The wait is over! Apple has officially unveiled iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 at WWDC 2025, and what they bring is not a simple update: it’s a reinvention of the operating system for iPhone and iPad.
Why iOS 26 and not iOS 19?
Apple has decided to make an unexpected and exciting twist: to synchronize all its operating systems with the most ambitious release year, 2026. This means that what would have been iOS 19 now becomes iOS 26, aligning with iPadOS 26, macOS 26 and watchOS 26. This new strategy unifies the cross-device experience and brings a fresh (and more intuitive) feel to the entire Apple ecosystem.
The new face of the iPhone: Liquid Glass design
iOS 26 feels like an evolutionary leap. Apple has introduced a completely revamped visual design, inspired by visionOS, the Apple Vision Pro system. The protagonist: Liquid Glass, a translucent style that fills the interface with depth, shine and reflections, giving a futuristic and elegant feel.
The lock screen is now more personalized than ever. The clock adapts to the background image, allowing you to adjust the color, size and placement to match it perfectly – the iPhone becomes a work of art in your hands!
In addition, developers will be able to adapt their apps to this new visual language thanks to updated APIs, ensuring a unified and consistent experience across the board.
Apple Intelligence: artificial intelligence comes to life
One of the most anticipated announcements was undoubtedly the official debut of Apple Intelligence. Developers will now be able to integrate AI functions directly into their apps, extending tools that were previously exclusive to the system.
Visual Intelligence will allow taking screenshots and obtaining contextual data about them. In addition, Genmoji and Image Playground now use natural language to generate images, and you will be able to mix emojis to create unique combinations.
The Shortcuts app has also benefited from these improvements. Thanks to AI, you can now create automations without needing to be an expert.
And Siri? For now, there’s no news, but Apple has promised updates before the end of the year. Patience, the best is yet to come!
Calls are now smarter
iOS 26 also brings useful improvements to the calling system. Although Smart Caller ID will initially be available only in the U.S., there’s a global feature you’re sure to love: the system will alert you when someone puts you on hold and also when they come back to answer. Goodbye to being glued to your phone listening to elevator music!
iMessage evolves: more personalization and real-time translation
Messages, Apple’s messaging app, also gets a makeover. Now you can add personalized backgrounds to your chats, create polls in groups and detect spam messages more accurately. But one of the star features is live translation: both in iMessage, FaceTime and normal calls, each participant will be able to speak in their own language and receive instant translations – ideal for talking to people all over the world!
Apple Music and Apple Maps also get updated
In Apple Music comes translated lyrics and an educational feature that teaches you how to pronounce words as you listen. And if this doesn’t get you excited, just wait: AI-powered AutoMix makes smooth transitions between songs as if you had a DJ in your pocket.
Meanwhile, Apple Maps is releasing “Visited Places”, a feature that keeps a private history of the places you’ve visited. Did you forget the name of that amazing restaurant? Now you won’t have to rely on your memory alone!
New features for AirPods and a dedicated gaming app
Your AirPods also go up a notch. With Voice Isolation, you can record or make studio-quality calls. And with a simple press on the stem, you can control the iPhone camera: take photos or record videos without touching the screen – ideal for selfies and content creators!
And for gamers, here comes Games, a new app dedicated to bringing together all Apple Arcade titles and third-party games. You’ll even have a personalized gamer profile with Game Center.
Compatibility: will your iPhone be able to install it?
With iOS 26, support for the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR is being phased out. However, all models from iPhone 11 onwards will be compatible, including the new iPhone 16 and the recent third-generation iPhone SE.
Release schedule
- Developer beta: available now from WWDC 2025.
- Public beta: to be released in July and updated over the summer.
- Final version: coming in the fall, probably in mid-September.
- iPadOS 26: iPad takes a big leap towards the Mac
And if the iPhone is renewed, the iPad is not far behind. iPadOS 26 represents a quantum leap towards an experience closer to macOS, without losing the simplicity that makes it unique.
Liquid Glass on the big screen
The new Liquid Glass design is even more powerful on the iPad screen. Redesigned icons, transparent widgets and a fully customizable lock screen make your device look more vivid and modern. The control center has also been redesigned, with smoother transitions and more accessible options.
Mac-like windows!
But most revolutionary is the new floating window system. Now you can resize, minimize, move freely and have multiple windows open, just as if you were using a Mac. Plus, apps remember where they were and their size – just like on your desktop!
Then there’s Exposé, that handy panoramic view that lets you see all your open windows, switch between them with a single tap, and manage your workspace like a pro.
And to round out this transformation, Apple has added a full menu bar to the iPad for the first time, a detail that makes the experience virtually indistinguishable from that of a laptop… but with a touchscreen! but with a touchscreen!
A new chapter for the Apple ecosystem
With iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, Apple not only launches a new software version, but marks a before and after in how we use our devices. Built-in artificial intelligence, revolutionary design, more customization, and features designed to make our lives easier and more connected. The future is here… and it fits in the palm of your hand (or in your backpack).
Get ready, because what’s coming is exciting – welcome to the Liquid Glass era!