By Michelle Ndaga
Apple has released iOS 26, its latest operating system for iPhones, featuring a bold redesign and major intelligence upgrades. The update, rolled out globally on September 15, 2025, is available for devices running on the A13 Bionic chip and newer, meaning the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR are no longer supported.
A central feature of iOS 26 is the “Liquid Glass” design, which introduces translucent, glass-like elements, redesigned icons, fluid animations, and an overhauled interface for the Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center.
Apple says the refresh delivers a more modern and immersive user experience.
The update also enhances Apple Intelligence, bringing live translation across texts and calls, smarter visual recognition, and an improved magnifier tool for precise text editing. Accessibility has been expanded with new Braille options and motion cues to assist a wider range of users.
Several core apps received key updates:
- Messages now supports polls and custom backgrounds.
- Phone adds stronger call filtering and queue management.
- A new Games app consolidates gaming in one place.
- CarPlay, Wallet, and Maps received security and usability improvements.
