Apple just unveiled

iOS 26

, and it's the most dramatic transformation your iPhone has seen in over a decade. This isn't just another yearly update, it's a complete reimagining of how your device looks, feels, and works. From transparent glass-like interfaces to real-time language translation, Apple is bringing features that will fundamentally change your daily iPhone experience. Here are the 10 biggest new features coming to your iPhone later this year.

The biggest change you'll notice is Apple's brand-new design language called

Liquid Glass

. Think of it as your iPhone interface becoming actual glass that you can see through and interact with. When you pull down notifications, it feels like you're moving a real pane of glass. App icons now have realistic highlights that shift as you move your phone, and menus break apart and flow like liquid when you touch them. You can even choose a completely transparent "Clear" mode where everything becomes see-through glass. It's the first major visual overhaul since 2013, and it makes your iPhone feel like something from the future.

Finally, Apple is taking on robocalls with its own version of call screening. When an unknown number calls, your iPhone can automatically answer in the background without bothering you. The caller has to tell your phone their name and why they're calling before your device even rings. You'll see their response on screen and can decide whether to actually pick up or ignore them completely. It's like having a personal secretary filtering your calls, and it works for Messages and

FaceTime

too, keeping spam in a separate "Unknown Senders" section.

Taking a screenshot just became incredibly powerful. Apple's Visual Intelligence can now understand what's on your screen and suggest actions. Screenshot an event poster and it'll offer to add it to your calendar. Capture a product photo and it'll help you find similar items on Google or shopping apps like Etsy. It's like having Google Lens built right into iOS, but it works across all your apps and integrates seamlessly with Apple's ecosystem.

Your iPhone is about to become a universal translator. In Messages, texts automatically translate into your preferred language as you type. During FaceTime calls, you'll hear the person speaking their language while seeing live translated subtitles on screen. Even regular phone calls get the translation treatment, where both you and the caller hear your preferred language in real-time. This works with people using Android phones too, and everything happens on your device so your conversations stay private. It supports major languages like English, Spanish, French, German, and more.

Apple is launching a completely new Games app that becomes your central gaming command center. See all the games you've ever bought on the App Store, launch them directly from one place, and discover what your friends are playing. The coolest feature is Challenges, where you can compete with friends even in single-player games through leaderboards. It supports game controllers for navigation and works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, making it easy to pick up where you left off on any device.

Group chats are getting two major upgrades that'll change how you communicate. First, you can now create polls to settle those endless "where should we eat?" discussions. Everyone can vote and add their own options. Second, you can customise chat backgrounds with Apple's dynamic designs or your own photos, making each conversation feel unique. There are even typing indicators now, so you'll know when someone is crafting that perfect response.

Maps

is getting seriously smart about your routine. It learns the routes you travel regularly and can warn you about delays before you even leave home. If you always take the same way to work, Maps will notify you about accidents or construction that might slow you down. There's also a new Visited Places feature that remembers everywhere you've been (with your permission), making it easy to find that great coffee shop from last month's trip and share it with friends.

Apple heard the complaints about the confusing Photos redesign and brought back what people actually wanted. The familiar Library and Collections tabs are returning to the main page, making it simple to find your pictures again. There's also a new 3D effect feature that can turn your regular 2D photos into immersive scenes with depth, perfect for lock screen wallpapers that respond when you move your phone.

Music lovers get two incredible new features. AutoMix uses AI to seamlessly blend songs together like a professional DJ, with time-stretching and beat-matching that creates perfect transitions between tracks. Even better, if you're listening to songs in foreign languages, Lyrics Translation will show you what the words actually mean in English. You can finally understand that Korean pop song you've been obsessing over, or dive deeper into international music with full comprehension of the lyrics.

Customer service hold music is about to become bearable. When you're stuck waiting on hold, iOS 26 can detect the hold music and offer to wait for you. Accept, and you can close the phone app and go about your business. When a real person finally picks up, you'll get a notification and the system tells them you're coming back to the call.iOS 26 is out for developers to test until it arrives for everyone in September later this year.