![\"iOS](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/iOS-26-Mock-Rainbow-Feature.jpg\")
iOS 26<\/a> is definitely the OS that we’ve heard the most about, and rumors suggest that it’s going to get a major design overhaul. We’ve highlighted everything we know below.<\/p>\n
Naming<\/p>\n
iOS 18<\/a> is not going to iOS 19, with Apple instead opting to change the numbering for its software updates. Instead, we’re going to get \u200ciOS 26\u200c, which will be released alongside iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.<\/p>\n Design Updates<\/p>\n \u200ciOS 26\u200c is going to get a major design revamp<\/a>, adopting some visual elements from the visionOS operating system. Inside Apple, the design project is referred to as “Solarium,” which hints at what we can expect.<\/p>\n visionOS has a translucent interface to allow people to see their surroundings in AR or VR while also interacting with app menus and windows. visionOS windows blend into the background for an unobtrusive look, and on the iPhone<\/a>, Apple could adopt the same translucent focus to let content shine through.<\/p>\n \u200ciOS 26\u200c is also expected to get some of the floating on-screen windows and menus that are used in visionOS, with rounded pop-up navigation and menu bars that float above the content on the display. Apple could use shading, shadowing, and subtle lighting effects to give buttons and other interface elements a slight lift.<\/p>\n App icons could be rounder, and notifications, menus in apps, search bars, card-style interfaces, and other parts of the iOS user interface could have more rounded corners than we’re used to. The floating navigation bars are expected to be pill-shaped, for example.<\/p>\n \u200ciOS 26\u200c has been described as having a glossy or glass-like look, which is also how visionOS looks. Apple’s WWDC 2025<\/a> teaser images feature a frosted glass rainbow with soft colors, and those images might hint at what’s coming. Apple could use a soft, frosted glass style across \u200ciOS 26\u200c.<\/p>\n Mockups that are allegedly based on real \u200ciOS 26\u200c designs were shared earlier this year by Front Page Tech<\/a>, demonstrating some of the design changes that might be in store.<\/p>\n Newer Apple apps like Apple Sports and Invites have simpler, translucent interface elements with expanding buttons, and could also serve as an example of the design language Apple is debuting in \u200ciOS 26\u200c.<\/p>\n Apple is planning to overhaul its built-in apps with the updated design, though some will get bigger refreshes than others. Apple will also provide developers with design guidelines and assets so that third-party apps can adopt the new aesthetic as well.<\/p>\n Navigation Simplification and Streamlining<\/p>\n Along with a new look, Apple is also going to streamline navigation options in \u200ciOS 26\u200c. Apple is tweaking menus, buttons, and navigation to make the operating system simpler to learn and navigate.<\/p>\n Some of the design and interface changes will also extend to macOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS, improving design consistency and navigation across Apple’s operating systems.<\/p>\n Apple Intelligence Features<\/p>\n There are several new Apple Intelligence<\/a> features that are expected in \u200ciOS 26\u200c.<\/p>\n AI Battery Management<\/p>\n An AI-powered battery management feature<\/a> will analyze how you use your \u200ciPhone\u200c and make adjustments to maximize battery life. The option will be able to limit the power draw of apps and other system features based on device usage.<\/p>\n Battery management will be particularly useful for the iPhone 17 Air<\/a> that will have a smaller battery than other iPhones, but it will be available on iPhones that are able to run \u200ciOS 26\u200c.<\/p>\n Shortcuts App<\/p>\n Apple plans to update the Shortcuts app<\/a> with \u200cApple Intelligence\u200c, allowing users to create actions that use \u200cApple Intelligence\u200c models. With this functionality, Shortcuts could be easier to use, with even casual users able to create useful shortcuts using natural language.<\/p>\n Google Gemini<\/p>\n Apple and Google are close to establishing a deal<\/a> that will add Google Gemini to the \u200ciPhone\u200c as an alternative to ChatGPT, and that’s a feature that we’ll likely see in \u200ciOS 26\u200c. Google Gemini would integrate with Siri<\/a> like ChatGPT, with \u200cSiri\u200c able to hand requests over to Gemini for more in-depth AI-powered answers.<\/p>\n Siri<\/p>\n We’re still waiting<\/a> on all of the \u200cApple Intelligence\u200c personalized \u200cSiri\u200c features that Apple debuted at WWDC 2024. Those updates are expected to come at some point in \u200ciOS 26\u200c, but they may not be ready for the launch version of the software. If the functionality isn’t ready to go, Apple isn’t going to mention it at \u200cWWDC 2025\u200c to avoid further embarrassment.<\/p>\n Here’s what’s coming, eventually:<\/p>\n Gaming App<\/p>\n Apple has a new gaming app planned, and it’ll replace Game Center and add more functionality than ever before. It’s going to house the games section of the App Store<\/a>, so you’ll be able to find and launch games from one convenient gaming-centric spot.<\/p>\n The app is also expected to feature communication options for connecting with other players, in-game achievements, editorial content and recommendations, and leaderboards.<\/p>\n New Features for Existing Apps<\/p>\n Rumors suggest that there are several new features coming to existing Apple apps.<\/p>\n AirPods Live Translate<\/p>\n With an AirPods firmware update, an \u200ciOS 26\u200c feature will allow the AirPods to translate in-person conversations<\/a> from one language to another. If an English speaker with AirPods is conversing with someone who is speaking Spanish, the \u200ciPhone\u200c will detect the audio, translate the speech, and relay it back in English to the AirPods wearer.<\/p>\n Connectivity<\/p>\n Apple is adding a new feature that will synchronize<\/a> captive Wi-Fi portal login information across devices, so you’ll only need to enter login details for a captive Wi-Fi network once, and it’ll be available on all of your Apple products. Captive networks are common in hotels, airports, coffee shops, and other locations with shared or paid internet options.<\/p>\n Apple might also make it easier<\/a> for \u200ciPhone\u200c users to transfer an eSIM to an Android smartphone.<\/p>\n Health App<\/p>\n There’s a new Health app coming, but it might not be ready when \u200ciOS 26\u200c launches, so Apple might not be planning to unveil it just yet. The revamped app will apparently offer AI-powered health coating features with personalized health recommendations.<\/p>\n There may also be new food tracking functionality that would allow users to keep track of their calorie intake each day.<\/p>\n Stage Manager<\/p>\n There’s a possibility that Apple will add a Stage Manager<\/a> feature for \u200ciPhone\u200c models that have a USB-C port, with the feature activating when an \u200ciPhone\u200c is connected to an external display over USB-C.<\/p>\n \u200cStage Manager\u200c would allow multiple apps to be opened at once, offering a more Mac-like experience when an \u200ciPhone\u200c is used with a display.<\/p>\n Accessibility Features<\/p>\n Apple previewed new Accessibility features coming to \u200ciOS 26\u200c earlier this year, and there are some interesting new additions.<\/p>\n iPadOS 26<\/p>\n iPadOS 26 is going to get the same design updates that are coming to the \u200ciPhone\u200c, so it will have the same glass-like, translucent look.<\/p>\n Apple is also rumored to be working on adding new features<\/a> that will make the iPad<\/a> experience more like using a Mac, introducing improved productivity, new multitasking features, and expanded window management options.<\/p>\n iPadOS 26 may have a Mac-like menu bar when connected to a Magic Keyboard, plus Apple is adding a new reed calligraphy pen option for Apple Pencil<\/a> users that need to write Arabic script.<\/p>\n Compatibility<\/p>\n Rumors suggest that \u200ciOS 26\u200c will not be available on the \u200ciPhone\u200c XR, \u200ciPhone\u200c XS, or the \u200ciPhone\u200c XS Max, but it will run on all other iPhones that support \u200ciOS 18\u200c.<\/p>\n While these iPhones will support \u200ciOS 26\u200c, advanced features may be limited to newer iPhones with faster processors. \u200cApple Intelligence\u200c in \u200ciOS 18\u200c, for example, only runs on the \u200ciPhone 15\u200c Pro and the \u200ciPhone 16\u200c models.<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n More info on all of the rumored features that we know about so far can be found in our iOS 26 roundup<\/a>.<\/p>\n WWDC 2025 Keynote<\/p>\n Apple’s \u200cWWDC 2025\u200c keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple will live stream the event on its website, on YouTube, and in the TV app.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"iOS](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/iOS-19-to-26-Thumb-2.jpg\")
The “26” in the name marks the September 2025 to September 2026 release season for \u200ciOS 26\u200c. Next year we’ll get iOS 27, then iOS 28, and so on. All software updates now share the same year number, which makes it easier to keep new releases straight.<\/p>\n![\"iOS](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/iOS-19-visionOS-UI-Elements.jpg\")
A solarium is an all-glass room that’s designed to let in sunlight, and rumors suggest that \u200ciOS 26\u200c will adopt a more translucent, glass-inspired aesthetic.<\/p>\n![\"Alleged](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Alleged-iOS-19-Camera-App-Render.jpg\")
A render of \u200ciOS 26\u200c’s alleged redesigned Camera app, from Front Page Tech
A mockup of the Camera app, for example, has translucent pop-out menus that better blend into the background to put the focus on the images.<\/p>\n![\"apple](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/apple-invites-screenshots.jpg\")
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