Apple’s next big software upgrade is official. At WWDC 2025, Apple announced that iOS 26 will be rolled out later this year, introducing a sleek new design language and a slow but steady embrace of artificial intelligence. The official iOS 26 release date is expected in September 2025, in line with the launch of the new iPhone lineup.
Unlike its competitors who are charging head-first into AI, Apple is taking a more design-focused approach. The standout visual update in iOS 26 is something Apple is calling “liquid glass”, a translucent, fluid interface that transforms app icons, menus, and tabs into sleek, semi-transparent panels. It’s a noticeable shift that gives the OS a futuristic, minimalist feel.
Safari is getting a glow-up too. The web browser now supports full-page views where the tab bar hides as you scroll, and core controls shrink into a floating circle that expands on tap. The design moves away from clutter and toward a cleaner, more immersive browsing experience.
But iOS 26 isn’t just about looks. Apple is also (finally) leaning into AI, but in its own, measured way. The update introduces Apple Intelligence, a system-level AI integration that enables third-party apps to offer natural language functions without relying on cloud processing. For example, apps like AllTrails will let you type, “Find a family-friendly trail with waterfalls under 3 miles,” and get a curated list instantly.
One of the bigger surprises: Apple is scrapping sequential numbering and adopting a new naming system for iOS based on fiscal years. That’s why what might have been iOS 19 is now being called iOS 26, aligning with the 2026 fiscal year.
So far, beta testing is expected to begin by late June, with developer versions already in circulation. The public beta typically rolls out in July, with general availability coming around mid-September, usually just after Apple’s keynote unveiling of its next iPhone model.
Apple’s strategy here is clear. Rather than racing competitors like Google and Amazon in the AI arms race, it’s focused on building features that feel integrated, intentional, and useful, not just flashy. Still, critics wonder if the company is playing catch-up, especially when rivals are embedding AI deeper into daily use cases, from virtual assistants to dynamic search and planning.
For iPhone users, the question will be whether the refined aesthetics and modest AI tweaks feel like enough of a leap forward. For now, Apple is betting that what people want isn’t more tech, but better tech.a
