IOS 26 is now available, here’s what’s new for iPhone

Apple has launched their iPhone 17 collection recently and Apple fans are gushing over all the updates. The company not only launched a new collection of iPhone models but also refreshed their Apple Software.

iOS 26 was released on 15th September 2025, and people are just not getting enough of the new features.

Are you an Apple user?

If you’re one, then you must be wondering about that one iOS 26 software update sitting in your Settings. You’ve a single question in your mind, “Is this update really worth it?”

Let’s explore the iOS 26 features together so it will be easier for you to install the new update.

What are the new IOS 26 features?

Let’s explore the iOS 26 new features update:

Fresh Design with Liquid Glass

• Apple has produced the Liquid glass design for iOS 26 by merging fluidity and optical qualities of glass.

This design gave a new and refreshed look to the iPhone interface making it seamless to use.

• User experience has become more interactive with motions through the updated controls in iOS 26.
• The in-place alerts feature has made it easier than ever to respond to notifications.

• Navigation and accessibility for tools and tab bars is smooth with the new iOS liquid glass design.

• Edit text with ease and more accuracy through the Liquid Glass magnifier loupe.

All-new look for Home Screen

• The new home screen iOS 26 features let you have clear icons & widgets because of the new glassy look. Moreover, you can also change their style according to light or dark accents.
• The iOS 26 features also include light-tinted color changes for different widgets and apps. Users can change the colors in contrast, according to their home screen background.
• Customize your iPhone according to your color preferences with matched tinting for icons along with iPhone or phone case color.

New lock screen effects in IOS 26

• Create a stylish lock screen with the adaptive time update that lets you customize it according to your background.
• If you have a song playing on Apple Music, the animated album art feature will provide an engaging experience.
• Make your lock screen alive whenever you tilt your phone, using the spatial scenes feature.

IOS 26 features for Photos and Camera

• The mode wheel in Camera is redesigned to give you better and quick access to the Videos and Photos mode. Users can also access other camera modes by swiping in the left or right direction.
• Now you can add camera controls to the app according to personal preference.
• The new iOS 26, lens cleaning hint feature notifies you to clean your lens for better camera focus.
• Now you can take better panorama shots after the less motion blur update in iOS 26.
• Easily click a photo or record a video by using your AirPods as the camera remote.
• Personalize your album collections by using the collection’s view to resize icons or change layouts

CarPlay interface redesigned in IOS 26

• The liquid glass design with clear and tinted icons aren’t just for your phone. You can have this smooth design for the touchscreen in your car as well.
• Stay alert yet aware with the help of Tapbacks while driving.
• The compact call UI feature allows you to keep a check on the road during an incoming call. The call screen doesn’t cover your entire screen.
• The smart display zoom feature allows you to zoom in on something on your screen.

IOS 26 features for Safari Browser

• The Fingerprinting protection feature in the Safari browser, in iOS 26, protects your privacy like never before. It secures you from malicious attempts of tracking your ID.
• Create web apps by adding frequently visited webpages to the home screen and open them through App Switcher.

Visual Intelligence & Screenshot tools in IOS 26

• Use Visual Intelligence as the ultimate screenshot tool on your device. You also ask ChatGPT or Google image search to fill in details regarding the image.
• Visual intelligence will help you in identifying objects automatically.

IOS 26 features for Phone Calls & Messages

• If you get an unknown call, your device will attend it and ask for specific details before ringing. The feature is known as call screening and is an iOS 26 update.
• Use the hold assist feature in your phone to get things done without waiting for others to speak. The feature also alerts you once the other speaker unmutes the call.
• The unknown callers list feature contains all the numbers, unknown to your device. You can also check the list for a known number and allow them to connect with you through Facetime, call or message.
• With Share play, share media with the other person during a video call. This feature is like screen sharing.
• Utilize the monogram style to customize the profile photos of your contacts.
• The phone app comes with a unified layout feature that combines all your recent or favorite contacts.
• The new iOS 26 feature shares small size photo previews in iMessages when you don’t have proper network signals.

IOS 26 features for Music

• Use the feature music pins to highlight your favorite soundtracks for quick access.
• Auto mix is one of iOS 26’s new feature updates that lets you play multiple songs by merging them smoothly.
• Want to keep a track of your music history? Use the replay insights feature to check your weekly or monthly history.

IOS 26 features for Maps

• Use the new incident reports feature in iOS 26 to stay updated about the best routes and shortcuts while driving.
• With the natural language search feature, you can naturally ask the map to find places. There is no need to use detailed and refined language while giving commands through voice search.
• iOS 26 features can also detect the places you visit and store them in the visited places folder with maps. This feature can help you find a place easily.

IOS 26 features for Apple Wallet

• No need to bring your national ID everywhere during vacations or trips. The Digital ID feature in iOS 26 helps you create an ID in your device through your passport.
• Apple users can easily travel through airlines since the iOS 26 features came with an update that keeps them informed. Moreover, they can use Wallet to access the airline apps as well.
• You can also use Apple Pay to pay for something in the form of installments or by converting your rewards.

IOS 26 features for Games

• Connect your DualSense controller with your device through the easier pairing, iOS 26 feature.
• The games app is updated with new features like controlling certain actions without exiting the app or stopping your game.
• Use Apple arcade to play more than 200 games without any purchases or subscription packages.
• Apple games updates help you access all your installed games through a single place.

Apple Intelligence features for IOS 26

The iOS 26 features update along with Apple Intelligence are a powerful duo that can optimize your user experience. Want to find out the Apple Intelligence features offered in iOS 26?

Let’s explore the following:

Features in Visual Intelligence Mode

• You can easily access the Visual Intelligence mode in your device through the screenshot buttons.
• You will never miss any important event since you can add them in your calendar along with specific details. Use this Apple Intelligence feature to automatically fill in the event address, timing and other stuff.
• Use Apple intelligence to interact with text automatically by translating or summarizing it.

Live Translation feature with Apple Translation

• Have friends with different native languages? Live translations will help you understand the message in a different language by automatically translating them.
• Leverage audio translation during phone calls. You can listen to translations in real time and read them as transcripts as well.
• Do you feel left out when people talk with each other in a language you don’t understand? Now you can easily understand their conversations through live translation in your AirPods.
• Missed what the other person said during facetime? Use the iOS 26 features and read live captions during a video call.

Use shortcuts with Apple Intelligence

• Intelligence actions can help you clear your to-do lists by automatically creating reminders for the tasks.
• Have a stellar idea in mind? Need a visual mood board for that? Use intelligence actions to create images from text with Image Playboard.
• Easily create shortcuts for every difficult task with the new model. You can summarize text, record audio in textual formats, analyze PDF documents and create images with Image Playground.

Create emojis with GenMoji

• Now with the Apple intelligence features you can also combine multiple emojis to create a single GenMoji.
• Customize your GenMoji according to your loved ones by picking their physical traits from your photo library.
• Personalize your GenMojis by adding facial expressions with the help of Apple intelligence.

Customize images with Apple Intelligence

• You can also create your GenMojis with the help of Image Playground.
• Add expressions to images created by Image playground with new iOS 26 features.
• Personalize your images in the Image Playground by changing physical traits.
• Create background wallpapers for your chats in messages through Apple intelligence in Image playground.
• Create pictures using text descriptions with new styles from ChatGPT along with previous Image playground styles.

Apple Intelligence features for Messages and Phone

• Easily inquire about a caller with their voicemail summary through Apple Intelligence.
• Use Apple Intelligence to create and use polls in iMessages to decide different things with contacts.
• Utilize Apple Intelligence to refine search options within messages through natural prompts.

Order Tracking with Apple Intelligence

iOS 26 introduced the order tracking feature to have a seamless online payment experience with Wallet. This iOS 26 feature tracks all your records and mails and collects them in one place for your ease.

Apple Intelligence updates for Siri

• Siri now provides comprehensive product knowledge taking your device and context into consideration.
• Siri now helps you copy paste the answer to your prompts without removing the rich formatting.
• Use Siri to create and save files from ChatGPT’s answers.
• With Apple Intelligence, you can utilize Siri’s assistance while writing or giving prompts to ChatGPT.

Write better with formatting support

Use Apple intelligence to keep the rich formatting element from ChatGPT answers in your writing tools.

More IOS 26 feature updates

The iOS 26 upgrade came with some new updates for previous Apple features as well, such as:

• The iOS 26 features come with better and refined accessibility options like the Accessibility reader and Braille Access.

Braille users can easily leverage iOS 26 features like Live Captions and accessibility reader to read text. This feature supports those with weak eyesight or visual impairment. The personal voice creation feature automatically designs a natural voice with the help of 10 recordings.

The name reader feature in iOS 26 alerts their users with hearing impairment when someone calls their name. iPhone owners with mobility issues can use gestures or facial expressions to carry out simple tasks without using their hands. The iPhone company made it possible with the Head tracking feature in iOS 26.

The background sounds feature use white noise and other ambient sounds. So that the user can rest, focus or can sit in peace.

• When it comes to Video and Audio recording, Apple introduced some smooth iOS 26 features. iPhone users are in more control with features like voice isolation and input picker. Moreover, the local capture feature lets you record an audio or video while being on a video call.
• Every member of the house can manage the content playing on HomePod through the AirPlay’s new update.
• Now you can use an Arabic calculator with the new iOS 26 features update.
• iPhone users can finally change the snooze intervals in their devices between a 1 to 15 minutes duration.
• You can also add the pronunciation of certain words in your voice through the dictation feature.
• Customize all your important files in the file folder with different colors or emojis to differentiate them.
• Dual sim users can leverage the SIM based focus mode feature to give priority to a single SIM.
• Divide your life experiences in journal entries with Multiple journals feature.
• You can use the password history feature to track all the records related to your passwords.
• Now you can edit your PDF documents in preview.
• iOS 26 new features update have better parental control and kids’ safety settings.

Parents can use features like Communication Safety and requests along with safety settings for teens.

• Use features like Auto-categorize and suggested reminders with Apple Intelligence to optimize your to-do lists and tasks.
• If the stolen device protection is enabled on your device, then you will need biometric verification for eSIM transfer.

What iPhone models will IOS 26 support?

List of Compatible devices for IOS 26

1. Compatibility with iPhone 17 models: Base model, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max
   • Compatible with iPhone Air
   • Compatibility with iPhone 16 models: Standard, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
   • Compatibility with iPhone 15 models: Standard model, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
   • Compatibility with iPhone 14 models: Base model, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max
   • Compatibility with iPhone 13 models: Standard, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
   • Compatibility with iPhone 12 models: Base model, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
   • Compatibility with iPhone 11 models: Base model, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max
   • Compatibility with iPhone SE model: Only for Second generation or later models

Should I upgrade to the latest IOS 26?

Apple released iOS 26 with a bunch of amazing and interactive features that provide a seamless user experience. However, it’s totally up to your personal preference while going for an upgrade as an old Apple user. If you’re interested in the new iOS 26 features, then you should give this software update a chance!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can the iPhone 14 pro get iOS 26?

Yes, according to Apple’s official announcement iOS 26 features are compatible with all iPhone 14 models.

Q. Is iOS 26 safe to download?

Since the launch of the new iPhone series and software update, old users are concerned with safety. However, the iOS 26 is an official Software update by Apple and is completely fine to download. You can check your iPhone’s compatibility with the iOS 26 features by checking out the compatibility list.

Q. What is the difference between iOS 18 and iOS 26?

iOS 18 and iOS 26 are the names of the software updates by Apple for iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. The software update iOS 18 was released in late 2024 while iOS 26 got released just a few days ago.

The difference between both updates lies in the features they offer. Apple has released iOS 26 with upgraded features like Live translations and the dynamic controls. iOS 26 also features a dynamic and refreshed Liquid glass design look.

Q. What is Liquid Glass in iOS 26?

Liquid Glass is a new iPhone design feature released by Apple along with IOS 26. This design feature gives a glassy look to your icons and widgets.

Moreover, this feature allows for a smooth user experience through motion and reflection. However, while some iPhone users enjoy this interface change, others are annoyed since it gets difficult to read.

Q. Does iOS 26 slow down your phone?

iOS 26 doesn’t slow down your device performance. However, many old iPhone users have faced lagging issues with Apple devices after the iOS 26 upgrade.

According to some users, Apple devices eventually lag for a day or two after a software update because of reindexing. It gets normal once your device has reindexed everything.

Q. When did iOS 26 release?

The release date of IOS 26 was 15th September 2025.

Q. Can the iPhone 11 update to iOS 26?

Yes, Apple offers iOS 26 update for all iPhone11 models including Standard, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Q. Does upgrading the iOS lower battery life?

The iOS 26 update is compatible with several previous iPhone models and is safe to upgrade.

Apple shared an official compatibility list of devices for iOS 26 on their website. So, people should not get concerned about possible battery drainage.

Moreover, if you’re not interested in the new software update then you can completely ignore it.