In an effort to give iPhone users a preview of what’s coming later this year, Apple has officially released the first public beta of iOS 26, its next-generation mobile operating system. This beta version introduces a bold new visual overhaul and a range of AI-powered features designed to push the iPhone experience into a more intelligent, intuitive, and personalized future.
The standout feature of iOS 26 is its innovative and futuristic “Liquid Glass” design. With this update, Apple completely reimagines the iOS user interface, giving it a livelier and more visually immersive feel. UI elements now resemble polished glass, appearing more layered, fluid, and subtly translucent. Buttons, menus, in-app navigation, and notifications reflect this new aesthetic, making every interaction feel smoother and more refined.
This fresh design language extends system-wide, from the Lock Screen and Control Center to essential apps like Safari, Phone, Camera, Music, and more. Users can now customize their app icons with a glassy, translucent finish, adding a new level of visual consistency. The lock screen also receives a major upgrade, featuring a 3D photo effect and a dynamic clock that adjusts subtly based on your wallpaper and the time of day, bringing motion and depth to what was once a static space.
However, iOS 26 doesn’t just impress with looks. Apple strengthens usability with new AI-based capabilities that aim to make the iPhone smarter in everyday tasks. One of the most impressive additions is the Live Translation feature, which translates conversations in real time across FaceTime, Messages, and phone calls. This makes communicating with people who speak other languages feel far more natural and fluid.
Apple also introduces AI-powered shortcuts that adapt to your behavior and predict your next action, saving you time with contextual suggestions. In group chats, the Messages app now uses AI to generate poll suggestions automatically, streamlining coordination and group decision-making. Browsing also gets a powerful boost through Visual Intelligence, which lets you search for images while scrolling and instantly surfaces contextually relevant results.
Beyond the visual and AI enhancements, Apple improves several key apps with useful new features. The all-new dedicated gaming app offers a centralized place to discover, play, and manage your favorite titles, finally giving mobile gamers a cleaner experience. The Phone app now includes Call Screening, prompting unknown callers to state their name and reason before you decide to answer. Hold Assist alerts you when hold music ends, signaling that a live agent is ready to speak.
Apple also makes smaller, meaningful updates across the system. Users can now customize alarm snooze times, enjoy new features in Genmoji and Image Playground, and experience subtle enhancements in Camera, Photos, and Maps.
While the idea of early access is exciting, Apple strongly recommends backing up your device before installing the beta, as these builds may still carry bugs or performance issues. That said, iOS 26 offers a stunning combination of visual polish, intelligent tools, and user-first design. For tech enthusiasts eager to explore what’s next, this release marks a bold step forward, and it’s only the beginning.
