The tagline on Apple’s website reads “New Look. Even more magic.”, with an OS release date set to arrive this fall. Although you can download the developer beta right now, it is still far from being a completed consumer OS update.
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The last major iOS redesign was with version 7 – Apple says “they were inspired by the retina displays at the time and the power of the then-new A6 chip.”

Over time Apple Silicon has matured to the extent it can provide a completely renewed user interface that includes glass elements and light refraction, increased transparency, etc;
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How to download

• Go to: Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates > iOS 26 Developer Beta
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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
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• 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.

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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In Conclusion

Like the element of water, the renewed Aqua UI makes a wave at iOS, and iOS waves back. While the graphical user interface is clearly redesigned, the ripple effects of continuity from prior designs is like the continual work of a growing wave – amalgamating the characteristics of what was whilst simultaneously presenting something new.
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What do you think?

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