Apple confirmed at its 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday that its new operating system would be called iOS 26, instead of the previously expected iOS 19. It marks a total rebrand for Apple’s iOS that will update annually — get it, next year is 2026.
It’s an interesting change and one aimed at continuity: all of Apple’s operating systems will now operate within that naming convention. So, that means we’ll also be getting watchOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, iPadOS 26, and so on.
It’s not just a name that’ll be different with iOS 26, however. There are lots of other changes. You can follow Mashable’s comprehensive live blog for updates as they come in, but a key shift in iOS 26 is a total redesign, which had been widely expected. The big evolution in design relies on what Apple has dubbed “Liquid Glass.” It incorporates see-through elements in an effort to have a crisper, easier-to-use interface.
So, for instance, you might be able to see the song you’re currently playing while also keeping what’s going on in the background visible.
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Apple is so hyped about the new design that it’s calling “Liquid Glass” a “software-based material,” which basically just means it looks different.
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Credit: Apple
In a press release, Apple said:
“The elegant new design gives developers the opportunity to make their apps more expressive and delightful, while being instantly familiar. It’s crafted with a new software-based material called Liquid Glass, which combines the optical qualities of glass with a sense of fluidity. This gorgeous new material extends from the smallest elements users interact with every day — like buttons, switches, sliders, text, and media controls — to larger elements, including tab bars and sidebars for navigating apps.”
iOS 26 isn’t simply a shift in aesthetics. We’ll get more details as it rolls out, but Apple has already shown how it’ll change how your iPhone works. For instance, you’ll get new call screening tools (great for stopping scammers), an improved CarPlay with new widgets, updates in iMessages (like group chat polls), new camera experiences, and a revamped Photos app, to name a few. The Camera app also features a sleeker look and changed functionality when you take a picture.
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Perhaps most importantly, iOS 26 will finally bring much-needed updates to your iPhone’s Photos app.
Credit: Apple
Or, if you’re like me and quite forgetful, Apple Maps’ new “Visited Places” tool will be a welcome relief when you try to remember a spot you loved.
Credit: Apple
There will certainly be lots to explore in iOS 26, as it’s one of Apple’s biggest software changes in quite some time.
