The 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference is coming up quick, with less than a week to go before the big keynote event. We're sharing a series of rumor recaps this week, for those who want to get a sneak peek at some of the features expected in Apple's upcoming software updates.
iOS 26 is definitely the OS that we've heard the most about, and rumors suggest that it's going to get a major design overhaul. We've highlighted everything we know below.
Naming
iOS 18 is not going to iOS 19, with Apple instead opting to change the numbering for its software updates. Instead, we're going to get iOS 26, which will be released alongside iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
The "26" in the name marks the September 2025 to September 2026 release season for iOS 26. Next year we'll get iOS 27, then iOS 28, and so on. All software updates now share the same year number, which makes it easier to keep new releases straight.
Design Updates
iOS 26 is going to get a major design revamp, adopting some visual elements from the visionOS operating system. Inside Apple, the design project is referred to as "Solarium," which hints at what we can expect.
A solarium is an all-glass room that's designed to let in sunlight, and rumors suggest that iOS 26 will adopt a more translucent, glass-inspired aesthetic.
visionOS has a translucent interface to allow people to see their surroundings in AR or VR while also interacting with app menus and windows. visionOS windows blend into the background for an unobtrusive look, and on the iPhone, Apple could adopt the same translucent focus to let content shine through.
iOS 26 is also expected to get some of the floating on-screen windows and menus that are used in visionOS, with rounded pop-up navigation and menu bars that float above the content on the display. Apple could use shading, shadowing, and subtle lighting effects to give buttons and other interface elements a slight lift.
App icons could be rounder, and notifications, menus in apps, search bars, card-style interfaces, and other parts of the iOS user interface could have more rounded corners than we're used to. The floating navigation bars are expected to be pill-shaped, for example.
iOS 26 has been described as having a glossy or glass-like look, which is also how visionOS looks. Apple's WWDC 2025 teaser images feature a frosted glass rainbow with soft colors, and those images might hint at what's coming. Apple could use a soft, frosted glass style across iOS 26.
Mockups that are allegedly based on real iOS 26 designs were shared earlier this year by Front Page Tech, demonstrating some of the design changes that might be in store.
A mockup of the Camera app, for example, has translucent pop-out menus that better blend into the background to put the focus on the images.
Newer Apple apps like Apple Sports and Invites have simpler, translucent interface elements with expanding buttons, and could also serve as an example of the design language Apple is debuting in iOS 26.
Apple is planning to overhaul its built-in apps with the updated design, though some will get bigger refreshes than others. Apple will also provide developers with design guidelines and assets so that third-party apps can adopt the new aesthetic as well.
Navigation Simplification and Streamlining
Along with a new look, Apple is also going to streamline navigation options in iOS 26. Apple is tweaking menus, buttons, and navigation to make the operating system simpler to learn and navigate.
Some of the design and interface changes will also extend to macOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS, improving design consistency and navigation across Apple's operating systems.
Apple Intelligence Features
There are several new Apple Intelligence features that are expected in iOS 26.
AI Battery Management
An AI-powered battery management feature will analyze how you use your iPhone and make adjustments to maximize battery life. The option will be able to limit the power draw of apps and other system features based on device usage.
Battery management will be particularly useful for the iPhone 17 Air that will have a smaller battery than other iPhones, but it will be available on iPhones that are able to run iOS 26.
Shortcuts App
Apple plans to update the Shortcuts app with Apple Intelligence, allowing users to create actions that use Apple Intelligence models. With this functionality, Shortcuts could be easier to use, with even casual users able to create useful shortcuts using natural language.
Google Gemini
Apple and Google are close to establishing a deal that will add Google Gemini to the iPhone as an alternative to ChatGPT, and that's a feature that we'll likely see in iOS 26. Google Gemini would integrate with Siri like ChatGPT, with Siri able to hand requests over to Gemini for more in-depth AI-powered answers.
Siri
We're still waiting on all of the Apple Intelligence personalized Siri features that Apple debuted at WWDC 2024. Those updates are expected to come at some point in iOS 26, but they may not be ready for the launch version of the software. If the functionality isn't ready to go, Apple isn't going to mention it at WWDC 2025 to avoid further embarrassment.
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Article Link: iOS 26: All the New Features We Expect
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