Friends, iOS 26 is finally here, and trust me, this update is absolutely amazing! Apple has jumped straight from iOS 18 to iOS 26 this time, so that the versioning is kept simple and matches the year’s trend. Now it is natural that every time Android fans will say that Apple copied it, and yes, some things have definitely been inspired.
But the thing that personally blew my mind is its brand-new Liquid Glass UI design. It is so sleek and detailed that despite being an Android fan, I was impressed! So let’s talk about the top 10 features of iOS 26 today and see what’s special about it.
iOS 26 Update Features
1. Liquid Glass UI:
First of all, let’s talk about the hero feature of iOS 26 – Liquid Glass UI. This design is so polished that glass-like translucent elements are visible everywhere. From the lock screen’s clock and widgets to the notification panel, everything comes with a 3D glass effect. The home screen’s dock, app icons, and even the settings’ floating search bar – everything has this glass vibe.
But it’s not just for style, friends. Apple has paid so much attention to detail that background elements refract behind the glass in real-time, just like real glass! Animations are also really smooth – bouncy effects when you tap icons or open folders. Yes, some people say it can look a bit cluttered, but to me it looks really futuristic.
2. Dynamic Wallpapers:
iOS 26 wallpapers take the game to the next level. The Photo Shuffle feature now automatically adapts the lock screen clock with each wallpaper. And yes, there is also an option to convert normal photos into spatial scenes, which gives a crazy parallax effect.
3. Brand-New Camera App:
The UI of the Camera app has also been revamped in iOS 26. Now when you open the app, all the modes appear in a flash, and only the two important modes remain in focus.
You can change modes by swiping, and you can access options like flash, timer, or exposure by tapping. Recording settings and formats are now neatly arranged in one place. The camera control button has also become more useful. This small change makes a lot of difference in daily use!
4. Phone App:
I personally really liked the new look of the Phone app. Now favourites are displayed along with contact posters, which also sync with apps like FaceTime. Recent calls and voicemail transcriptions are also visible at a glance.
Plus, new features like call screening – in which AI handles unknown calls and transcribes them – are a real game-changer. India also has Hold Assist, which saves us from that boring hold music during customer care calls. And live translation? That too works in real-time!
5. Messages App:
Messages app has also got a lot of new features. Now you can set chat backgrounds, and due to spam detection all the annoying credit card or stock market messages get moved to a separate folder. You have no idea how much relief these small things give in daily life!
6. Apple Music:
Music lovers, get ready! Apple Music now has AutoMix feature, which uses AI to create seamless transitions between songs, just like a DJ. There is also an option to pin songs to the home screen, lyrics translation, and pronunciation guide. Now you will finally understand what they are saying in the song!
7. Photos App:
A big problem of the Photos app has finally been fixed. Now there are separate sections of Library and Collections, which makes organizing albums and folders super easy. Small updates make a big difference, right?
8. Circle to Search:
Apple has introduced a Visual Intelligence feature this time, which is basically Circle to Search on iPhone. You can use Image Search or Ask option by taking a screenshot. Image Search returns results from Google, and the Ask option uses ChatGPT to describe the image. Events also come with calendar suggestions.
9. CarPlay:
The update of CarPlay also comes with the Liquid Glass design. Widgets, incoming calls that do not cover the full screen, and support for live activities – all these make the driving experience even better. Now notifications do not distract even during navigation!
10. New Apps:
iOS 26 has also introduced two new apps. The Preview app now gives the option to open and annotate PDFs on iPhone, which will be familiar for Mac users. The Games app suggests new games and keeps track of installed games. Yes, on Android it is called bloatware, but it has been implemented quite cleanly.
Final Thoughts: Is iOS 26 Worth It?
Friends, iOS 26 is a massive update, and Liquid Glass UI is its star. Yes, some features are inspired by Android, and things like notification center or universal back gesture are still missing. But what is there is very polished. Talking about performance, it is super smooth on iPhone 16 Pro, but can feel a bit laggy on 15 Pro (due to beta version, hopefully will be fixed in stable release).
So what do you think? How is this new UI of iOS 26? Will you update or wait? Let us know in the comments. Stay tuned for more tech updates, and see you in the next post!