iOS 26 is coming next week: Here’s everything we know

Believe it or not, we are less than a week away from the announcement of iOS 26. Ahead of that launch, rumors about new iOS 26 features, supported devices, and more have started to surface. Here’s everything we know so far.

iOS 26, not iOS 19

While we all expected this year’s iOS update to be called “iOS 19,” it turns out that’s not the case. According to Bloomberg, Apple is switching things up and will instead release iOS 26 this year.

The release of iOS 26 will correspond with iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26. Apple’s goal is to unify its naming across all of its different software platforms.

As for why this year’s update is iOS 25, not iOS 26, it seems like Apple is adopting the car model year strategy. For example, the 2026 Toyota Tacoma will actually start shipping towards the end of 2025

Will your iPhone support iOS 26?

Every year, one of the most important questions is which iPhone models will support the newest iOS update. So far for iOS 26, the rumors are conflicted.

First, the folks at iPhoneSoft reported that all devices that support iOS 18 will be able to update to iOS 26. This would include the iPhone XR and newer.

More recently, however, a private account on X that regularly shares correct details about Apple’s software platforms said that iOS 26 will drop support for three iPhone models: iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. All three of those phones were released in September 2018.

The key context, of course, is that not all features in iOS 26 will be available on all iPhone models. Some of the most power-hungry features, like Apple Intelligence, will be limited to only the newest iPhone models.

iOS 26 features

New design

Bloomberg reports that iOS 26 will be “one of the most dramatic software overhauls” in Apple’s history. This will include design changes, new features, and more.

According to the report, iOS 26 will be “the biggest revamp since iOS 7” in 2013. iOS 7 marked a dramatic redesign of the iPhone’s software with new icons, fonts, user interface elements, and more.

iOS 26 will reportedly update the “style of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons” for iPhone users. The new interface will be “loosely” based on visionOS. It will also “simplify the way users navigate and control their devices.”

YouTuber Jon Prosser has also reported on Apple’s plans for a redesign as part of iOS 26. Prosser has shared mockups showing iOS 26 with new icons, an updated keyboard design, floating navigation bars, a revamped Messages app, and more.

Camera app redesign

The Camera app will reportedly be one of the tentpoles of Apple’s new design language in iOS 26. According to YouTuber Jon Prosser, the new Camera app will feature a design that “mirrors the design ethos from visionOS” with a focus on transparency.

Apple has reportedly streamlined controls at the bottom of the interface into two toggles for “Photo” and “Video.” Users can switch between various modes within each menu, adjust settings such as exposure, and more.

At the top of the interface, users have quick access to controls for features like Live Photos and flash and settings for resolution and frame rate. Additionally, a dedicated button remains to access the user’s photos library.

Siri changes (sort of)

According to Bloomberg, Apple is working on a fundamental revamp to how Siri works as part of iOS 26. Currently, Siri is split into two distinct systems under the hood. One system handles legacy commands, like timers and alarms, and a separate system handles more advanced commands.

As part of iOS 26, Apple is expected to merge these two systems. This should streamline performance and make Siri faster to respond to queries of all types.

Apple has hit roadblocks in its plans for other major Siri changes with iOS 26. Bloomberg initially reported that Apple would ship a new version of Siri that was “conversational” and more like interacting with a human as part of the iOS 26 cycle. That upgrade, however, is running behind schedule and will not be announced at WWDC in June.

Currently, iOS 18 offers ChatGPT integration as part of Siri and Apple Intelligence. However, Apple’s goal with iOS 26 was to bring this functionality in-house and emphasize the privacy benefits of its platform compared to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

AI for battery life

Building on the Apple Intelligence platform, iOS 26 will reportedly add new AI-powered battery management tools for iPhone. According to Bloomberg, a new iOS 26 feature will use Apple Intelligence to “analyze how a person uses their device and make adjustments to conserve energy.

Apple is allegedly training this data on battery data that it has collected from iPhone users. This data is beingj used to “understand trends and make predictions for when it should lower the power draw of certain applications or features.”

Speaking of battery life, iOS 26 will also reportedly add a new indicator to the Lock Screen when your iPhone is charging that tells you exactly how long it will take to reach a full charge.

Messages upgrade

This week, 9to5Mac exclusively reported that Apple is working on several updates to the Messages app as part of iOS 26. First, the Messages app could add support for automatic inline translation of messages.

Apple is also working on support for polls in group messages. This would let you easily create and send polls to vote on things dinner plans and more. Apple is also testing Apple Intelligence integration, which could automatically suggest polls based on the context of the group conversation.

CarPlay design

As mentioned earlier, iOS 26 will bring an all-new design to your iPhone’s software. As it turns out, this redesign will also extend to CarPlay. According to 9to5Mac sources, Apple is working on a redesign for CarPlay to match the new iOS 26 design.

While details are sparse right now, the new CarPlay design will likely include things like updated icons, menus, buttons, and more.

A focus on stability

While iOS 26 will include major changes, like the aforementioned all-new design, Apple is working to ensure these changes don’t bring glitches and bugs for iPhone users. Bloomberg says that “Apple is pushing engineers to ensure that this year’s releases are more functional and less glitchy.”

Wi-Fi upgrades

Rounding out what we know about new iOS 26 features, a recent support suggested the update will add a new feature that makes it easier to connect to public Wi-Fi networks.

From the Bloomberg report:

What does this mean? Well, when you go to a new hotel, office building or gym, you’re often asked to fill out a web form on all your devices before you can access the internet. This new feature will let you enter that information on one device and have it synched to your other products. That should make things a bit more convenient next time you need to access a new Wi-Fi network.

Delays

Even as we approach the announcement of iOS 26 in June, Apple is still working to complete the rollout of features announced for iOS 18 last year. Some of the most impressive and powerful Apple Intelligence features announced for iOS 18 are delayed until the iOS 26 cycle.

According to reports, Apple’s development of iOS 18 features means that a “larger-than-usual number of features scheduled for iOS 26” have already been postponed until spring 2026. This is because Apple’s engineers are still working on iOS 18 projects “when they’d usually already be on to the following OS.”

This means that iOS 26 might be missing a number of key features when it’s released in September. The missing features would then be added gradually over the coming months as part of iOS 26.1, iOS 26.2, iOS 26.3, and iOS 26.4.

More iOS 26 tidbits

Here are a few other features that have been rumored for iOS 16:

• New full-screen animated Apple Music album artwork on the lock screen.
• The ability to export notes in Markdown from Apple Notes.
• Support for a bi-directional keyboard to move between Arabic and English.
• A virtual reed calligraphy pen for Apple Pencil users.

iOS 26 release date timeline

iOS 26 will be announced at WWDC next week and will subsequently be available in beta testing with developers. A public beta for iOS 26 will likely be released in July, followed by a release to everyone in September.

Prior iOS developer beta release dates:

• iOS 18: June 10, 2024
• iOS 17: June 5, 2023
• iOS 16: June 6, 2022
• iOS 15: June 7, 2021
• iOS 14: June 22, 2020

Prior iOS public beta release dates:

• iOS 18: July 15, 2024
• iOS 17: July 12, 2023
• iOS 16: July 11, 2022
• iOS 15: June 30, 2021
• iOS 14: July 9, 2020

Prior iOS official release dates:

• iOS 18: September 16, 2024
• iOS 17: September 18, 2023
• iOS 16: September 16, 2022
• iOS 15: September 20, 2021
• iOS 14: September 16, 2020

Wrap up

Do you have any features on your iOS 26 wishlist? Are you hoping that Apple continues to double down on Apple Intelligence, or would you rather see a focus on non-AI features?

Let us know down in the comments. We’ll keep this guide updated as more iOS 26 rumors emerge ahead of WWDC 2025, which is set to begin on June 9.

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