Apple has just unveiled iOS 26, the successor to iOS 18 and the next major update for iPhones. It’s the first iOS update using Apple’s new streamlined versioning scheme. Instead of being called iOS 19, like most of us expected a few months ago, it skipped seven numbers to go straight to 26, after 2026. It’s similar to what cars do with their own naming schemes—while it’s getting a release in the tail end of 2025, it’s going to be the newest version for most of 2026. iPadOS, watchOS, and even macOS are now using this same exact versioning system as well—it’s more consistent, and some people might find it easier to follow and less confusing.

As for the actual update, the biggest improvement here is a new design language. This is the biggest UI change we’ve seen since Apple announced iOS 7 over a decade ago, where it moved from its original skeuomorphic design to a minimalistic “flat” design language.

This design language has changed a lot from that original iteration in iOS 7, but it has come in the form of smaller updates over the years. This is the first time Apple is actually introducing a brand-new design language in years, and it’s huge. It takes a few pages from that old skeuomorphic book while also keeping some current elements and a lot of frosted glass effects. If anything, it reminds me a lot of what Microsoft used to do with Aero back in the Windows Vista/Windows 7 days, and if you’re nostalgic for that look, you might feel right at home with Apple’s software now.

It’s being rolled out to all of Apple’s operating systems, not just iOS, so you’ll also see it in macOS, watchOS, and more. System apps like Camera, Photos, Safari, and Apple Music have also been updated with streamlined layouts and redesigned navigation elements to align with the new design language.

As for other improvements, the Phone and Messages apps are getting a few additions as well. The Phone app now features a unified layout for Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails, and a new “Call Screening” feature builds on Live Voicemail, transcribing what a caller is saying in real-time to help you decide whether to answer—this is likely heavily inspired on Google’s Call Screen feature available on Pixel phones. If you’re placed on hold, “Hold Assist” will notify you when a live agent has returned to the line. In Messages, there’s a new screening tool that automatically places messages from unknown senders into a separate folder, keeping the main conversation list clear. Group chats in Messages are also being enhanced with the ability to create polls and add custom backgrounds.

CarPlay has been updated with a more compact interface for incoming calls to avoid obscuring navigation. It also gains support for Tapbacks and pinned conversations in Messages, as well as widgets and Live Activities to provide information with minimal distraction. Other additions include a new Apple Games app, better parental controls, and better accessibility support, including a new interface for connecting to a Braille display.