Apple has officially announced iOS 26, the next major update for iPhone, bringing a bold redesign and built-in AI features that run directly on the device.
iOS 26 introduces a wave of features that bring real-time understanding, personalization, and creativity to the iPhone, called Apple Intelligence. It is a new suite of on-device AI tools designed to make everyday interactions smarter and more human.
From writing suggestions in Messages and Mail to generating images, emojis, and custom replies, iOS 26 is packed with features aimed at helping users do more with less effort.
And because Apple’s AI runs directly on the device, most of these features work without needing to send any data to the cloud, a major point of distinction from competitors like Google or Microsoft.
One of the standout additions is Genmoji, a new feature that lets users generate personalized emoji using text prompts, friends’ photos, or even live reactions.
Apple has also added Image Playground, a fun and fast way to generate custom artwork inside apps like Messages and Notes.
The built-in writing tools offer tone suggestions, rewrites, and summaries available system wide, not just in Apple apps.
Messages now supports scheduled sending, message effects, and text formatting, while the updated Phone app allows users to leave video voicemails with live reactions.
In Apple Music, a new AutoMix feature blends songs like a live DJ, and lyrics now offer real-time translation with pronunciation tools which means a major win for karaoke fans.
The iOS interface itself gets a fresh coat of paint with Liquid Glass, a new visual style that adds fluidity, translucency, and depth to the Home Screen and system UI. Users can now freely place icons and widgets anywhere, and notifications are more dynamic, adapting to content and context.
Interestingly, Apple is also changing how it names its software. Instead of continuing with iOS 18, the company is jumping straight to iOS 26, aligning version numbers with the year the OS is intended to support.
So while iOS 26 will launch in late 2025, it reflects the 2026 software cycle. This change affects all Apple platforms, including macOS, iPadOS, and watchOS.
Currently available in developer beta, iOS 26 will be released to the public in July as part of Apple’s open beta program, with a full release expected this fall alongside the iPhone 16.
Shahriena Shukri is a journalist covering business and economic news in Malaysia, providing insights on market trends, corporate developments, and financial policies. More about Shahriena Shukri.
