June 10, 2025, 12:58 pm | Read time: 6 minutes
iOS 26 Marks a Fresh Start for the iPhone Operating System Apple is not only moving away from its previous numbering system—ending with iOS 18—but is also introducing a new interface designed to future-proof the OS. The first beta version already offers a glimpse of what’s to come.
At the keynote kicking off the WWDC25 developer conference on Monday, Apple unveiled the latest versions of its operating systems–including iOS 26. The year (for the upcoming year) is now meant to emphasize the currentness and is consistent across all systems. Also consistent is the unified design language that runs through all of them–Apple calls it Liquid Glass. What this entails and what else is new in iOS 26 is shown in the hands-on with the first beta version for developers.
Liquid Glass Turns the iPhone into a Glass Pane
Although many quickly dismiss the new user interface as a clone of the 18-year-old Windows Vista UI “Aero Glass,” a closer look reveals how much more complex Apple’s Liquid Glass really is. The glass effect with transparent controls is not just superficial. Liquid Glass is designed to behave like real glass. This means that light refracts realistically on elements beneath the “glass.” When scrolling through a list overlaid by a glass surface, the elements appear distorted as they pass the glass curve. It’s similar to holding the edge of a drinking glass in front of the smartphone screen (try it!).
When using it, you notice how much more dynamic iOS 26 behaves. Buttons can not only be clicked but often dragged with a finger. This is particularly noticeable when switching between tabs. Elements also change their shape and position when navigating through the operating system–depending on what the user is doing. The whole thing is reminiscent of the behavior of Dynamic Island. This gives the operating system a new fluidity that was previously missing.
All surfaces–windows, dialog boxes, buttons–are also larger and therefore easier to use. The free-standing text buttons (text without borders) from previous iOS versions are finally a thing of the past. So far, clickable text is often only recognizable by its color (such as blue or red). Options like “Edit” in the settings now have their own small glass surface to visually stand out and clearly indicate they are clickable.
Apple has even dared to tackle app icons. Since iOS 7, the standard apps have come in a practically unchanged look. The icons have been generally revamped and are more three-dimensional again, with a more playful design featuring multiple layers. This is a clear departure from the flat iOS look. The camera app stands out in particular, returning to the original app icon with the camera lens.
New Camera App
Not only is the icon brand new in iOS 26, but the camera app itself has also been fundamentally revamped. In the main view, only “Video” and “Photo” appear as recording options. The rest (slow-motion, time-lapse, panorama, etc.) is only accessible by swiping on the options bar. Settings like exposure, filters, and timer can be accessed by pressing and holding or through the options menu.
Read more: These iPhones will no longer receive the iOS 26 update
Phone App and iMessage with New Features
Not only has the phone app been completely redesigned in iOS 26, but it also comes with new features that were previously only available on other smartphones. The app can screen incoming calls, recognizing unknown numbers, answering, transcribing the call content, and only then ringing. This way, users already have information about the reason for the call before they pick up.
The phone app also has a new feature for service calls. If you’re on hold, the iPhone with iOS 26 can take over for you. The option appears automatically in the phone app. When the call continues, the user receives a notification to pick up the phone again.
iMessage is getting a handy feature that has long been available on WhatsApp: polls. Simply click on the “+” symbol, select “Polls,” and choose the options. For a bit more personalization, individual images can be set as backgrounds for chat windows.
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More New Features in the iOS 26 Beta
The iPhone now supports live translation in FaceTime, translating content from the other person’s language into your own–and vice versa.
A similar feature appears in Apple Music, which can not only translate lyrics but also help with pronunciation. Speaking of music: AutoMix can blend songs together–of course, AI-assisted.
Visual Intelligence can now generate realistic images of people, instead of just in cartoon style as before.
Tabs (for library and collections) are back in the Photos app, after Apple removed them with iOS 18. Many users had complained about the app’s new layout. It seems to be one of the rare cases where the company has responded to user criticism.
A new app also comes with iOS 26. Games brings together all the games installed on the iPhone in one interface, shows game charts and achievements, and allows for playing with friends.
Image Playground now offers the ability to generate realistic images of people, instead of just in cartoon style as before.