Apple at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference 2025 in the United States local time introduced iOS 26 with a new display design and improved features.
"iOS 26 shines with a beautiful new design and meaningful improvements to the features people rely on every day, making iPhone even more helpful," said Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi as quoted in the company's press release.
According to the company, the new design makes apps and system experiences more expressive and fun, while making iOS feel instantly familiar.
This design is created using Liquid Glass , a new translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings, putting greater focus on content and bringing a new level of vitality across controls, navigation, app icons, widgets and more.
The new design makes the Home Screen and Lock Screen more personal and expressive than ever.
Liquid Glass also brings new customization options to app icons and widgets , including a crystal clear look.
The design elements are updated according to the company to bring a new experience in using the application.
Web pages flow from the top edge to the bottom of the screen in Safari allowing users to see more of the page while still maintaining access to frequently used actions like refresh and search.
The tab bar in Apple Music, News, and Podcasts has been redesigned to float above the user's content, shrinking dynamically as the user browses to put the content front and center, then expanding as they scroll back up.
Updates to the Phone and Messages apps help users stay connected and eliminate distractions like unwanted calls.
"The experiences are more expressive and personal, from the Lock Screen and Home Screen, to new capabilities in Phone and Messages that help users focus on the connections that matter most," said Federighi.
For app developers, an updated set of APIs gives them access to Liquid Glass materials and components so they can make their apps look as dynamic as native iPhone apps.