Apple has officially unveiled iOS 26, moving away from its traditional flat interface in favour of a ‘liquid glass’ design. The new look uses translucent panels that layer over each other, blending smoothly into the background.
The same design language has been applied to iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS, creating a more unified experience across Apple devices.
Apple Intelligence at the Core
The most significant update is Apple Intelligence. In Messages and phone calls, conversations can now be translated in real time. FaceTime has gained live subtitles and instant voice translation, making cross-language communication easier.
Owners of AirPods Pro 3 will be able to hold private conversations with immediate translation into another language. Live Translation on AirPods is available in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, and will be coming to four more languages by the end of the year: Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified).
Visual Intelligence and ChatGPT Integration
A new feature called Visual Intelligence can recognise whatever appears on the screen, from text to café menus, and provide quick search results or in-app solutions. Users can also ask ChatGPT questions directly within the smartphone interface and receive detailed answers instantly.
Service Upgrades
Apple has also upgraded its core services. Apple Music now offers translated lyrics with audio playback, Apple Maps allows users to save visited locations, and Wallet includes a simplified system for tracking online orders.
Kursiv also reports that Apple’s shares fell on September 9, after the company unveiled its latest smartphone line.
