iOS 26 unveiled: Top new features, supported devices and more

At the recent WWDC conference held in Cupertino, Apple unveiled its latest operating system, iOS 26, which represents the most significant redesign for iPhones since iOS 7. In a notable departure from its traditional sequential naming convention, Apple has decided to adopt a year-based naming system for its new updates. One of the standout features of iOS 26 is 'Liquid Glass,' a unique design element that introduces a smooth, translucent animation that adapts to the content displayed on the screen. The customization options for both the Lock Screen and Home Screen have been expanded. Users can now enjoy dynamic backgrounds that respond to movements of the device, along with a time display that shifts in accordance with the wallpaper. Significant updates have also been made to three core applications: Camera, Photos, and Safari. The Camera app showcases a more streamlined interface, while Photos has restructured its layout, now offering separate tabs for the main library and collections. Safari enhances the browsing experience by allowing web pages to utilize the entire screen, and apps such as Apple Music and News introduce floating tab bars that elegantly appear and disappear as users scroll. iOS 26 harnesses Apple’s on-device intelligence to enhance user functionality while prioritizing data privacy. The new Live Translation capabilities in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone can instantly translate spoken and written languages without relying on cloud services. Furthermore, tools like Visual Intelligence enable users to engage with their screens in innovative ways, such as searching for products, getting instant answers via ChatGPT, or adding calendar events simply by looking at them. Apple has also introduced new methods of self-expression through features like Genmoji, which allows users to create custom emojis, and Image Playground, where fun images can be generated using simple words or emojis. In terms of device compatibility, iOS 26 will support a wide range of models, including the iPhone 11 series through the latest iPhone 16 series, as well as the iPhone SE models. Although Apple has not confirmed an official release date for iOS 26, it is anticipated to be launched alongside the new iPhone lineup in September, with older devices receiving the update shortly thereafter. For those eager to try out the new features, a Developer Beta of iOS 26 is available for download, with a Public Beta expected to roll out next month.