Apple unveils iOS 26 with bold redesign, on-device AI, and groundbreaking Apple Intelligence features

Apple opened its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday by unveiling iOS 26, a major update that introduces a bold new look, smarter AI features, and upgraded app experiences for the iPhone.

At the heart of this release is Apple Intelligence, a privacy-first suite of AI capabilities built directly into the system to help users get more done, communicate smarter, and personalise their devices like never before.

Apple Intelligence took centre stage in iOS 26, introducing features that run entirely on the device using Apple-built foundation models.

Among the highlights are:

Live translation

Integrated across Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, this enables users to access real-time text and voice translation to break language barriers without compromising privacy.

Visual intelligence

This allows users to interact with content onscreen, like asking ChatGPT for context, identifying events to auto-add to the calendar, or shopping for similar items via apps like Etsy or Google.

Genmoji and image playground

These are new creative tools that blend emojis, AI descriptions, and user inputs to generate expressive, customizable images and icons.

Smart shortcuts

A new class of intelligent, context-aware shortcuts simplifies everyday actions and automates common tasks.

A fresh, fluid user interface with liquid glass

Apple has introduced a dramatic visual refresh in iOS 26, built around a new design language called Liquid Glass—a translucent, responsive material that refracts light and adapts to its environment, creating an immersive sense of depth and texture unlike anything previously seen on the iPhone.

This means the interface dynamically adapts as users interact with it, for example, colours, highlights, and transparency levels subtly shift during scrolling or movement, making the entire experience feel more fluid, immersive, and alive.

At the heart of the redesign is a refreshed system-wide aesthetic.

Core interface elements, including widgets, app icons, and navigation bars, now exhibit a dynamic, glass-like quality, appearing to subtly shift and reflect their environment in real time.

This creates a living, breathing UI that feels both futuristic and natural.

Changes to home and lock screen

The Home screen and lock screen have been dramatically enhanced with expressive 3D wallpapers, new icon customisation tools, and adaptive time placement.

Users now have more freedom than ever to personalise their interface, including the option to apply a translucent “clear” effect to app icons and widgets, allowing them to blend smoothly into the background for a sleek, cohesive look.

While not fully invisible, this transparent aesthetic gives icons a glassy, floating appearance that contributes to a sleek, minimalist feel.

Users can also customise the application icons and widgets into light mode, dark mode or other colourful tints, like beige, pink, purple, among others.

Other application changes

Key apps, including camera, Safari, photos, music, and podcasts, have also received thoughtful redesigns.

Floating tab bars now expand or collapse depending on scroll behaviour, keeping content front and centre while maintaining easy access to controls. The result is a UI that prioritises immersion, clarity, and beauty, without sacrificing functionality.

If you put a wallpaper from your gallery, it also gets a 3D effect, and the time feature adapts to the set wallpaper.

In short, iOS 26 does not just introduce a new look, it redefines how users interact with their iPhone through a visually intelligent, deeply customisable interface.

Upgrades to phone and messages apps

Apple has streamlined communication and reduced distractions with major updates to core apps: The phone app now consolidates Favourites, Recents, and Voicemail into one unified view.

Call screening now offers real-time caller information, just like Truecaller, but this time, built-in, helping users decide whether to pick up.

Hold assist will alert users when an agent joins a call, so they do not waste time on hold.

Messages can now be translated easily, there are interactive emoji effects, and improvements in polls and payments.

Users can now share matching backgrounds in chats; when one person updates theirs, the other participant will see it too, similar to how Instagram handles shared themes.

Group chats now support polls, allowing users to create and vote directly within the conversation. Powered by Apple Intelligence, the system can even suggest creating a poll when it detects that a group discussion might benefit from one.

New app: Apple games?

For the first time, Apple introduces a centralised Apple Games app, a unified hub that brings together all gaming activity across iPhone and iPad.

This all-new app serves as the core destination for everything from Apple Arcade titles and Game Centre invitations to third-party App Store games, offering users a streamlined way to access, organise, and engage with their entire gaming library.

Apple Games provides a personalised dashboard, where users can track achievements, view play history, manage multiplayer sessions, and receive curated recommendations based on their gaming habits.

Game Centre integration is now deeper and more intuitive, allowing real-time visibility of friends' activity, leaderboards, and pending challenges, all in one place.

Developer previews of iOS 26 are available starting today, with public betas set for July and the official release scheduled for September 2025.