Apple iOS 26: Liquid Glass Design, Visual Intelligence Image Search, and More
Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference is underway, bringing with it a wave of updates across its operating systems. One of the first announcements: Apple is standardizing the naming convention for its OS platforms, aligning them with the release year rather than the device model.
This means the next version of iOS, arriving in 2026, will be called iOS 26. The same naming approach will apply to watchOS, tvOS, macOS, iPadOS, and visionOS.
With that out of the way, let’s dive into what iOS 26 has in store.
New ‘Liquid Glass’ Design
As expected from reports leading up to WWDC 2025, Apple has unveiled a new design language for iOS 26 called “Liquid Glass.” This refreshed aesthetic is most noticeable in areas like the lock screen clock, which now features a glass-like effect. Notably, the clock dynamically adjusts its position when notifications appear, ensuring it remains visible at all times.
As for the Liquid Glass interface itself—it’s designed to mimic translucent, light-reactive surfaces that subtly shift based on on-screen content and interaction.
Cleaner, Sleeker Interface
There are also a few meaningful design changes that make iOS 26 more immersive for users. These include full-screen album artwork in the Music app and a more convenient camera interface layout that simplifies switching between Photo and Video modes.
Safari now fills the screen from edge to edge. The tab bar—which contains the URL field, search bar, and other actions like refresh and opening new tabs—has been redesigned to float above the webpage.
Visual Intelligence
Remember Google’s Circle to Search? It took a while, but Apple has finally developed something similar through Visual Intelligence. Users can access this by taking a screenshot of something interesting, then tapping ‘Image Search’ in the bottom-right corner to find similar images on Google or other frequently used apps, such as Etsy and Pinterest.
Users can also highlight specific parts of the image to refine their search, similar to the circling gesture used in Circle to Search.
In addition to Image Search, users can tap the ‘Ask’ button in the bottom-left corner to access ChatGPT and learn more about the topic. Visual Intelligence also detects event posters and allows users to seamlessly add them to their calendars using the ‘Add to Calendar’ button.
Call Screening
Pesky spam numbers coming your way? iOS 25 will soon help you filter through the sham and only rings when it’s a genuine call from someone you know. Call Screening will answer calls from unknown numbers silently. Once the caller indentifies themselves and states the reason for calling, your phone will ring.
Users will be able to see who’s calling and why before deciding whether to pick up or hang up.
Hold Assist
Hold Assist has also finally reached the Apple sphere. Simply put, it detects when you’re placed on hold during customer service calls. This lets you put your phone down and go about your routine without staying tethered to the call.
You’ll receive a notification when a live agent returns to the line, so you can jump back in.
Live Translation
Live Translation, powered by Apple Intelligence, is now integrated into Messages, FaceTime, and Phone. According to Apple, the feature runs entirely on-device and does not require an internet connection.
It’s a straightforward tool offering two-way translation for both text and voice calls. In Phone, a translated version of your message is relayed to the other person, and their response is translated back to your preferred language. In FaceTime, translated live captions will appear on-screen throughout the conversation.
Apple Music: Lyrics Translation, Pronunciation, and AutoMix
Apple is also introducing Lyric Translation in Apple Music, so you can finally understand what Despacito (is this still a thing?) is actually about. And beyond just understanding the lyrics, Lyric Pronunciation will show you how to sing them correctly.
Great in theory, but I wonder how it’ll handle Mandarin.
Additionally, a new AutoMix feature in Music blends the end of one song into the start of another—much like a DJ would.
There’s plenty to more that went down at WWDC 2025, if you’re keen on sitting through the whole keynote, you can do so on Apple’s official YouTube channel.
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