By Pavethran Batmanathen,
Apple has unveiled iOS 26, introducing a comprehensive redesign and enhanced features to elevate the iPhone experience. The update introduces a new design language called Liquid Glass, characterized by translucent elements that reflect and refract light, offering a dynamic and immersive user interface. This design extends across the Home Screen, Lock Screen, app icons, and widgets, providing a more expressive and personalized experience.
At the core of iOS 26 is Apple Intelligence, an on-device AI system that enhances user interactions while prioritizing privacy. Key features include Live Translation, enabling real-time translation during FaceTime, Phone, and Messages conversations, and Visual Intelligence, which allows users to interact with on-screen content by highlighting elements and accessing related information. Additionally, Genmoji and Image Playground offer creative tools for generating custom emojis and images.
The Phone and Messages apps have been updated to improve communication and reduce distractions. Call Screening automatically answers unknown calls and provides a transcript, while Hold Assist notifies users when a human representative becomes available. Messages now includes features like polls, custom backgrounds, and enhanced sender screening.
Other notable updates include a redesigned Camera app, a revamped Photos app with separate tabs for Library and Collections, and enhancements to Safari, Apple Music, Maps, and Wallet. iOS 26 also introduces Apple Games, a new app that consolidates all gaming activities on the iPhone. The update will be available this autumn and is compatible with iPhone 11 and later models.
