Apple has officially confirmed the public release date of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. Both updates will arrive on September 15, 2025, perfectly timed between iPhone 17 pre-orders and retail availability. With this release, Apple introduces one of the most visually striking redesigns in recent years, alongside powerful AI-driven enhancements and new apps designed to make the iPhone and iPad more capable than ever.
Release Date and Rollout
Apple revealed iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 during its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2025. Since then, developer and public beta testers have been exploring the new features. On September 9, 2025, Apple seeded the Release Candidate (RC) version, typically the final step before public availability.
The full rollout will occur on Monday, September 15, 2025. This timing aligns with Apple’s usual strategy just after new iPhone pre-orders and just before the devices ship. The freshly announced iPhone 17 series and the new iPhone Air will ship with iOS 26 pre-installed from day one.
Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | September 15, 2025 |
| Main Visual Update | Liquid Glass design with translucent, dynamic UI elements |
| Key New App (iOS) | Games app for centralized gaming |
| Key New Apps (iPad) | Preview app for PDFs, redesigned Files app, advanced multitasking with windowing system |
| AI Features | Apple Intelligence: Live Translation, Call Screening, Genmoji, Image Playground, battery optimization |
| Other OS Updates | macOS 26 Tahoe, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26 launch on the same date with Liquid Glass visuals |
| Official Site | Apple Newsroom |
A Bold New Look: Liquid Glass
Perhaps the most significant visual shift in years, Apple is introducing Liquid Glass, a dynamic design language that permeates both iOS and iPadOS.
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Translucent layers create a glass-like interface.
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Depth and responsiveness adjust depending on context, making system navigation feel more fluid.
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The design applies across Lock Screen, Home Screen, Control Center, buttons, menus, and core apps.
During the beta period, Apple fine-tuned the Liquid Glass experience, improving readability and refining UI elements to balance aesthetics with usability.
Apple Intelligence: Smarter Features Across Devices
With iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, Apple expands Apple Intelligence, its system-wide AI platform. Highlights include:
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Live Translation: Real-time, on-device translation for conversations.
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Call Screening: Incoming calls can be screened with summaries of who’s calling and why.
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Generative Tools: Features like Genmoji (custom emojis) and Image Playground (creative AI-generated visuals).
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Battery Intelligence: Smarter battery optimization extends device longevity.
These additions build on Apple’s push to embed machine learning directly into everyday features while protecting user privacy with on-device processing.
New Apps and Core Enhancements
iOS 26
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Games App: A central hub where users can organize, access, and discover gaming experiences on iPhone.
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Phone & Messages: Call screening, custom chat backgrounds, polls, and richer personalization tools.
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CarPlay, Music, Maps, and Wallet: Updated interfaces reflecting the Liquid Glass aesthetic.
iPadOS 26
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Windowing System: A major leap forward, allowing users to resize, move, and manage app windows like on a desktop.
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Preview App: A powerful PDF viewer and editor, supporting Apple Pencil annotations and AutoFill.
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Files App: Redesigned for better organization, folder customization, and improved integration with the dock.
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Live Translation in Phone: Real-time translations integrated directly into calls.
Beyond iPhone and iPad: A Unified Update
Apple is also rolling out updates to its broader ecosystem on September 15:
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macOS 26 Tahoe: Gains Liquid Glass visuals, enhanced Spotlight, clipboard history, and a Games app.
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watchOS 26: Brings wrist-flick gestures, ambient noise monitoring, Smart Stack suggestions, Notes integration, and fitness features like Workout Buddy.
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tvOS 26: Receives the Liquid Glass treatment alongside performance improvements.
These parallel updates ensure a consistent look and feel across Apple devices.
Supported Devices
While most modern iPhones and iPads will get iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, some older models are being left behind. The iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, and iPad 7th generation (with A10 Bionic chip) will no longer be supported. This selective rollout reflects Apple’s strategy of focusing on performance and longevity for newer devices.
Looking Ahead: Siri in 2026
Although iOS 26 introduces a wave of Apple Intelligence features, the revamped Siri will not arrive until spring 2026 as part of iOS 26.4. This update will make Siri far more context-aware, capable of understanding on-screen content and providing richer, more relevant responses.
FAQs
Q1. When will iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 be available?
A. Both updates will be publicly released on September 15, 2025.
Q2. What is Liquid Glass?
A. Liquid Glass is Apple’s new design language featuring translucent layers and depth effects across iOS and iPadOS.
Q3. What are the biggest new features in iOS 26?
A. A new Games app, call screening, Live Translation, and improved personalization in Messages.
Q4. What’s new in iPadOS 26?
A. iPadOS 26 introduces a desktop-style windowing system, a Preview app for PDFs, and an upgraded Files app.
Q5. Which devices will not support iOS 26?
A. Older models like the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, and iPad 7th generation will not be updated.
Q6. When will the new Siri launch?
A. The advanced Siri powered by Apple Intelligence will debut in iOS 26.4, expected in spring 2026.
Conclusion
The arrival of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 marks one of Apple’s most ambitious updates in recent memory. With the striking Liquid Glass design, expanded Apple Intelligence, new apps, and iPad multitasking improvements, Apple is reshaping the user experience across its devices. On September 15, 2025, millions of iPhone and iPad users will begin a new chapter in Apple’s mobile ecosystem one that blends beauty, intelligence, and productivity.
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