is a news editor covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme.
Apple recently announced iOS 26, the next major software update for iPhones, and it’s packed with a whole bunch of new features. The biggest change is a new design, but there are lots of smaller improvements and additions as well that could make a difference in how you use your iPhone every day.
If you want to kick the tires before the update’s wider release this fall, you can try it now in a public beta. Here’s a bit more detail on what you can expect from iOS 26 when you install it on your device.
A refreshed design across the OS
Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge
Apple has a new design language called “Liquid Glass” that it’s being introduced across all of the company’s devices, not just the iPhone. It’s inspired by the visionOS software used with Apple’s Vision Pro headset, and it features a lot of translucency that Apple says “behaves like glass in the real world.” On-screen elements now use “real-time rendering” that lets them react to movement with highlights and color shifts.
I initially thought Liquid Glass was a wild change to my iPhone with some glaring problems, and Apple has tweaked the glassiness through the developer betas. Still, when you first boot up your phone on iOS 26 for the first time, it’s going to feel a little jarring.
Messages is getting better for group chats
Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge
In Messages, iOS 26 is adding a lot of updates that could significantly improve group chats. You’ll be able to customize the background of a chat to give it more personality. To help make group decisions or get an opinion on something, you can create polls. And, at long last, Apple is adding typing indicators to group chats, which should make them feel more lively.
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