A new name, new features, and a new batch of unsupported phones are on the way for iOS, if rumours surrounding Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) are anything to go by. Dubbed iOS 26 (a fair jump from the current iOS 18), the latest major iPhone software update is due to be officially announced on Monday, June 9. Here's everything you need to know.
iOS 26: Release date
iOS 26 is set to be announced when WWDC kicks off on Monday, June 9, with a developer beta made available shortly after. Going by previous iOS releases, we can expect a public beta to be released in July. As for everyone else, you'll likely be getting access in September, around the same time as the iPhone 17 launch.
iOS 26: New features
Perhaps the most noticeable change we can expect to see, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, is a completely overhauled design, which will "fundamentally change the look" of iOS as we know it, providing a simplified navigation and controls inspired by the Apple Vision Pro.
Apple Intelligence is also in for a much-needed upgrade, after it launched late last year to exceptionally lukewarm reviews. It's expected that iOS 26 will introduce third-party AI integration, a wider application of Apple Intelligence to more apps, and AI-based battery improvements.
Speaking of battery improvements, Gurman also claims iOS 26 will introduce a lock-screen indicator that shows how long it will take to fully charge your iPhone.
iOS 26: Compatibility
With each new major iOS release, the question on every iPhone user's mind is whether or not their device will be getting the upgrade. While we don't have confirmation from Apple, rumour has it that the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR will not be compatible with iOS 26, meaning every device released from 2020 onwards (including the 2nd-gen iPhone SE and iPhone 11 series) will be receiving the update.
So, what's with the name?
Wait, didn't we just get iOS 18 last year? How did we jump all the way to iOS 26?
Apple has reportedly made the decision to append all new software releases coming this year with "26", referring to the year in which it will receive the most updates, 2026. That means the next set of software updates for all Apple products will share the same number: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and even visionOS 26.
According to Gurman, the change is all part of an effort to "bring consistency to [Apple's] branding", as well as making the naming convention less confusing for both consumers and developers.
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