iOS 26: Liquid Glass, Live Translation & the New Features That Will Change Your iPhone
Hello, iPhone users If you love your device already, get ready to fall in love all over again Apple’s iOS 26 update—packed with stunning visuals, smarter tools, and exciting experiences—is on the way Whether or not the iPhone 17 brings new hardware, this software upgrade alone promises to make your phone feel fresh, welcoming, and deeply personal.
Let’s dive into iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design, Live Translation, redesigned apps, and a host of features built to make your everyday tasks simpler and more expressive.
Liquid Glass: A Design Reimagined
This year’s flagship change is the Liquid Glass design language Apple introduced at WWDC 2025 Inspired by vision OS, this aesthetic replaces iOS’s decade-old flat style with translucent, glass-like visuals that respond dynamically to light, motion, and content.
You’ll unlock new home screen modes beyond just Light or Dark—like All Clear, where your icons appear as pure glass with no color. Lock screens now feature 3D spatial scenes powered by machine learning, giving your wallpapers a depth and movement never seen before.
A Lock Screen That Adapts to You
With Liquid Glass, interface elements truly feel alive. Imagine time digits stretching or shrinking as your wallpaper shifts or notifications arrive And widgets and docks now float above the background in softly rounded glassy panels.
Camera & Photos Apps Simplified
iOS 26 brings an extreme minimalist makeover to the Camera app Instead of cluttered modes and hidden menus, you now see just two primary options: Photo or Video Swipe sideways to access modes like Cinematic or Pano, swipe up for settings like aspect ratio and timers.
The Photos app also receives a welcome redesign with a bottom Liquid Glass menu and tabs that separate your library from collections—making it easier to find and enjoy your memories.
A Phone App That Puts You in Control
Apple’s Phone app receives powerful features with Call Screening and Hold Assist. Now your iPhone can ask unknown callers to identify themselves before the phone rings, and it alerts you the moment someone picks up during hold & Spam filtering and smarter call hold controls put you in the driver’s seat like never before.
Live Translation & Apple Intelligence in Action
Though broader Siri updates are paused, Apple Intelligence steps up in iOS 26 with breakthrough tools like Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime, and Messages. Supported languages include Spanish, German, French, and Portuguese—and it’s all done via on-device AI for privacy.
Other smart enhancements include Visual Intelligence that turns screenshots into searchable items—for example, capturing a movie poster and instantly finding showtimes.
Bonus Features You’ll Love
iOS 26 adds a Games app that keeps your favorite titles, achievements, updates, and leaderboards all in one place. It also introduces Adaptive Power Mode—a gentle battery saver that adjusts brightness and performance without halting background tasks or intruding on your experience.
How to Try iOS 26 Now: Public Beta Is Live
If you can’t wait until fall to experience the redesign and new tools, you’re in luck Apple has released the public beta of iOS 26 (as of July 24), and it’s compatible with iPhone 11 and newer models.
To try it, sign up at Apple’s Beta Software Program, then go to Settings → General → Software Update → Beta Updates Keep in mind this is pre release software so bugs and changes are expected—and backing up is smart.
User Feedback & Refinements So Far
Feedback on Liquid Glass has been mixed Some praised its beauty while others found it too transparent or hard to read, especially in beta versions Apple has listened and tweaked the translucency, contrast, and navigation clarity in recent beta releases .
With each new beta, Apple has refined the interface—which suggests iOS 26’s final version will balance aesthetics with usability.
Why iOS 26 Matters Now
This update isn’t just about looks—it’s about creating a more personal, intuitive, and capable smartphone experience iOS 26 feels emotional, expressive, and ahead of its time It’s Apple preparing us for the next decade of design, interactions, and daily tech that feels alive.
Whether you upgrade your device later or wait for the full public release in fall, know that your iPhone is about to feel more thoughtful, more beautiful, and more you than ever before.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only It is based on publicly available beta releases of iOS 26 and does not serve as official guidance from Apple Features and design may change before the final fall release Please back up your device before installing beta software and use official channels for updates.This article is for informational purposes only It is based on publicly available beta releases of iOS 26 and does not serve as official guidance from Apple Features and design may change before the final fall release Please back up your device before installing beta software and use official channels for updates.
Also Read
