Apple has redefined a new era in iOS 26 software design. Building on powerful advancements in hardware, silicon, and graphics, Apple now has the foundation for the next chapter of software.
At WWDC25 on 9 June 2025, Apple unveiled its most comprehensive design update ever. The first time, they introduced a universal design system across all platforms. This unified language creates a seamless experience as you move between devices while still respecting what makes each one unique.
WWDC25: iOS 26 Unveiled by Apple
iOS 26 redefines iPhone experience with Liquid Glass, smarter apps, and a stunning new design. Take a closer look here.
1. A New Look with Liquid Glass
Apple introduced a new expressive material: Liquid Glass. Liquid Glass adapts dynamically to your content and context. It reflects light, reacts to motion, and enhances both navigation and controls. It creates a new sense of vitality across the entire interface. Elements are now more concentric, beautifully aligning with the rounded corners of hardware. Liquid Glass intelligently responds to light and dark environments and morphs based on interaction, like expanding to show more options or receding as you scroll.
Every interaction feels more natural. Alerts appear where you tap. Context menus flow open. Tab bars shrink while you scroll and reappear when you need them. Even Control Center and notifications now feel more fluid and responsive with Liquid Glass design.
The latest design with Liquid Glass is delightful, beautiful, and instantly familiar. App icons, crafted in layers of Liquid Glass, look stunning in both light and dark mode and in new visual styles, including a striking all-clear look. Widgets and the Dock follow suit, giving you even more ways to personalize your experience.
2. Lock Screen and Home Screen
The lock screen now features time and controls made of liquid glass. Swiping up to the Home Screen reveals a dynamic, glass-edged transition.
App icons remain familiar but feel fresh, responsive, and adaptive. Wallpapers are more dynamic too. Using Photo Shuffle, time and text now adapt fluidly to the space around your image. Advanced computer vision also transforms 2D photos into immersive spatial scenes, bringing your favorite memories to life with real-time motion as you tilt your phone.
And when playing music, a beautiful new album artwork animation interacts seamlessly with Liquid Glass playback controls. These are our most expressive lock and home screens yet.
3. A Smarter Camera, A Smarter Experience
iOS 26 brings a redesigned Camera app that is simplified, more intuitive, and focused on what you use most: photos and videos. Swiping left or right gives access to other modes, while a swipe up reveals settings like aspect ratio or timer.
Switching formats is easier, too, with quick access to options like 4K. And in the Photos app, they have brought back tabs, making it easier to browse your Library, Albums, and Favorites. The 3D spatial photo effect from the Lock Screen is also available here, so you can relive your moments in a whole new way.
4. Safari
Now it flows edge-to-edge, maximizing what you see. The redesigned tab bar floats with frequently used actions like search and refresh. As you scroll, it recedes, putting your content first.
5. FaceTime
FaceTime gains floating controls and a redesigned landing page with animated Contact Posters and video messages.
6. CarPlay
The new design carries over for a consistent, expressive experience across your car’s displays. CarPlay Ultra is a breakthrough experience with multi-screen layouts, deep vehicle integration, and dynamic controls for music, climate, and more. It’s rolling out now, with more automakers joining soon.
7. Phone and Messages: More Useful, More Personal
The Phone app now features a unified layout combining Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails, keeping what you need front and center. New Call Screening helps filter unknown callers with real-time transcriptions before your phone even rings. And Hold Assist can take over while you wait on hold, alerting you when a live agent is available.
In Messages, they are making group chats more expressive and interactive. Add custom background or AI-generated content and use polls to coordinate with friends. Send and receive Apple Cash directly in group chats. And yes, typing indicators in group chats are finally here. You will also get new spam detection tools and controls to screen unknown senders, ensuring only the messages you want make it to your inbox.
8. More Fun with Emojis and Images
Now with the help of Apple Intelligence, you can mix two emojis or blend emojis with text to create Genmoji, like a sloth + light bulb or a woman + microphone + sequined jacket. You can adjust expressions and hairstyles, too. In Image Playground, use ChatGPT to create personalized images in new styles like oil painting or request custom styles. Developers can add this via the Image Playground API.
9. Live Translation Across Communication Apps
Live Translation helps you speak and understand different languages in real-time through Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, all this done for you – Apple Intelligence. It works on-device, keeping conversations private. Translate texts as you type, hear translated voice on calls, and use translated captions during FaceTime. Developers can add this with a new API.
10. Apple Music Gets Smarter
Apple Music adds lyrics translation and pronunciation for better understanding and sing-alongs. AutoMix uses AI to smoothly blend songs. You can now pin favorite artists, albums, or playlists for quicker access.
11. Smarter Maps for Everyday Routines
iPhone learns your preferred routes and shows them in Maps. With the Maps widget, get real-time commute updates and alternate routes. Visited Places helps you recall and share places you’ve been, with privacy built in via end-to-end encryption.
12. Wallet for Easier Daily Use
Car keys now work with more automakers. You can create a Digital ID with your U.S. passport for travel. Boarding passes now offer airport maps and flight tracking. Apple Pay allows point redemption and installments in-store. Wallet also summarizes order tracking using Apple Intelligence.
13. All-in-One Games App
The new Games app shows updates, events, and recommendations on the Home tab. Apple Arcade and all downloaded games are in one place. The Play Together tab shows what friends are playing. The new Challenges feature allows score-based competitions built on Game Center.
14. Visual Intelligence on Screen and Camera
Visual Intelligence helps you act on what you see, search similar items, add events, or ask questions with ChatGPT. Just use the screenshot gesture to access tools. Works in any app or with your iPhone camera. Developers can integrate their app content using App Intents.
