Apple has set a definitive date for its next major update: iOS 26 will be released on Monday, September 15.The company will coordinate this rollout with the rest of its platforms, following months of testing and the unveiling of its new devices.
The announcement comes after the launch of the family iPhone 17 and other products such as Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the new AirPods Pro 3. That day they will also be activated iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26, reinforcing the idea of ​​a more coherent ecosystem by design and functions.
Date and availability
After confirming the company, iOS 26 downloads will begin on Monday, September 15 and will be rolled out gradually. New iPhones will ship with this version installed, while compatible models will receive it via a software update.
As a preliminary step, Apple has put into circulation the Release Candidate (RC), the nearly final build that anticipates the general release. Those in the beta program can now try it out before it's released to everyone.
The update includes the work presented at the WWDC, where Apple advanced a more personalized experience, with a special emphasis on content and simplified navigation. Developer and public betas have served to fine-tune performance and polish details before the stable version.
Along with iOS 26, the new versions of the rest of the systems will arrive: iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26They all incorporate common design lines and functions that achieve visual and usable continuity between devices.
Compatible devices
The list of models that will be able to make the jump includes the family iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd gen.) onwards. The iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are added in all their variants, as well as iPhone 16e and the new iPhone AirThe iPhone 17 series ships with iOS 26 pre-installed.
- iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation)
- iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16e and iPhone Air
- iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max
On the other side, iPhone XS, XS Max and XR will not receive iOS 26 (they remain on iOS 18), while previous models had already been left out in previous cycles. It is expected that some of these devices will continue to receive security patches within its current version.
It is worth remembering that several advanced functions of Apple Intelligence require recent hardware: the bulk of AI developments are enabled in iPhone 15 Pro and later, and in the new iPhone 16 and 17, for memory and processing power.
Main news
iOS 26 inaugura Liquid glass, a visual language with transparency, reflections, and depth inspired by VisionOS that brings coherence to icons, widgets, menus, and controls. The system debuts a more fluid and contextual aesthetic, with bars and panels that adapt to content.
The platform reinforces Apple Intelligence to real-time translations integrated into Messages, FaceTime, and Phone. It also updates Visual Intelligence to detect and search what appears on the screen, plus new AI-powered shortcuts and contextual suggestions.
in the app Phone Number, iOS 26 can recognize when you're still on hold and notify you when you resume the call; adds conversation translation and a system Caller ID to reduce spam (initially limited to the United States and registered companies).
iMessage wins new customization options such as chat backgrounds, group polls, and more effective spam filtering, with alerts that help identify potential fraud.
Apple Music debuts AutoMix for automatic transitions between songs using AI, along with improvements in translation and pronunciation of lyrics. In addition, the lock screen displays full-screen visuals of supported tracks and albums.
La app Camera simplifies its interface to give more prominence to the frame, while maintaining the quick gesture to switch between photo and video modes. FaceTime, controls are hidden to prioritize the image and subtitles with instant translation are incorporated.
safari It adopts a cleaner look with a smaller bottom bar that can be hidden while browsing, favoring full-screen viewing. The goal is to reduce friction, just like other system apps.
En Maps, the Visited Places feature saves a private location history to remind you of places you've visited. The classic macOS app is also coming to iPhone. Preview, with basic image and PDF viewing and editing.
Is incorporated GAMES, a space that brings together third-party titles and Apple Arcade, as well as game mode settings and Game Center profiles; it also makes it easy to discover exclusive apps for iOS. The app Shortcuts gains further integration with AI tools such as Genmoji, Image Playground, and Visual Intelligence.
For AirPods compatible (AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2), there are improvements in recording with Voice Isolation and a remote camera control from the stem, useful for photos and videos. CarPlay is renewed with improved interface and CarPlay Ultra is mentioned as an evolution.
Regarding the name, Apple aligns its platforms with a common numberingiOS 26 adopts that number because it will be the dominant version for much of 2026, even though its release is scheduled for September 2025, facilitating consistency with iPadOS, macOS, and the rest.
The mid-September meeting will trigger a significant package of changes: a more unified design with Liquid glass, better-integrated AI features, and a simultaneous rollout across the entire ecosystem. Those with a compatible iPhone will be able to update from Settings, and if they're already part of the beta program, they can try the RC before general publication.
