iOS 26 now available for all: brings new Liquid Design, live translation, call screening, and more to iPhones

Even your old iPhone 11 gets the update

Apple is known for providing software support for several years. Android OEMs are finally catching up to Apple by extending software support up to seven years, but Apple has been doing this for a long time. Even with the latest iOS 26 update, it’s available to a total of 30 iPhones, with the 2019-launched iPhone 11 being the oldest in the list. You can find the list of compatible iPhones here. Most of these iPhones, although old, are still capable of handling iOS 26, but not every feature will be available, especially Apple Intelligence, since it requires dedicated hardware. It’s beneficial for people who are still satisfied with their old iPhones to receive the latest software version and experience the benefits.

The new Liquid Glass design

iOS 26 is all about the new ‘Liquid Glass’ design that gives your iPhone a transparent look. The new glass design is spread across the Lock Screen, Home Screen, Control Centre, apps, and certain elements within apps. As described in our early hands-on, “you’ll see elements on the lock screen, app icons, control panel, widgets, and more have a translucent look, like they’re floating on transparent glass.” The experience is very fluid and noticeable in every small action, like pressing on a button, which feels like “moving your finger on a drop of water on a glass surface.”

We reviewed the public beta of iOS 26, and here notifications on the lock screen appeared too transparent and somewhat unreadable. You can change this by reducing the transparency, which can even make the interface look more iOS 18-like. You’ll see Liquid Glass changes in controls across apps as well. The new Liquid Glass controls blend with the app with an aim to bring more focus to your content. The key here appears to give a fluidly interactive design, while keeping your content in focus.

Liquid Glass is definitely a bold step for Apple in terms of design, and is expected to be more refined in the stable version of iOS 26. This design shift also signals Apple’s strategy to visually differentiate its devices at a time when Android brands are leaning heavily into AI-first features. By introducing a new numbering system and a bold redesign, Apple is aiming to make iOS feel fresh again, while reinforcing the premium identity of iPhones compared to rivals.

Redesigned lock screen, updated app icons

iOS 26 brings a more vibrant lock screen with a new 3D effect. In the new lock screen, the time dynamically adapts to your photo wallpaper and notifications, with the subject still in view. So when you move your iPhone, you’ll notice your photo come to life with the 3D effect. Apple has updated app icons with new light and dark appearances, new colour-tinted icons, and an entirely clear look for anyone who prefers this.

Photos app gets a cleaner look

The Photos app has been made easier to navigate in iOS 26. Apple has streamlined the default library to highlight just your gallery photos, now displayed in slightly larger thumbnails. All other sections, including albums, people and pets, memories, and more, are neatly tucked away under a separate Collections tab. In the new Photos app, we found that the layout shifts the focus back to the library, while the larger grid makes scrolling and viewing photos at a glance much easier.

Live translation across apps

With iOS 26, your iPhone will now automatically translate texts in the Messages app. It can also display live translated captions in FaceTime, while getting spoken translations for calls in the Phone app. Another interesting feature is Live Translation with AirPods, which was demonstrated during the iPhone 17 launch event. You can interact with someone in a different language using AirPods, as it will automatically translate every word, and even respond in a natural voice.

Circle to Search in iOS 26

iPhone users get their own version of Circle to Search with Visual Intelligence in iOS 26. It works the same way by drawing a circle around any object in a screenshot to get search results from Google. So you can get information on just about anything, like an animal, plant, product, or landmark. You’ll just have to capture a screenshot, circle the item of interest, and Visual Intelligence does the rest.

Apple’s take on Circle to Search and live translation shows how AI-driven features are becoming baseline expectations across the smartphone industry. Google and Samsung have been leading this shift, and Apple’s entry into the space suggests that AI-powered assistance is no longer a niche feature but central to smartphone updates.

More AI in your calls

iOS 26 brings even more helpful AI to your calls. Call Screening, a new feature in iOS 26, automatically picks up unknown calls on your behalf. The caller is prompted to share their name and reason for calling, after which your phone rings so you can choose whether to answer. Meanwhile, Hold Assist stays on the line for you when waiting for a customer support agent and alerts you once someone is available.

These are the major updates available with iOS 26. There’s a lot more that you’ll get to explore as you start using iOS 26. The update is available to download on all compatible iPhones globally. If you haven’t updated yet, you can do so by going to General > Software Update.

For most users, updating to iOS 26 is a no-brainer, especially for the fresh design and helpful AI features. If you’re on an iPhone 12 or newer, you’ll experience almost the full suite of updates. Older models like the iPhone 11 still get iOS 26, but miss out on Apple Intelligence. Therefore, upgrading to a newer iPhone (iPhone 15 Pro and later) may be worthwhile if AI tools matter to you.