With only weeks before the launch of the iPhone 17, Apple published the first public version of iOS 26, its next and eagerly awaited iPhone operating system. A remarkable characteristic is the new visual design called liquid glass, described as a translucent material which reflects and refracts the environment for a futuristic look.
The update also includes reworked application icons, updated widgets and floating tab bars in native applications such as music, news and podcasts that adjust dynamically during use. Announced at WWDC 2025, iOS 26 is now available for public tests, after several Betas cycles of the developer and should be officially deployed alongside the iPhone 17 series.
Expressive. Delicious. But still familiar instantly.
Presentation of our new software design with liquid glass. pic.twitter.com/8ha0q2Actf
– Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 9, 2025
Apple’s IOS 26 public version is now available for users wishing to test the next operating system before its official version. While the Betas Developers are designed for application creators and advanced users, public beta are aimed at a wider audience, offering a relatively more stable version of iOS. The objective is to identify the bugs, collect comments and repress the experience before the final launch. Users can register via Apple Beta software with their Apple ID and download the update via the software update section in the settings.
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The list of supported devices is vast, covering the iPhone SE (2nd generation and later), the ranges of the iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and 13 series, as well as all iPhone 14, 15 and 16 models – including their professional variants and more. This large compatibility guarantees that a large part of the Apple user base can explore the new features of iOS 26 in advance.
iOS 26: What’s new?
Among the most notable updates are native applications redesigned such as the camera, photos and safari. The camera application now has a simplified interface; The photos divide your main gallery and your collections organized into separate tabs; And Safari allows full screen navigation. In addition, applications like Apple Music and News now have floating and car hidden tab bars for a more immersive experience.
IOS 26 public beta lockscreen pic.twitter.com/kbvxwctrvb
– Moetapele 🚶🏾️🚘🏡✈️🇧🇲🇿🇦🇺🇸 (@_thabang_m) July 24, 2025
IOS 26 also draws on Apple intelligence on Disvise to introduce new powerful tools while maintaining the confidentiality of users. These include live translation for messages, Facetime and the phone; Intelligent screen interactions via visual intelligence; and AI generating features like Genmoji and Playground Image. Users can generate personalized emojis, create images from words and even interact with the content on the screen using AI without sharing data with the cloud.
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