iOS 26 superguide: What you need to know about the iPhone’s new iOS update

Apple revealed its plans for its next iOS update at the WWDC keynote on June 9, 2025. The company also showed off new features for the next iPadOS update, macOS Tahoe, watchOS and more at the event. 

As per the rumors, the upcoming iOS will be known as iOS 26 rather than iOS 19, with Apple breaking with tradition and switching to a simpler naming convention that relates to the year rather than a sequential number. Apple is taking the opportunity to bring consistency to the way it names all the operating systems, a move we at Macworld are celebrating. 

As expected, Apple has also given all its operating systems a major design overhaul, with iOS benefiting from a new design language that uses what Apple refers to as Liquid Glass because it gives everything a glossy fluidity. This design extends to the dock and widgets. Apple is also making the whole interface more intuitive, with changes designed to elevate the most popular features as well as help you find new ones. 

The redesign isn’t the only change coming to iOS later in 2025. There are also changes coming to iPhone apps, including the Camera, FaceTime, Messages and a brand new Games app. You can find out more about these features below. We also share which iPhones are expected to be compatible with iOS 26, and which iPhones aren’t supported. 

The full version of iOS 26 won’t launch until September – you can find out about the iOS 26 release date below. But you don’t have to wait until then: Apple runs a beta, so developers and those who want to sign up for the public beta can try the new features out. Read on for information about the beta program, including the expected release date for the Public Beta and any developments in the beta testing program

Stay tuned to this regularly updated superguide for everything you need to know about the upcoming iOS update, the latest version of the beta and all the new features that are coming.

iOS 26 Release date

• Date TBC: 15 September, 2025 predicted

iOS 26 will likely be available to download in September. iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, watchOS and the other updates will probably be available to download at the same time. This will likely happen shortly after the September event and the launch of the iPhone 17. 

iOS 26 Beta release date

• Developer beta: June 9, 2025
• Public beta TBC: July 15, 2025 estimated

You won’t have to wait until the full release to try the new software out. Apple runs a developer beta and a public beta for those who want to try out the new features before they are released to the general public. Both betas are free, though the developer beta requires a free registration as a developer.

The developer beta is released first following the WWDC keynote, so developers can immediately begin testing it with their products. Some time later Apple will release a public beta for everyone else. This usually arrives in July, about a month after the first developer beta. In 2024 it arrived on July 15, so we anticipate a similar release in 2025. 

Between WWDC and the official release in the fall, Apple will release a string of beta releases, typically eight or so in total. We share details of how to join Apple’s beta software program so you can test the new software as soon as the beta arrives, separately.

Anyone using the beta is encouraged to file bug reports using the included Apple’s Feedback Assistant app so that the company can address them. If you want to learn more about the beta read: What’s in the latest iOS beta and how to get it.

iOS 26 supported devices

• Free software update for iPhone 11 and later
• The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max will miss out on iOS 26

When Apple updates the operating system for its devices it often means that certain models are not compatible with the update. The iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, which were supposed by last year’s iOS 18, will miss out on iOS 26. 

This doesn’t mean that those iPhones are unsupported by Apple. Apple will continue to issue software updates to iOS 18 for a few more years. Read about how long iPhones are supported to find out which iPhones are no longer be supported with security updates. 

Nor does this mean that all the supported iPhones get all the new features. As was the case in 2024, only certain iPhones can support Apple Intelligence powered features. That’s the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and the whole of the  iPhone 16 range. This means that if your phone isn’t one of those mentioned you miss out on features such as the Visual Intelligence and Genmoji updates, as well as the Phone app ability to manage your unwanted calls. 

iOS 26 new features 

• New Liquid Glass design
• More intuitive app interfaces 

During the WWDC keynote Apple previewed the new iPhone features coming later in 2025. The biggest change is a visual one: a bold new redesign. We’ll discuss the changes to the interface below, before running through the new features coming in iOS 26. 

Design changes 

iOS 26 represents the biggest change to iOS since iOS 7 was introduced in 2013. Back then Apple dropped the skeuomorphic design in favor of flat symbolic icons, it also changed the lock screen, notifications, and more.

The changes coming in iOS 26 were rumoured to be “Slicker and more modern” with Apple said to be adopting elements from visionOS. The new design lives up to those expectations. It is based on what Apple is calling Liquid Glass, which is a translucent effect that dynamically reacts to your movements. 

This new design extends to the dock, widgets, and icons. Apple says the changes blur the lines between hardware and software. 

One example of how these design changes are applied is the Lock Screen, which is more adaptive and dynamically scales the image you choose as your wallpaper to fit the height and width of the lock screen. There’s also a new animated Apple Music artwork option for the Lock Screen. 

Interface changes 

These aren’t the only the visual changes. There are also changes throughout iOS 26 that make it easier to access the features you use most often, and discover others. Apple is trying to make iOS more intuitive. 

We’ll discuss the changes to individual apps below, but essentially Apple is making it easier to find the tools you usually use, without the clutter of all the other features you don’t need.

iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence 

Apple has been having trouble with some of it’s AI efforts, especially the Siri features that were touted at WWDC 2024. Apple had promised that iOS 18.4 would bring a major update to Siri, where it is better at natural conversations with the user, including personal context, screen awareness, and in-app actions.

These features have been pushed back until 2026, which means they should come as an update to iOS 26. 

Apple still had a number of Apple Intelligence powered features to show off at WWDC though. 

One major beneficiary of Apple Intelligence is Visual Intelligence, which enables users to get information from images. In iOS 26 it will be possible to screenshot an image and look up information about that image and products in it, or add details to your calendar or contacts. You an even ask ChatGPT for information about the image. 

Also benefitting from Apple Intelligence is changes to Genmoji. Users will be able to mix two emoji together to create something new, change expressions on Genmoji and use the Image Playground and ChatGTP to make images in various styles, such as an oil painting.

iOS 26 new apps and updated apps 

• Camera app overhaul
• FaceTime, Phone and Messages app changes 
• New look Safari 

There are also lots of updates coming to Apple apps that are included with iPhones, iPads and Macs. Many of these changes will be shared across all the new apps, but there are a few iPhone specific app updates. 

Games

Apple is finally tidying up the gaming experience on the iPhone with a brand new Games app. With half a billion people playing games on iPad, according to Apple, it’s about time. 

Apple says it is creating a new destination to help its gamers get more out of their games. The Games app will offer various tabs to make finding the games you are playing or have played easier. The Home tab reveals what’s most relevant to you. The Library tab shows all the games you have ever downloaded. 

There is a Play Together tab where you can see what friends are playing, play games with them, compare scores, and invite them to play games. You can also challenge them to beat your highest score in single player games. Turning single player games into fun competitions with friends, with scores in real time. 

Phone 

The phone app might not be the one we use the most, but as Apple says, it is fundamental to the iPhone. This year the phone app is getting a big update that essentially turns it into a PA. 

Apple is tapping into Apple Intelligence to bring new Voice Mail summaries to surface the most important information, but even more exciting, it is aiming to eliminate unwanted calls by asking for the callers details which it will the provide for you before you decide whether or not to answer. This feature is called Call Screening. Another new feature is Hold Assist, which will keep your spot in line while you wait for a live agent. The iPhone will detect hold music and remain connected, calling you back when the agent becomes free and letting the agent know that you are coming. It’s going to be like having your own receptionist. 

You can also communicate with someone who speaks another language with live translations during phone calls.

FaceTime 

FaceTime gets changes to the interface, to surface the controls you need while keeping the caller visible. For example, controls float to the bottom right and recede when you don’t need them. 

The FaceTime call list also gets a new look, with video messages autoplaying as you scroll. 

Messages

As with the phone, Messages is getting a screening tool to combat spam. The on-device spam detection will give you “total control over who appears in your conversation list,” according to Apple. Those who aren’t in your contacts will go into the Unknown Senders list and you can decide what to do with them. You will still see things you need like verification codes, according to Apple. This isn’t entirely new, Apple has offered separate Known Senders and Unknown Senders for some time, we look forward to seeing how Apple is building on this feature. 

With Messages you can add new background images to chats. But the biggest change is to Group Chats. 

Group Chats adds the option to create a poll, it will even suggest a poll if a situation calls for one. Anyone can add options to the poll, as well. 

Those who have access to Apple Cash (still U.S. only) can access this from group chats. 

Apple Wallet

Like Apple Cash many of the new Apple Wallet features are U.S. only, such as the ability to add Drivers Licenses to Apple Wallet. 

Apple ways there will be more ways to pay with Apple Pay, for example you can redeem points or choose to pay in instalments. That feature is currently available in 9 states. From the fall Apple says it will be possible to add a U.S. passport, but only for use within the U.S. 

You can also track Apple Pay orders, with Apple Intelligence finding the order details and tracking information and keeping them together for you. 

Music 

Aided by Apple Intelligence you will be able to see Lyrics Translations, including Lyrics Pronunciations, so you can sing along with the tunes you like even when they are in a different language. 

Another new feature is Automix which will use DJ-like effects to swap between songs. 

Interface changes should also mean it is faster and easier to get to the music you are in to. For example, you can pin your favourite album or playlist to the top of your library. 

Maps 

The Maps app also gets an update with your iPhone using Apple Intelligence to understand your regular commutes and learn your favourites. It will warn you if you should take a different route due to traffic. 

Another change to Maps is that if you want it to it can log Visited Places, which will make it easier to find and recall places you have been to in the past. It’s easy to delete this history too.