iOS 26 Public Beta Is Here: Apple’s Biggest iPhone Glow-Up in Years

Apple just dropped the iOS 26 Public Beta, and let me tell you, it’s not just another year of small tweaks. This one looks different, feels different, and packs some seriously smart upgrades under the hood.

Whether you’re here for the fresh coat of translucent paint, the AI-powered features, or just want to know what’s changing before September, here’s your full breakdown of everything you need to know about iOS 26.

First, Why Is It Called iOS 26?

If you’re wondering why Apple skipped from iOS 18 to iOS 26, here’s the deal: Apple’s now unifying its software version numbers across platforms to match the calendar year. So iOS 26 will carry through 2026, just like watchOS 26, macOS 26, and so on. It’s cleaner, easier to remember, and probably saved Apple’s dev team from a few late-night typo disasters.

First Impressions: A Visual Overhaul Called Liquid Glass

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: iOS 26 looks wild.

Apple’s calling it “Liquid Glass,” and it’s a massive UI refresh, the boldest since iOS 7.

Translucent menus and buttons are now the default
Navigation bars blur dynamically depending on background content
App icons and widgets have a glassy, layered feel
Animations are more fluid, playful, and reactive to your touch
Round corners everywhere, yes, even the keyboard got softer

In short, this redesign makes using your iPhone feel more alive.

Alan Dye (VP of Human Interface) calls Liquid Glass “an entirely new material… combining the optical qualities of glass with a fluidity only Apple can achieve.”

But Is It Usable?

That’s been the debate. Early betas went all-in on transparency, but some users complained it made text and buttons hard to read. Apple walked it back in beta 3. Then brought it partway back in beta 4 (which powers the public beta).

Right now, Liquid Glass is more readable but still looks stunning. It’s a decent balance, but legibility on light backgrounds still needs work.

Would a transparency slider fix it? 100%. Fingers crossed for the final release.

What’s Actually New Beyond the Looks?

Redesigned Core Apps

Phone App: Combines Favorites, Recents, Voicemails in one tab. Includes Call Screening, Hold Assist, and SharePlay during calls. You can switch back to the old layout too.
Messages App: Set custom conversation backgrounds (static, photo-based, or AI-generated). Now includes polls, group typing indicators, and Apple Cash in group threads. Message filtering also gets better with new spam controls.
Camera App: Totally reworked UI. Swipe gestures now control photo/video modes. You can even snap a pic using your AirPods’ stem.
Photos App: Now has two tabs, Library and Collections. Includes spatial photo effects, event tagging, and layout customization.
Apple Music: The AutoMix DJ feature blends songs together with AI, super smooth. Also adds lyrics translation, lyrics pronunciation, and pinning favorite content to the top of your library.

Apple Intelligence: AI, Everywhere

Apple Intelligence is back and more useful than ever, if you’ve got an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. Here’s what’s new:

Live Translation

Works in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone calls.
Translates texts, speech, and captions in real-time.
All processed on-device, meaning it’s fast and private.

Visual Intelligence

Take a screenshot → ask questions about what’s on it.
Automatically adds events from visual content.
Can search Google, Etsy, or ChatGPT based on what you highlight.

Genmoji & Image Playground Upgrades

Combine multiple emoji to generate custom Genmoji.
Adjust expressions, styles, even hairstyles.
Use ChatGPT or Apple’s models to create images in Sketch, Animation, Watercolor, and more.

Shortcuts Get Smarter

Add Apple Intelligence actions like text generation, image creation, or model comparisons.
A new “Use Model” action lets you plug into AI mid-shortcut for personalized automation. (Yes, you can use ChatGPT too.)

Reminders + AI

Automatically suggests tasks from Messages and Mail.
Categorizes reminders smartly without needing setup.

Wallet & Orders

Aggregates purchase and tracking info from Mail.
Still a little buggy, but promising for power users.

CarPlay Gets the Glow-Up Too

CarPlay might not be the first thing you think of when iOS updates roll around—but in iOS 26, it gets a serious glow-up that makes it feel modern, flexible, and more helpful than ever.

Liquid Glass Redesign: Just like on iPhone, CarPlay gets the full Liquid Glass treatment. Think updated icons, blurred panels, and a more cohesive visual experience across screens.
Widgets Support: iOS 26 introduces a brand-new widget screen in CarPlay. You can now pin your favorite iPhone widgets—Weather, Calendar, Home, and more—directly to your CarPlay dashboard. How many you can use depends on your car’s screen size.
Live Activities Integration: For the first time, Live Activities show up in CarPlay just like on your iPhone Lock Screen. Whether it’s tracking a delivery or a sports score, you’ll now get real-time info without taking your eyes off the road.
Smarter Incoming Calls: Instead of hijacking the entire screen, incoming calls now show up as sleek, unobtrusive banners at the bottom. You stay focused, and your drive stays distraction-free.
Smart Display Zoom: This new setting automatically adjusts layout density depending on screen size and visibility. Big screen? More info. Small screen? Cleaner layout.
Video in the Car: A new API lets approved video content play in the car, when parked. It’s opt-in for both developers and carmakers, but it’s a big step toward richer in-car entertainment.
Tapback Support for Messages: You can now react to texts directly from CarPlay using Tapbacks, no need to reach for your phone.
AirPods Handoff: Seamlessly switch from listening on your iPhone to continuing on CarPlay with a tap, thanks to new Handoff support.

Altogether, these changes make CarPlay feel less like a mirrored iPhone, and more like a purpose-built platform with its own personality…

New: Apple Games App

iOS 26 adds a new pre-installed app: Apple Games.

Think of it as a gaming hub where you:

Track scores and leaderboards
Jump into Apple Arcade or App Store titles
Discover game updates and events

Right now, it feels like a slow burn. But the framework is solid if Apple invests in it.

Apple Maps: Smarter Navigation

Preferred Routes: iOS 26 learns your commute and alerts you to delays.
Visited Places: Stores a private history of where you’ve been so you can revisit (or delete) any location.

Compatibility: Is Your iPhone Ready?

iOS 26 runs on devices with an A12 Bionic or newer. That includes:

iOS 26 device compatibility
Here are the devices compatible with iOS 26:
iPhone 16e
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)dels.

Apple Intelligence features require:

A17 or newer
M-series chip (on iPads)

How to Install iOS 26 Public Beta

Go to beta.apple.com on your iPhone
Sign in with your Apple ID
Enroll your device
Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the public beta

Should You Try It?

If you’re into design upgrades, AI features, or just want to test Apple’s most daring iOS update in a decade, yes, this is worth a spin.

But if you rely on your iPhone for work or battery is mission-critical? Might be better to wait until September.

iOS 26 in a Nutshell

Massive visual redesign (Liquid Glass)
Better app layouts + AI features
Live Translation, smarter Reminders, AutoMix for Apple Music
CarPlay refresh + new Apple Games hub
It’s bold, whimsical, and surprisingly usable, even in beta

This is the iOS reboot we’ve been waiting for. The only real question is: Are you ready for it?

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Eric Sandler

Chief Writer at WiFi Planet

Eric Sandler is a veteran US tech writer with over 25 years of experience covering the latest advancements in the world of technology. From groundbreaking innovations to in-depth reviews, Eric has built a reputation for delivering insightful, reliable content. His work spans across a variety of tech topics, including smartphones, gadgets, AI, and more, making him a trusted voice in the industry.