Apple Elevates iPhone with iOS 26, Introduces watchOS 26 and iPadOS 26 Upgrades

In its WWDC 2025, Apple on Monday announced iOS 26, the company's most substantial software update in years that brings a breathtaking visual transformation, more intelligent system smarts, and smoother experiences in major apps people rely on every day.

With a newly styled look that is expressive and intuitive, iOS 26 retains the familiarity that users rely on from their iPhones, while refining daily interactions. With changes made to core apps such as Phone and Messages, Apple has also set its sights on reducing interruptions in the form of spam and unwanted calls.

On top of improvements to Maps, Wallet, Apple Music, and CarPlay, the release adds Apple Games, a just-introduced destination where users can see and manage all their games in one place.

"iOS 26 glows with the stunning new look and substantial upgrades to the features people use every day, making iPhone more assistive," said Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, in the keynote speech. "Experiences are more expressive and personal, from the Lock Screen and Home Screen, to new abilities throughout Phone and Messages that enable users to focus on the relationships that matter most. And with advanced new Apple Intelligence abilities built throughout the system, users can get things done quicker and easier than ever," he further added.

A focal point of the redesign is Liquid Glass, a new transparent interface material that reflects and refracts environments, imbuing the OS with a dynamic sense of depth and color. The fluid design language carries over to navigation elements, app icons, widgets, and beyond—preserving the visual richness of iOS while making it easily navigable.

On Lock Screen and Home Screen, personalization has been intensified. App icons and widgets can now take on a crisp, glassy look, and the time on Lock Screen subtly repositions itself to integrate perfectly with background pictures. Spatial scenes even animate wallpapers with a layered 3D movement that reacts to the iPhone's motion.

Other apps such as Camera and Photos have also undergone careful redesigns. The Camera has a more streamlined interface to enable users to focus without distraction as they record memories. The Photos app brings with it a simpler organization with distinct tabs for Library and Collections browsing.

Safari too gets better navigation. Web pages now scroll smoothly from top to bottom, with important controls such as refresh and search always at arm's reach.

In media apps such as Apple Music, News, and Podcasts, a floating tab bar provides a more engaging browsing experience by contracting and expanding as users scroll through content.

In addition to iOS 26, Apple released watchOS 26, mirroring the new Liquid Glass design on Apple Watch. Features such as Smart Stack, Control Center, and the Photos watch face now have more expressive interactions but maintain the comfort of watchOS. Improved intelligence features like Workout Buddy engage with motivational offers during exercise, as well as personalized music based on user tastes.

The Workout app has been redesigned with a more intuitive design, providing workouts with personalized music suggestions and improved feedback.

watchOS 26 also simplifies everyday activities, with features such as Smart Stack suggestions and improved messaging making the wearable even more streamlined.

Apple didn't stop there—it also previewed iPadOS 26, which is the biggest iPad software update yet. The update brings a more polished interface as well as a powerful and user-friendly new window management system, enabling users to better navigate and multitask between apps.

"iPadOS 26 is our largest iPadOS release to date, with its powerful capabilities bringing the experience even further and redefining what users can accomplish on iPad," Federighi said.

The firm also introduced visionOS 26, a major update to Apple Vision Pro, further advancing spatial computing with groundbreaking features and immersive experiences.