Apple is busy preparing iOS 26 for its possible start in September. Till then, the upcoming new OS of the iPhone has been accessible to any developer beta (now up to 5) and early public beta for anyone. Although iOS 26 still has at least a month’s twix, before it is final, beta flavors already provide a glimpse of what to expect.
You can now download iOS 26 bet on your iPhone. Here’s how to install it – and which models support it.
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I have been running public beta since release on July 24. Between new and better features in iOS 26, these are my five favorite so far.
1. Liquid glass
By adding a new translucent design to the interface, the liquid glass gives the feeling that you are looking at your screen elements through the glass. With this new aesthetics, the icons appear more tri-dimensional and layered, while the menu is semi-transparent. I have read some negative comments about liquid glass, but I like the new design.
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I think the interface draws me in and connects with me in an artistic but practical way. Compared to my current phone with iPhone and iOS 18 with iOS 26, I can clearly see and appreciate differences with liquid glass.
2. Camera app
For iOS 26, Apple touched the camera app to help some controls and settings to reach more quickly and easily. By default, the app shows you two most common mode – photos and videos. To argue other modes such as portrait, pan, slow-mo, and time-laps, swipe your finger left or right or press on control to move from one mode to another.
Even better, major settings are now more easily accessible and configured. To display settings like flash, exposure, filter and timer, you can still swipe from the bottom as usual, or simply tap on the button with the name of the mode. Popes a liquid glass menu with icons for all settings above. Tap on a specific icon to adjust it. Depending on your current mode, the control also appears at the top to your view and adjust.
3. Photo app
With iOS18, Apple replaced the layout in the photo app to display both its library and collection on the same screen. Although this may look convenient, it bothers many iPhone users who now have to swipe up and down to switch between two ideas. With iOS 26, Apple has cured that error.
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Open the photo app in the new OS and you will see two icons below – one for your library and the other for your collection. By default, the app opens in the library scene so that you can easily scroll through all your photos or see them for years or months.
Tap on the collection icon and then you will look at your photos organized by memories, albums, people and other criteria. You can also regain different collections to put your favorite people on top of the screen.
4. Do your call screen
To help you in better combat scams and spam calls, the iOS 26 adds a useful new option to the phone app. Now you can call from an unknown number by asking the caller for some information. Before you choose to take the call, the person is asked at the other end why they are calling. This information then shines on the screen, which helps you decide how to handle the call.
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To enable it, go to the settings, select the apps, and then tap on the phone app. Swipe in the section for the screen unknown callers and tap on the option for “ask the reason to call”. The next time you receive a call from a stranger, the person will be motivated to explain why they are calling. Then you can answer or ignore the call.
5. Set your default apps
Apple has not made it easy to change your default app. In the past, you had to drill each app that you wanted to change or set. Now with iOS 26, you can choose all your default apps in one place. For this, go to the settings, select the apps, and then tap on the default app. From here, you are able to modify the omission for email, messaging, calling, call filtering, browser, translator, password, contactless payment and keyboard.
