“Apple’s iOS 26 Beta, unveiled at WWDC 2025, introduces a stunning Liquid Glass design, enhanced Wi-Fi syncing, real-time AirPods translation, and advanced call screening. With a redesigned Control Center, improved Messages app, and CarPlay upgrades, this update promises a seamless user experience. Expected to launch in September 2025, iOS 26 redefines iPhone functionality with AI-driven features.”
New Features Await iPhone Users with iOS 26 Beta
Apple’s iOS 26, revealed at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, is set to transform the iPhone experience with its most significant design overhaul since iOS 7. Currently in its second developer beta, the update introduces a visually striking Liquid Glass interface, inspired by visionOS, alongside a host of functional enhancements. Here’s a detailed look at what iPhone users can anticipate when iOS 26 rolls out this fall.
The Liquid Glass design is the centerpiece of iOS 26, offering a translucent, vibrant aesthetic across the lock screen, home screen, and core apps like Messages and Photos. This redesign enhances visual appeal with refreshed icons and dynamic highlights that shift based on device orientation, making navigation more intuitive. Posts on X highlight the improved legibility in the Control Center, with Beta 2 refining the blur effect for better contrast.
A standout feature is the seamless Wi-Fi syncing across Apple devices. As noted by Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach, iOS 26 allows sign-in details for captive Wi-Fi networks to sync between iPhones and iPads, eliminating repetitive logins. For instance, entering Wi-Fi credentials on an iPad at a hotel can prompt an autofill suggestion on an iPhone, streamlining connectivity. This feature, first reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, was discovered in the beta’s code, though it wasn’t highlighted at WWDC.
Another exciting addition is real-time translation via AirPods, expected to debut in iOS 26.1 or 26.2. This feature, still in development, will enable users to engage in translated conversations through their AirPods, fostering seamless cross-language communication. While Apple announced Live Translation for Messages and FaceTime, AirPods support is a significant expansion, potentially transforming how users interact globally.
The Messages app receives a major upgrade with a solution for unwanted spam texts. iOS 26 introduces advanced filtering tools, allowing users to manage incoming messages more effectively. Additionally, a new call screening feature builds on the Silence Unknown Calls option from iOS 13. When enabled, it silently answers unsaved numbers, screening callers before interrupting the user, offering greater control over incoming calls.
CarPlay also sees significant enhancements, with iOS 26 delivering a modernized interface, pinned playlists for Apple Music, and improved navigation. These updates ensure a more intuitive driving experience, with real-time updates and better iPhone integration. The Photos app gets a redesigned layout, making it easier to browse and organize media, while Safari and Wallet apps receive functional upgrades, including refined tab placement and accessibility improvements.
AirPods users will benefit from new firmware features, such as a “Pause Media When Falling Asleep” option, which pauses audio when the user dozes off. A simplified beta update interface in the Settings app also makes installing AirPods updates more user-friendly. However, many Apple Intelligence features, like an upgraded Siri, are exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and the upcoming iPhone 17 series, expected to launch alongside iOS 26 in mid-September.
The iOS 26 public beta is slated for release around July 7, 2025, with the final version expected in September, aligning with the iPhone 17 series debut. Compatible devices include iPhone SE (2nd gen and newer), iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 series, though older models like the iPhone 11 may not support the update. Developers can access Beta 2 via Settings > General > Software Update, but users are cautioned to back up data due to the beta’s instability.
Disclaimer: This article is based on reports, developer beta insights, and posts from X, including contributions from sources like 9to5Mac, MacRumors, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Features discussed are subject to change as Apple refines iOS 26 before its public release.