Hey everyone! Apple recently revealed their latest software, iOS 26 at WWDC 2025, and I know a lot of us are curious:
When can I try it? What new features does it bring?
Whether you’re a developer, designer or just a casual iPhone user, iOS updates always bring curiosity and sometimes big changes.
I’m not a designer or developer myself, but I’ve been following Apple since the iPhone 6. Every year, when a new iOS drops, I watch the keynote, scroll through reactions, and try to figure out what’s going to matter most.
At first, iOS 26 didn’t feel like a huge leap. But the more I explored its features especially the new on-device AI and developer tools, the more it felt like a meaningful shift for the future.
Right now, only developers in Apple’s Developer Program, (a paid membership) can download the beta. But don’t worry, Apple is releasing a public beta in July, which anyone can download for free. Just keep in mind that it’s still a test version, so expect a few bugs or crashes.
Table of Contents
What’s actually new in iOS 26?
It feels like Apple really leaned into design and on-device intelligence this year with some features that immediately catch the eye while others open doors for deeper innovation.
Here are some of the new features that got people talking:
- Liquid glass design: iOS 26 brings a fresh new look with smooth, transparent layers that make your screen feel more modern and alive
- Apple intelligence: Your iPhone is now smarter, right on the device. It can translate messages in real time, understand what’s on your screen, help you rewrite emails, and even create images with AI.
- Genmoji: You can now create your own fun emoji-style characters using AI. Just type a description, and your phone will turn it into a unique Genmoji.
- Smarter apps for developers: Apple is giving developers access to powerful AI tools, which means the apps you use could soon become much smarter with features like better chat support or creative tools.
- Battery and energy updates: iOS 26 helps your phone manage power more efficiently, so your battery lasts longer and uses less energy when it matters.
- Focus mode improvements: Your phone will automatically suggest and switch Focus modes, based on what you’re doing or where you are that means no need to do it manually. It’s like your iPhone saying, “Shh, they’re working,” as it filters out distractions, reduces the noise, and helps you actually stay focused.
Note: iOS 26 will only be available on iPhones with the A13 chip or newer (iPhone 11 and later). If you have an older device, you won’t be able to upgrade this time.
Real Voices on iOS 26
When Apple announced iOS 26 at WWDC25, I jumped onto X (formerly Twitter), where developers and designers were already sharing their first impressions in real time. As expected, the Liquid Glass design got a lot of attention. Some developers were really into the fresh, modern look, calling it clean, smooth, and a step forward for UI.
But not everyone was sold. Others voiced concern about performance or whether the new visuals might create friction in existing app interfaces. One post said, “Looks pretty, but I can already feel the layout bugs coming.”
Seeing both excitement and hesitation from developers gave me a clearer sense of what might be exciting and what might be challenging about this update.
We’re still waiting to try the beta, but this video gives a great overview of what to expect in iOS 26.
What Our Team Thinks
At our company, we don’t just follow Apple’s updates, we actively build for them. We’re a Japan-based company, and most of our engineers and designers are Japanese, working closely with Apple’s development tools every day.
We haven’t gotten our hands on the beta yet, but that didn’t stop us from forming early impressions, both optimistic and cautious. I ran a short internal poll across our team and here’s what our team had to say:
86% of our team uses iOS devices every day. So yes, our opinions come from people who work with iOS personally and professionally.
1. First impressions about iOS 26?
Some answers were simple and enthusiastic: “I was excited!”
A few expressed concern:
“The big UI changes make me worry about how this might affect our current apps.”
“This could force us to make updates just to maintain compatibility.”
“My own take? Liquid Glass is interesting visually, but what really stands out to me is Apple’s push for smarter, more private, on-device AI. That could genuinely change how we design and build apps.”
2. What would you test first?
I asked if they had the beta today, what’s the first thing they’d test?
Top answers were:
- “Liquid Glass design”
- “Apple Intelligence”
- “New developer tools/APIs”
Some also mentioned they’d first check whether their current apps would break or show deprecated behavior. No one selected Genmoji or Focus features, which shows the team is focused on what affects development stability and innovation.
3. What feature makes you want to build something new?
When asked what part of iOS 26 inspires them to create, responses leaned toward the future, AI features came out on top, followed by UI widgets and new APIs and tools.
A few were still unsure and that’s okay. Innovation usually begins once you’ve had time to explore the tools hands-on.
“For me, the AI side is the most exciting. Being able to build smart features that protect user privacy and work offline? That’s something we’re ready to explore.”
What Our Designers Are Saying
Our designers had very similar impressions to the dev team but with a few added visual concerns.
1. Initial reactions
Some designers were excited likewise others were more reserved:
“I’m not seeing many big changes for iPhone users yet.”
“I’m nervous this update might force us to rework designs that were working fine before.”
2. What would they test?
- The Liquid Glass design was the most talked-about.
- A few wanted to see how Apple Intelligence affects visual UI.
- Others were curious about how the new APIs might help with prototyping and design workflows.
Again, no one picked Genmoji—showing that the focus is on practical tools, not just fun ones.
3. What makes them want to build?
When asked what features made them want to build something, most designers said AI capabilities excited them the most. That was followed by interest in UI and widget enhancements, and then new APIs. Some also mentioned they’re waiting to see what’s really possible once they get more hands-on time with the tools.
“From a design perspective, iOS 26 isn’t just about visual polish, it hints at deeper changes in how interfaces behave and how we work with AI.” The big question for us is:
Can we design around this new system in a way that still feels intuitive, fast, and human?
That’s what we’re most curious to explore.
Final Thoughts
We’re looking forward to trying out the public beta soon and seeing how these new features actually work. iOS 26 might not look very different at first, but it feels like it’s setting up some exciting things for the future.
As someone who’s followed Apple for years, I’m curious to see what’s next and I hope you are too. Whether you’re an iPhone user, developer, or just a tech fan, stay tuned—there’s plenty to explore ahead.
If you’ve already started using iOS 26 or have any thoughts, I’d love to hear from you.
About Us
NEXT-SYSTEM is a leading AI company in Japan that develops and sells its in-house built AI Pose Estimation Engine Vision Pose, researches and develops AI Behavioral Analysis and AI Ergonomic Evaluation Systems and engages in the research and development of human tracking software and XR (AR/VR/MR) systems.
