What’s New in iOS 26? Apple’s Biggest UI Overhaul and AI Features Unveiled at WWDC 2025

On June 10, 2025, Apple held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) and announced the next generation of its operating systems, including iOS 26, iPadOS updates, and new AI capabilities.

iOS 26 – A Major Visual Refresh

Apple renamed the upcoming iOS version from iOS 19 to iOS 26, aligning the version numbers across all its devices. The most striking change is the new “Liquid Glass” design language, which gives the UI a translucent, glass‑like appearance. Apple even created physical app icons to showcase the effect.

The redesign touches the entire system: lock‑screen clocks now stretch to match the current wallpaper, and the new clock animation is shown below.

The Camera app has been simplified to two primary buttons (photo and video) with additional modes accessible by swiping. The Gallery app now separates “Albums” and “Collections,” allowing users to browse all photos freely.

AI enhancements include automatic depth detection that converts photos into “spatial photos” with 3‑D effects, and a new Foundation Models Framework that lets developers invoke Apple’s large language models directly on the device, eliminating the need for external APIs.

These AI features run offline, but the China‑specific version of Apple AI is still unavailable, and Apple did not mention a personalized Siri AI this year.

Devices that can upgrade to iOS 26 include iPhone Xs, Xs Max, and Xr, which will no longer receive updates.

iPadOS – Multi‑Window and File Management

iPadOS receives a major usability boost with true multi‑window support, including the familiar macOS red‑yellow‑green window controls when hovering over the sidebar.

A Finder‑style file manager is introduced, allowing users to browse files, apply tags, and organize folders directly on the iPad.

While still not as feature‑rich as macOS, these changes signal Apple’s intent to blur the line between tablets and traditional computers.

Getting the Beta

Interested users can download the Apple Developer app, accept the terms, and enroll in the beta program via Settings. Note that beta versions may contain bugs, so backing up data is essential.

Data source: Apple; images: various online sources.