The next version of iOS is iOS 26 and not iOS 19 because Apple is standardizing the operating system name with the year it will be used throughout. We have listed 26 iPhone models that will receive iOS 26 but surely many will want to know what interesting innovations this 19th iteration of iOS will have compared to previous versions.
First of all is the new Liquid Glass interface which makes everything look like a glass surface. It takes inspiration from the translucent visionOS interface with ra,ai also saying that it is actually similar to Windows Aero (Authentic, Energetic, Reflective, and Open) used in Windows Vista 18 years ago. The use of retro elements seems to be gaining attention again.
The icon design has been changed to a translucent design with Apple also providing a “clear” option which removes all colors from all application icons. There is speculation that this glass design was chosen in preparation for next year’s iPhone which will have an all-glass design with the front camera and Face ID placed under the screen.
Another feature introduced is Live Translation, which puts subtitles in phone conversations and FaceTime. With this, the ability to not share the same language is not a barrier for two people to talk. When typing text in Messages, what you type can be directly converted to a language that the recipient can understand and vice versa for you. With Live Translation, iOS 26 is finally on par with the feature supported by Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy since 2024.
Phone calls can also be filtered from spam calls with Call Screening. Next, if you make a phone call and are instructed to wait, Hold Assist will notify the user when a customer service agent is ready to speak.
Visual Intelligence is also better at finding information with the help of ChatGPT. It also integrates Google and Etsy if you want to buy what is displayed on the screen. In addition, based on screenshots, Apple Intelligence can enter information such as flight tickets and concerts directly into the calendar.
Apple Wallet is also smarter at sharing relevant information. For example, based on saved plane tickets, users can allow their relatives to be tracked through Live Activities. Upon landing, Wallet can provide relevant information in Maps to navigate to baggage claim and finally open Find My to track your AirTag-equipped luggage.
Other exciting features include controlling the camera with AirPods, Apple Music song lyrics now come with translation, improved CarPlay, and Apple Maps that remembers previously visited locations.