Apple has officially released iOS 26, one of the most significant updates in recent years. With its release on September 15, 2025, the update introduces a new design language, smarter tools powered by Apple Intelligence, and enhanced usability across iPhone, AirPods, CarPlay, and more. Here’s a breakdown of the top new features in iOS 26 you need to know.
1. Liquid Glass: A Visual Overhaul
Perhaps the most eye-catching change in iOS 26 is the “Liquid Glass” design language. It delivers translucent, frosted glass-like visuals across the operating system: app icons, menus, buttons, and notifications now reflect and refract your wallpaper and ambient light. The Home Screen, Lock Screen, and even CarPlay now feel more dynamic and fluid.
2. Live Translation & Apple Intelligence Enhancements
Another big push in iOS 26 new features is enhanced Live Translation. You can now translate texts in Messages, get live captions in FaceTime, and receive spoken translation during phone calls. These features rely on Apple Intelligence models, some of which run on-device for better privacy.
There’s also Visual Intelligence, Genmoji and Image Playground tools to help you express yourself and interact more intelligently with what’s on-screen.
3. Improved Lock Screen & Home Screen Customization
With iOS 26, the Lock Screen gets smarter: the clock adapts dynamically depending on your wallpaper, notifications stack more smoothly, and full-screen album art is supported for playing music. On the Home Screen, new themes (Light, Dark, Tinted, and “Clear”) let users choose app icons that blend or stand out, plus new widget placement options.
4. Adaptive Power Mode & Battery Life Enhancements
To manage battery life better, iOS 26 introduces Adaptive Power Mode. This mode automatically adjusts device performance (lowering brightness, slowing background tasks, etc.) especially when battery gets low, falling back to Low Power Mode when needed. It aims to extend usable time without major disruption.
5. Upgrades to Messages, Phone, Preview & CarPlay
- Messages: New features like polls in group chats, conversation backgrounds, “typing indicators,” and easier ways to select portions of text.
- Phone app: Call screening for unknown numbers (the caller must state name and reason), plus “Hold Assist” which notifies you when someone on call hold is back.
- Preview app: iOS 26 brings the Mac’s Preview app to iPhone, built-in tools for editing, annotating PDFs and images.
- CarPlay: The Liquid Glass design extends into CarPlay with translucent UI elements; message Tapbacks are easier; live activities displayed; compact views for incoming calls.
6. AirPods Feature Boost
Users with newer AirPods (like AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4, etc.) get new features in iOS 26: live translation during conversations, studio-quality audio recording, automatic pausing when falling asleep, camera remote via AirPods controls, and better voice quality on calls.
7. Compatibility & Devices
iOS 26 supports iPhone 11 and newer, which means older models are no longer compatible. This move ensures that the newer effects (especially Liquid Glass visuals) and Apple Intelligence features will run smoother on devices capable of handling them.
Final Thoughts: Is iOS 26 Worth It?
If you’ve been waiting for a major visual refresh, better translation tools, and smarter battery management, iOS 26 delivers. The Liquid Glass design alone is a big reason to upgrade, provided you like the aesthetics. Combine that with live translation, AirPods improvements, upgraded CarPlay, and better customization, and this feels like one of Apple’s biggest OS updates in years.
For best performance, updating on a supported device is key. Also, some features may only roll out gradually or depend on hardware. But overall, the iOS 26 new features make a compelling case to download the update as soon as it’s available.
