording from your AirPods, offering greater clarity, especially in noisy environments.
* Camera Remote Control: Control your iPhone or iPad camera directly from your AirPods! Take photos or start/stop video recording with a simple press. There’s even a three-second countdown for photos.
* Live Translation Feature (Rumored): While not officially confirmed, evidence in the iOS 26 beta suggests the long-rumored live translation for AirPods might finally arrive. A system asset shows a gesture triggered by pressing both earbud stems, accompanied by words in multiple languages.
* Heart Rate Monitoring (Rumored): Reports from Bloomberg suggest new AirPods Pro earbuds might introduce heart rate monitoring, integrating with Apple’s Health and other fitness apps.

Will Siri get an update?

Siri’s major overhaul, promised at WWDC 2024, is still in a holding pattern, delayed until “some point in the coming year.” So, don’t expect major changes in the current betas. However, there are strong rumors that Apple plans to give Siri a “bigger brain transplant” by integrating it with third-party AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude, potentially making 2026 a pivotal year for the voice assistant. Apple is also reportedly developing its own “stripped-down” AI chatbot to compete with ChatGPT.

Which iPhones will be able to upgrade to iOS 26?

Good news for most recent iPhone owners! While the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max will no longer be supported, any iPhone from 2019 or later will be eligible for the free iOS 26 update. This includes:

* iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
* iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
* iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
* iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
* iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
* iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
* iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max
* iPhone 16e
* And of course, the new iPhone 17 models expected to be announced today!

How to install iOS 26 beta

If you’re eager to try out iOS 26 right now, you can! The public beta is available through the Apple Beta Software Program.

1. Visit beta.apple.com and sign up with your Apple ID (it’s free).
2. Once enrolled, go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone.
3. Select iOS 26 public beta to download and install.

A word of caution: It’s generally recommended not to install beta software on your primary device, as betas can sometimes have bugs or performance issues.

When will the final version of iOS 26 be released?

The final public release of iOS 26 is expected this fall, typically within a week of the iPhone event. Given the iPhone 17 event is on September 9th, you can likely expect iOS 26 to roll out to your devices around September 16th.

Get ready to experience a whole new iPhone, iPad, and AirPods experience with iOS 26!