iOS 26 Is Here: Apple Unveils Liquid Glass Design, AI Tools, CarPlay Ultra, and More

Apple has officially launched iOS 26, and it’s the biggest leap in iOS history—both in features and in naming. Yes, Apple jumped from iOS 18 to iOS 26 for a unified naming scheme across its platforms. But the name isn’t the only thing that’s new. This update introduces Liquid Glass, Visual Intelligence, CarPlay Ultra, and powerful AI-powered tools powered by Apple Intelligence.

Liquid Glass: A Bold New Visual Identity

The biggest visual overhaul comes in the form of Liquid Glass, a UI redesign that brings crystal-clear elements, smoother animations, and spatial effects to your iPhone. The Lock Screen, Camera, Photos, and even Safari adopt this look. New spatial wallpapers give a 3D vibe, and the Camera app now has all photo/video settings in one swipeable view.

Messages, FaceTime & Phone Get AI Superpowers

With iOS 26:

Messages has customizable chat backgrounds, group polls, Apple Cash support, and AI-generated visuals.

Live Translation is deeply integrated into Messages, Phone, and FaceTime, with real-time translated captions and on-device processing.

Call Screening and Hold Assist make phone calls smarter by blocking spam and managing hold times with businesses.

Voicemail Summaries now let you read your voicemails quickly.

CarPlay and CarPlay Ultra Go All In

CarPlay now reflects the Liquid Glass redesign, offering widgets, Live Activities, and compact notification popups. CarPlay Ultra, announced earlier with Aston Martin, expands Apple’s interface across all car displays—even the speedometer—and includes control for climate and media systems.

Visual Intelligence + ChatGPT Integration

Apple’s Visual Intelligence takes screen recognition further:

Search anything on screen by taking a screenshot, then use the Ask or Image Search tools.

Extracts text, recognizes dates, and suggests calendar actions.

Deep integration with ChatGPT helps explain and interact with on-screen content.

More Highlights in iOS 26:

Apple Music: Translated lyrics, pronunciation guides, 3D album art on lock screen, AutoMix transitions, and Music Pins.

New Games App: Your one-stop hub for gaming—includes Arcade, social play, events, and direct launch options.

Apple Maps: Learns your routes, adapts to travel patterns, and now includes a Visited Places feature.

Wallet: New boarding pass layout with airport maps, flight sharing, and enhanced tracking.

iOS 26 Rollout Timeline

Developer Beta: Available today

Public Beta: July 2025

Stable Release: Fall 2025