Rumors have it that Apple will unveil iOS 26 instead of iOS 19 at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2025. The move could mark a monumental shift for the company away from the current naming convention. If it’s true, Apple could be planning to assign numbers to its iOS based on yearly updates. And the next update could be more than just a few features and bug fixes, which might include an overhaul of the interface, too. Here, we cover all that the rumor mills have about the possible iOS 26 for iPhones. Let’s dig.
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Which iPhones will support iOS 26?
When Apple releases its latest iOS, it leaves behind older devices without support. That could be true with the next update, too. Here are the iPhones that could support iOS 26:
- iPhone 17 series (launching in September 2025)
- iPhone 16 series
- iPhone 15 series
- iPhone 14 series
- iPhone 13 series
- iPhone 12 series
- iPhone 11 series
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR
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iOS 26 highlights from the rumors: More than just a new update
According to rumors, iOS 26 will harbor a major visual redesign overhaul. The interface may look much fresher with differently shaped icons and more customizability, macOS, VisionOS, etc.
The iOS 18 focused on Apple Intelligence, email summary tools, and new updates to the Photos app. The next-generation iOS could have more in the bag than just a new numbering practice.
Change in user interface
There have been suggestions from the March 2025 report that Apple is working on a project called “Solarium” that would be responsible for the UI change. It’s expected that the new UI would make the system smoother to navigate and simpler to use. It’s possible that Apple would render a visionOS-style UI in iOS 26.
Rounded app icons
The iOS 26 could feature rounded app icons, and the whole UI could have a rounded appearance. YouTuber Jon Prosser claimed that the interface was fluid and the settings would show up as users swipe away. This would give users a fresh user experience on their iPhones.
It’s suggested that the camera app will have a light-reflective circle added. The rumors have it that the camera will carry some resemblance to Apple’s Vision Pro UI.
New Apple Games app
Apple could bring a new gaming app – Apple Games app, to indicate its presence as a leader in the smartphone gaming market. Reportedly, the app will include editorial content from the games, App Store games page, leaderboards, etc.
New Apple Intelligence feature for better battery performance
Apple could also introduce a new Apple Intelligence feature in iOS 26 that will work on battery performance improvement. It’s said that the new update will check on users’ patterns of using their iPhones and use it for power management. This could mean optimized battery settings to conserve the battery.
Siri to get chatbot-type upgrade
It’s expected that Siri, Apple’s voice assistant feature, will receive a chatbot-style upgrade, enabling it to engage in more human-like conversations. But it’s only interesting to see if the upcoming iOS update brings a large language model-based Siri at all. Something similar was expected at WWDC 2024, and that didn’t happen.
AirPods to get new translation feature with iOS 26
AirPods are likewise expected to get a new feature, an ability to translate in-person conversation from one language to another. The Live Translation feature has been a key pitch for Apple Intelligence. Its enhanced integration on AirPods would raise the stakes further. The feature would bridge the language barrier between people and allow them to communicate across.
When will iOS 26 be released?
Apple could release iOS 26 on June 09, 2025, at its WWDC event. It would allow the first glance into Apple’s latest generation OS, while the iPhone 17, which is likely to launch in September, would be the first iPhone to come with it.
After the WWDC event, Apple could roll out an early developer beta of iOS 26, followed by a series of other beta versions before finalizing it for the public rollout later in 2025.
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How to download and install the iOS 26 beta?
While the early beta versions of iOS 26 will be riddled with bugs and the handset may lag, it’s still possible to try it out: To install iOS 26 beta, do the following when it becomes available:
- Tap on General
- Go to Software update
- Tap on Beta Updates
- Choose between the developer and public betas
- Wait for the beta update to show up
- Download and install on your iPhone
We will update more on this as further information becomes available. Keep visiting the page for more updates.
