While the new iPhone 17 series grabbed headlines, the soul of the device, iOS 26, is now available to users worldwide. Released worldwide today, September 15, Apple’s most recent operating system upgrade brings a potent suite of new AI-driven capabilities along with the biggest visual makeover in years.
What is the Biggest Change in iOS 26?
The most striking update is the introduction of a completely new design language called Liquid Glass. This glossy, translucent interface gives the entire OS a fresh, modern look. It features fluid animations and depth effects that flow across the lock screen, widgets, notifications, and system apps. According to Apple, it represents a dramatic visual change from earlier iterations and aims to make the interface feel more immersive and personalized.
What is Apple Intelligence?
iOS 26 introduces Apple Intelligence, a collection of AI-powered tools to simplify daily chores. These tools include:
- Intelligent summaries of messages and notifications.
- Context-aware actions that adapt to your current activity.
- Real-time translation integrated across various apps.
These sophisticated features, however, are exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, the full iPhone 16 lineup, and the upcoming iPhone 17 series, and they demand powerful hardware. Older models will not have access to Apple Intelligence.
How Have Messages and Phone Apps Been Improved?
Apple has supercharged its core communication apps. The Messages app now allows users to:
- Customize chat backgrounds and apply themes.
- Create in-chat polls.
- See typing indicators in group chats.
- Use integrated Apple Cash for seamless peer-to-peer payments.
- The Phone app receives two powerful new features:
- Call Screening: Uses AI to identify and block spam and unwanted calls.
- Hold Assist: A clever tool that stays on the line for you during long customer service holds until a human representative is available.
Which iPhones Are Compatible With iOS 26?
With this update, Apple discontinues support for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. The update is available for download on the following devices as of right now:
- iPhone 11 and later (all models)
- iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation)
What About watchOS 26?
As confirmed, watchOS 26 also launches today. It supports Apple Watch Series 6 and newer, including all Ultra models. To pair with the new watchOS, users will need an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26.
For users who cannot wait for the public rollout, a developer beta is available through the free Apple Developer Program, though a device backup is strongly recommended due to potential early bugs.
