iOS 26 at WWDC 2025: Full Features, Liquid Glass UI, Apple Intelligence & Release Timeline

iOS 26 Unveiled at WWDC 2025

• Officially announced on June 9, 2025, at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.
• Marks a major shift in naming convention—now based on year (iOS 26 = 2025).
• Apple calls iOS 26 the “biggest leap in user experience since iOS 7.”
• Heavily AI-integrated: “Apple Intelligence” becomes the centerpiece of the OS.

Key Highlights:

• 🔹 New Liquid Glass design system.
• 🔹 Smarter Siri and systemwide GenAI features.
• 🔹 Better privacy controls with on-device processing.
• 🔹 Redesigned native apps like Messages, Safari, Music, and Phone.
• 🔹 Deeper integration with Vision Pro and macOS 15.

Liquid Glass: A Visual Revolution

• Completely redesigned UI with transparency, depth, and adaptive elements.
• Inspired by glass reflections and fluidity for a more immersive experience.
• Introduces dynamic home screens, floating widgets, and translucent app backdrops.

Key Features:

• 🔹 Fluid animations and adaptive color theming based on wallpaper/context.
• 🔹 Dock and Control Center redesigned for better multitasking.
• 🔹 Lock screen offers real-time widgets and app previews.
• 🔹 Supports advanced haptics for tactile feedback tied to visual layers.
• 🔹 Optimized for OLED displays on iPhone 15 and above.

Apple Intelligence: Smarter, Private, On-Device AI

• Apple’s on-device AI engine rolled out fully across iOS 26.
• Designed to maintain privacy and avoid data leaving your device.
• Works across apps, notifications, messages, images, and voice.

Smart Capabilities:

• 🔹 Real-time voice and text summarization.
• 🔹 “Genmoji” – create emojis using AI prompts.
• 🔹 Smart Reply in Mail and Messages using personal context.
• 🔹 Visual Intelligence: detect objects, dates, texts in images.
• 🔹 New Siri 2.0 – contextual understanding, even works offline.

iOS 26 App Updates: Messages, Phone, Safari & More

• Major refresh to native apps to align with Liquid Glass aesthetics.
• Deeper functionality in communication and browsing tools.
• Apple’s focus: usability + smart productivity.

What’s New in Apps:

• 🔹 Messages: new polls, reactions, group chat filters, AI replies.
• 🔹 Phone: Live Voicemail Transcription, Call Screening.
• 🔹 Safari: full-screen browsing, AI article summaries, tab grouping.
• 🔹 Camera & Photos: smart edits, background replacement.
• 🔹 Apple Music: DJ-mix mode, interactive lyrics, adaptive EQ.

Gaming & Media Experience Elevated

• iOS 26 features a dedicated “Apple Games” app.
• Better GPU support and Game Mode integration with A17+ chips.
• Designed for Apple Arcade and AAA game support.

Media & Gaming Upgrades:

• 🔹 New Game Center interface with cross-device sync.
• 🔹 Support for third-party game controllers expanded.
• 🔹 Apple Music auto-mix based on user mood.
• 🔹 Smart AirPods switching while gaming or calling.
• 🔹 Enhanced streaming support with low latency mode.

Device Support, Beta Access & Final Release

• iOS 26 supports iPhones with A14 Bionic and above.
• iPhone 15 series get full feature set; older devices have limited access.
• Available to developers now; public beta in July; full release in Fall 2025.

Timeline & Compatibility:

• 🔹 Developer Beta: Released June 10, 2025.
• 🔹 Public Beta: Mid-July 2025.
• 🔹 Official Launch: September 2025 (alongside iPhone 16).
• 🔹 Supported Devices: iPhone 12 and newer.
• 🔹 Dropped: iPhone XS, XR, and iPhone 11 for full feature access.