New iOS 26 Liquid Glass Update: What iPhone Users Must Know Now

Apple has released iOS 26 along with updates for Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, bringing a new interface called Liquid Glass. The design aims to unify Apple’s software platforms with streamlined menus and a look inspired by visionOS, the operating system behind the Vision Pro headset.

Liquid Glass features transparent panels, smoother animations, and adaptive on-screen behavior. Safari’s address bar now resizes automatically while scrolling, and iPhone icons include new tinting options such as a full transparency setting.

Lock screen and display updates

The lock screen can now use spatial photographs as wallpapers, giving depth to backgrounds. An adaptive time display changes its style to match the rest of the visual layout on screen.

Phone and FaceTime changes

The Phone app combines recent and missed calls into one list, though users can return to the older layout if preferred. Two new tools are added: Call Screening, which asks unknown callers to state their name and reason before connecting, and Hold Assist, which monitors calls placed on hold and notifies the user when a live representative answers.

On iPhones with Apple Intelligence, both Phone and FaceTime apps now support live translation, enabling cross-language conversations. A limited number of languages are available at launch, and language packs must be downloaded from the Translate app.

Camera redesign

The Camera app has been streamlined to display only two main options—photo and video—when opened. Other modes such as portrait, panorama, slow motion, and time-lapse can be accessed by swiping left or right. Adjustments for exposure and aspect ratio are handled by vertical swipes, and video settings are consolidated under a new Format button.

Photos refinements

Photos receives adjustments following its major redesign in iOS 18. Tabs for library and collections return to reduce scrolling. Collections can be rearranged, and users with an iPhone 12 or newer can create spatial photographs with depth effects. Photos displayed in widgets on the home screen can also be converted automatically into spatial visuals.

Messages features

Group chats now support polls, Apple Cash payments to groups, and typing indicators. Wallpapers can be assigned to individual conversations for visual distinction. Messages can also filter texts from unknown senders through a new setting.

Shortcuts and Reminders integration

Apple Intelligence is more closely integrated into system apps. Shortcuts can now use tools such as Image Playground or text summarization. The Reminders app can identify tasks directly from emails or web content and automatically generate shopping lists from recipes in Apple News Plus. Grouped task lists are created automatically with AI assistance.

Visual Intelligence tools

On supported iPhones, Visual Intelligence allows users to interact with on-screen content through screenshots. After capturing a screen, options appear to search via Google or ChatGPT, create calendar events, or use translation. Users can also highlight specific areas of a screenshot for contextual searches, similar to Android’s Circle to Search feature.

Apple Maps updates

Maps introduces a Visited Places feature that records frequently visited spots for future reference. Regular routes such as commutes or school drop-offs are remembered and displayed in a widget, with alerts provided when traffic delays are detected.

Other features in iOS 26

Safari’s toolbar receives new customization options. Apple Music adds an AutoMix feature for subscribers, and users can now pin songs, albums, artists, and playlists to the top of their library. The Wallet app is preparing to roll out digital passports for TSA checkpoints on domestic flights. Enhancements to Genmoji allow two emojis to be merged into a new one, while Image Playground gains ChatGPT support for more style choices and expressive options.