Apple has announced that iOS 26, the next major update for iPhones, will be released globally on September 15, 2025. This update will be available as a free upgrade for many compatible devices and comes with a host of new features, design changes, and performance improvements aimed at enriching the user experience.
What’s New in iOS 26
One of the most visible changes is the introduction of a new design language called Liquid Glass. This aesthetic revamp features more translucency, refined visual effects, and smoother UI elements—buttons, search bars, and menus have been reshaped with glass-like textures that subtly reveal what lies behind them. The goal appears to be not just to refresh the look but to make navigation feel more immersive and visually consistent.
Beyond looks, iOS 26 delivers enhancements powered by Apple’s growing AI toolkit. Key functions like Live Translation will make it easier to communicate across different languages right from your Messages or during FaceTime. The Camera, Phone, and Messages apps are getting upgrades too—updates include a redesigned interface, call-screening enhancements, richer chat features (such as polls and custom backgrounds), and a new Games app consolidating gaming features in one place.
Who Gets the Update – & Who Doesn’t
Most modern iPhones will be eligible for iOS 26, including all models released in recent years with modern chipsets. However, the update will not support iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max—models that launched in 2018 and use the older A12 chip. These devices will miss out on the new design, feature set, and likely some security updates.
Rollout & Testing
Apple has already released the Release Candidate version of iOS 26 to developers and public testers, which is generally identical to what the public will get on launch day. Testing so far has focused on stabilizing performance, refining visual transitions like those in Liquid Glass, and squashing bugs before full release.
What You Should Do
If your iPhone is compatible and you’re eager to try iOS 26, back up your device ahead of time. On September 15, head to Settings → General → Software Update to download and install. Be aware that immediately after launch, servers might be busy, so expect delays. If your device is among those excluded, it may still receive security patches—but major new features and visuals will remain off-limits.