iOS 26: Liquid Glass, Apple Intelligence & Supported iPhones Explained

iOS 26 on iPhone — A Deep-Dive Into Apple’s Biggest Software Refresh in a Decade

Apple used WWDC 2025 to unveil iOS 26, a release it calls the largest redesign since iOS 7. From the new Liquid Glass interface to AI-powered quality-of-life tricks, this update is as much about a visual reboot as it is about giving your iPhone a lot more smarts. Below is everything you need to know: headline features, hidden gems, the full compatibility list, and how to try the beta today.

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Why the jump to “26”?

Apple skipped straight from iOS 18 to iOS 26 so that every platform (macOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, etc.) now shares the same number. The company says that consistency will make life easier for users and developers alike—no more mental gymnastics about which OS is “ahead.” macrumors.com

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A new look: Liquid Glass

Liquid Glass replaces the flat aesthetic that’s been with us since 2013 with translucent layers, depth-aware shadows and adaptive tints that react to wallpaper or on-screen content. It stretches across Control Center, widgets and built-in apps, and Apple is giving third-party developers the tools to join in. businessinsider.com

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Apple Intelligence 2.0 & Visual Intelligence

Last year’s Apple Intelligence beta laid the groundwork; iOS 26 finishes the job. A “Visual Intelligence” system can understand what’s on your screen—snap a screenshot of shoes and jump straight to shopping links, or tap dates in a poster to pre-fill Calendar. ChatGPT and Google Gemini integrations sit behind Siri for deeper answers, while on-device models handle quick requests without leaving your phone. businessinsider.com9to5mac.com

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Messages & Phone get long-requested upgrades

• Group-chat typing indicators—no more guessing who’s replying.

• Polls, custom (and AI-generated) chat backgrounds, Apple Cash in groups.

• Frankenemoji / Genmoji lets you mash up or describe your own emoji.

• Phone app redesign merges Recents, Voicemail and Favorites, and lets you screen unknown callers or let Hold Assist sit through customer-service hold music. businessinsider.com

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Maps, Wallet & everyday conveniences

Maps now learns your commuting patterns and can guide you through airports gate-to-gate, while Visited Places makes it easy to find that café you forgot to bookmark. In nine US states, Digital ID inside Wallet speeds you through TSA. businessinsider.com

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Under-the-hood & “little-big” features

9to5mac.com

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Compatibility: Which iPhones get iOS 26?

Apple is drawing the line at the A13 Bionic. In plain English, you’ll need iPhone 11 or newer (or any 2nd-gen+ iPhone SE). Everything older—including 2018’s iPhone XR / XS / XS Max—stops at iOS 18 but will continue to receive security patches for a while. Full list: iPhone 11 → 16 Pro Max today, plus the upcoming iPhone 17 family this fall. macrumors.commacobserver.com

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Release timeline & how to install

Upgrade prep:

1. Back up with iCloud, Finder or iTunes.

2. Keep at least 15 GB free.

3. Expect bugs in early betas—install on a secondary device if possible. indiatimes.com

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Early verdict

If you loved the visual leap from iOS 6 to iOS 7, iOS 26 will feel like the sequel you’ve been waiting for. The combination of Liquid Glass, deeper AI hooks and genuinely useful everyday tweaks (RCS, Call Screening, smarter battery life) makes this more than a paint job. The only catch is hardware: Apple’s intelligence features shine brightest on the A16-and-newer chips, nudging owners of older phones toward this fall’s iPhone 17 line.

Whether you jump in now via the beta or wait for September, iOS 26 looks set to make your iPhone feel brand-new again.

FAQs: iOS 26 on iPhone