Apple iOS 26: New design revolution with “Liquid Glass”

With iOS 26, Apple is introducing the biggest design overhaul since 2013. Released on September 15, the update brings a completely new user interface called "Liquid Glass" and enhanced AI features to the iPhone.

The free update is available for iPhone 11 and newer models, although some AI features require at least an iPhone 15 Pro. Announced at the developer conference in June, iOS 26 marks Apple's new design direction for the coming decade.

Revolutionary design: When glass comes to life

The most striking feature is the new "Liquid Glass" design language. Inspired by Apple's Vision Pro glasses, iOS abandons its traditional flat appearance. Instead, translucent, rounded elements react to movement and content – ​​with light refraction effects like real glass.

The new feature permeates the entire system: the lock screen, home screen, app icons, and menus all have a Liquid Glass look. The new "Clear" mode, in particular, makes app icons transparent and lets the background image shine through. The lock screen automatically adjusts the clock height to match the wallpaper. Advertisement: Speaking of new design language and terminology: Does Apple's jargon sometimes make your life difficult? This free PDF explains the 53 most important iPhone terms – clearly and understandably, including pronunciation guides. Perfect for anyone who wants to confidently join in the conversation about "Liquid Glass," "Clear" mode, AirDrop, and more. Get the iPhone glossary for free now .

Intelligent communication: rethinking calls and messages

The phone app has been completely redesigned. Users now scroll through contacts, recent calls, and voicemails in a single interface. Revolutionary: Call filtering automatically answers unknown calls without disturbing the user.

"Hold Assist" waits in the queue and notifies you as soon as a representative is available. Who hasn't experienced this problem?

Messages are also receiving extensive updates. Group chats can now create polls, customize backgrounds, and automatically filter unwanted messages. AI-generated images from the "Image Playground" further personalize conversations.

Apple Intelligence: Real-time translation

At its heart is enhanced Apple Intelligence. Live translation works directly in the Phone, FaceTime, and Messages apps—completely on-device for English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese.

Siri is becoming more context-aware, taking into account screen content and device settings. Improved ChatGPT integration creates tables and performs recommended actions on demand. Visual Intelligence analyzes screenshots and provides AI summaries. Ad: For anyone who wants to get started confidently with a new or updated iPhone: A free step-by-step guide shows you how to set up your iPhone correctly, master gestures, and install apps—including securely migrating data from Android or an older iPhone. Ideal for beginners and those switching to iOS 26 without frustration. Download the iPhone Starter Kit now for free.

Strategic move in the AI ​​race

With iOS 26, Apple is positioning itself against competitors' cloud-based AI solutions. Its focus on data protection and local processing sets the company apart from Google and Microsoft.

Practical features like call screening address everyday problems. At the same time, the limitation of many AI functions to the latest iPhone models is forcing hardware upgrades.

The update ends support for iPhone XS and XR with A12 chips – a sign of the increasing processing demands of modern operating systems.

The first beta version of iOS 26.1 has already been distributed to developers. Further Siri improvements and wider adoption of the Liquid Glass design language by third-party apps are expected in the coming months.