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OS Specs

iOS 26

Mark Sokolovsky - 2025.09.26

On September 15th 2025, Apple released iOS 26 alongside iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. This version brings about a completely new UI called “Liquid Glass”, an updated graphical API to Metal 4, and some other changes.
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This version of iOS leaps up to number 26, up from last year’s iOS 18, to keep in lockstep with the new OS version numbers across the board: macOS 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, etc. iOS 26 also coincides with the debut of the iPhone 17 lineup, as well as the A19, and A19 Pro chips.
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What you need to know

  • Tip: If you were on Developer Betas of iOS 26, you must switch off Developer Beta updates under Software Updates in System Settings.
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  • iOS stopped signing iOS 18.6.2, so once you install iOS 26, you cannot go back.
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New Major features

  • Apple will allow any app to tap directly into the Foundation Models framework, also available offline and is privacy focused. No cloud API costs as it is on-device.
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  • Home and lock screens are more personal and expressive than ever
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  • Camera app is redesigned and streamlines
    • All features are retained, but de-cluttered.
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  • Photos app is redesigned, tabbed browsing is added back, 3D photo effects are added
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  • Safari is more immersive, web page goes to bottom of screen. Tab bar floats, and becomes smaller when scrolling.
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  • Facetime app and landing page is redesigned
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  • CarPlay is redesigned entirely, along with a light/dark mode.
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    • CarPlay now has widgets, live activity
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    • Same widgets that work in iOS work in CarPlay
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    • CarPlay Ultra has a unified UI across all screens in a car.
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  • Phone app has a new, more unified layout and new features:
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    • Hold Assist, Call Screening, Live Translation, SharePlay, Live Voicemail, Contact Posters, Visual Voicemail, Recents, Call Recording, Favorites, Caller ID, and Keypad. Soam detection is done on-device.
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    • Spam and unknown senders will appear in a different area, but not prevent important notifications coming in, like Uber Eats.
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  • Messages app has group chats, Apple Pay for group chats, polling, etc;
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  • Genmoji and Image playground have more features, including being able to make images with ChatGPT
  • Apple was able to leverage much more oomph out of Apple Intelligence to bring new features to the iPhone:
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    • Live Translations: integrated into FaceTime, Messages, Phone. Works even when you call someone who doesn’t have an iPhone.
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  • Apple Music now has lyric translation and pronunciation, auto mix, music pins (to top of library page)
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  • Maps remembers your routines preferred routes, and places you’ve been.
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    • Maps will now send you notification if there are significant delays before you even start navigation
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  • Wallet will be redesigned along with the boarding passes.
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  • Apple Pay will now include rewards and installments in person, find tracking info for order details, and is to include more car keys from more manufacturers soon.
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  • A new Games app – in app Home Screen shows games you’re playing, updates, a dedicated tab for Apple arcade, your games library, shows scores/achievements, friend vs friend challenges, etc;
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  • Visual Intelligence gets extended to anything on-screen, is integrated with screenshot feature as well as the camera.
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How the new UI is redesigned in iOS

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  • A focus on content within the app frame, more intentional clarity to controls and buttons
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  • Universal design across entire platforms – macOS, iOS, watchOS, etc;
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  • Inspired by “physicality and richness of visionOS.. dynamically responding to touch..”
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  • A new system theme based on liquid glass
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  • All elements throughout the OS including buttons, Lock Screen, and mostly any element have been completely redesigned.
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  • App icons look very similar but not all are the same. Icons have layered elements and are interchangeable, able to be tuned to different colors and themes
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The Liquid Glass User Interface design language is more than skin deep, it has utilitarian elemental objectives as well:
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  • Content-first: “UI is in service of the experience”
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  • “Establish creative Consistency, harmony, and usability with a universal design language”
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  • “A focus on Dynamism, expressiveness, and Joyful/delightful user experiences.”
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  • Combine optical qualities of glass with responsive fluidity, responsive lensing around edges.
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  • Specular highlights, refractions, hierarchy, etc;
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System Requirements

Below is a comprehensive list of the iPhones which can upgrade to iOS 26, from oldest to newest.

Keep in mind: iOS stopped signing iOS 18.6.2, so once you install iOS 26, you cannot go back.

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  • All iPhone 11 Series models or newer – this includes the iPhone 11 Pro & Pro Max.
  • iPhone SE Second generation or newer.
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Versions

Over the Summer of the development of iOS 26, Low End Mac was testing and documenting the existence of these developer betas for our readers and technology enthusiasts alike.

See more: How to read and interpret Apple OS Build Numbers

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