Apple iOS 26: Biggest Visual Update in Years with New “Liquid Glass” Look
At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in Cupertino, Apple rolled out a major revamp of its software lineup, introducing the biggest design update in years. The new aesthetic, called Liquid Glass, brings a sleek, translucent, and interactive design across iPhones, iPads, and Macs. While the visual refresh and new features impressed many, some on Wall Street noted that Apple still hasn’t delivered the kind of bold AI advancements seen from competitors like Google and Microsoft.
Wondering what’s new in iOS 26 update? Apple has introduced its most striking visual overhaul and functional upgrades in years.
iOS 26: Smarter, More Personalized for iPhone
Apple’s new iOS 26 (renamed to match the year 2026) introduces several notable updates:
- Redesigned Lock & Home Screens – Notifications now adjust to your background, avoiding key parts of your wallpaper.
- Upgrades to Safari and Camera – Safari now stretches content to the edges, and switching modes in the Camera app is faster than ever.
- Smarter Phone and Messages Apps – Your iPhone can tell when you’re on hold, and Messages now supports background themes and in-line polls.
- Apple Intelligence Features – New AI tools include live call translations, auto-suggested polls, and a Visual Search that lets you screenshot something—like a jacket or event poster—and either shop for similar items or add a calendar event.
- New Games App – A centralized place for multiplayer games, friend challenges, and tracking your favorites.
This Apple iOS 26 features list highlights everything from new design elements to smarter communication tools powered by Apple Intelligence AI features.
The live call translation iPhone feature is a step forward for real-time global communication.
The new Visual Search iPhone screenshot tool lets users snap a photo of a product or poster and instantly search for it online or create a related event.
Curious about the differences? Here’s a complete iOS 26 vs iOS 17 comparison.
iPadOS 26: A Real Laptop Replacement?
The latest iPad software brings major multitasking improvements, positioning the iPad more seriously as a laptop alternative:
- Resizable, Movable App Windows – You now get desktop-style flexibility when working with apps.
- Disappearing Menu Bar – Access your files without cluttering your screen.
- Background Task Support – Export a video in one app while working in another, for example.
These updates make iPads feel more like real productivity machines, but it’s unclear whether this could impact MacBook sales.
With these iPadOS 26 multitasking improvements, iPads are inching closer to becoming true laptop replacements.
macOS 26 “Tahoe”: Sleek Redesign and Smarter Tools
The Mac gets a fresh look too, with the new Liquid Glass style adding transparency and polish across windows and tabs. Notable improvements include:
- Faster Spotlight Search – Smarter, quicker search results.
- Games App Comes to Mac – A move toward strengthening Apple’s presence in gaming.
The new Apple Games App in iOS 26 and macOS adds a centralized, multiplayer-friendly gaming experience.
These are some of the best new gaming features in iOS 26 aimed at casual and pro gamers alike.
watchOS 26: AI-Powered Fitness & Smarter Alerts
The Apple Watch update features:
- AI Workout Buddy – A virtual coach that offers real-time motivation during your workouts.
- Quick Silence Gesture – Simply flick your wrist to silence a call or alarm.
The Apple watchOS 26 AI fitness features include a smart Workout Buddy that adapts to your performance.
Where’s the AI Breakthrough?
Though Apple highlighted some useful AI features—like live translations and Visual Search—critics say the company is still trailing behind in the broader AI race. With Microsoft and Google making bold AI moves, there’s growing pressure on Apple to show more innovation when it reveals the next iPhone this fall.
Bottom Line
Apple’s software updates deliver a modern new look and some handy upgrades. But as AI continues to shape the future of tech, Apple now faces the challenge of proving it can lead—not just follow.
Here’s a clear and concise list of the iOS 26 features announced by Apple:
Visual & Interface Enhancements
- Liquid Glass Design – A new translucent, fluid interface across the system.
- Redesigned Lock & Home Screens – Notifications intelligently avoid important parts of your wallpaper.
Safari & Camera Improvements
- Edge-to-Edge Safari View – Content now stretches to screen edges for a cleaner, immersive experience.
- Enhanced Camera App – Faster mode switching and improved layout for easier use.
Smarter Communication Tools
- Upgraded Phone App – Detects when you’re on hold and provides contextual options.
- Improved Messages App – Includes:
- Chat background customization
- In-line polls for group messages
Apple Intelligence Features (AI-Powered)
- Live Call Translation – Real-time translation during voice calls.
- Visual Search – Screenshot items like products or posters to find matches or create events.
- Suggested Polls – AI suggests polls based on conversation context.
Gaming Enhancements
- New Games App – Central hub for:
- Multiplayer games
- Challenges with friends
- Game favorites and tracking
| Feature | iOS 26 (New) | Older iOS (iOS 15-17) | What’s Changed? |
| Design | Liquid Glass – Translucent, smoother interface | Standard flat design with minor tweaks | Big visual upgrade with a more responsive, glass-like look |
| Lock Screen & Home Screen | Notifications adjust to wallpaper; more customization | Static notifications, limited personalization | Smarter notifications that avoid covering your wallpaper’s focus |
| Safari Browser | Content stretches to screen edges; shrinking address bar | Fixed layout with visible address bar | More immersive browsing with less UI clutter |
| Phone App | Detects hold music, alerts when call resumes | No hold detection | No more guessing if you’re still on hold |
| Messages | Chat backgrounds, in-chat polls, AI-suggested polls | Basic chat UI, no polls | More fun and interactive messaging |
| Camera App | Quick-access toggles for photo/video modes | Manual switching between modes | Faster shooting experience |
| AI Features | Live call translation, Visual Search (screenshot-to-search), AI-generated polls | Limited AI (like Live Text for photos) | Big AI push—translate calls, search with screenshots, smarter suggestions |
| Gaming | New Games app – multiplayer hub, challenges | Games scattered in App Store | Dedicated gaming experience |
| Search (Visual Intelligence) | Screenshot an object → find similar products online | Only basic image recognition (like copying text) | Now you can shop or get info just by taking a screenshot |
| Multitasking (iPadOS 26 only) | Resizable windows, background tasks | Split View/Slide Over (limited flexibility) | iPad finally works more like a laptop |
As AI innovation accelerates, many are closely watching the Apple vs Google AI software comparison, especially with iOS 26 introducing key—but not revolutionary—tools.
