Apple prepares iOS 26 with Liquid Glass redesign and on-device AI

Apple is preparing to roll out iOS 26, a major redesign and feature update for the iPhone, following the release of late-stage developer and public betas and ahead of its Sept. 9 product event in Cupertino. Apple has pushed multiple developer betas this week, including a ninth developer build, and public betas are now in wide circulation as the company moves toward a general release expected in mid-September, roughly one week after the event.

The headline change is a systemwide visual overhaul called Liquid Glass, a translucent, glasslike aesthetic that refreshes the lock screen, Home Screen, Control Center and many built‑in apps. Apple has been tuning the effect through the beta cycle to address legibility concerns, and public testers have noted both tweaks that increase opaqueness in some places and options to reduce transparency via Accessibility settings if users prefer crisper menus.

Beyond design, iOS 26 expands Apple Intelligence and on‑device AI tools. Improvements include Visual Intelligence, which can analyze screenshots and photos, and live translation that can translate phone calls, FaceTime and Messages in real time. Apple is also restoring and relaunching AI...