The public beta version of Apple iOS 26 is here, the biggest interface redesign since 2013
The new design language called "Liquid Glass" will replace many familiar buttons and menus with translucent and animated controls. At the same time, iOS 26 has updated some new AI features, including real-time translation capabilities implemented in iMessage and FaceTime, as well as visual search capabilities based on screenshots
Apple releases the public beta version of iOS 26, featuring the biggest redesign of the interface since 2013.
On Thursday, Apple announced the public beta version of its next-generation iPhone operating system, iOS 26, allowing public users with recent iPhone models to experience the new operating system ahead of its official rollout in the fall.
The most striking change in this update is a new design language called “Liquid Glass,” which replaces many familiar buttons and menus with translucent and animated controls. This design concept will not only be applied to the iPhone but will also extend to the operating systems of iPad, Mac computers, and Apple Watch.
Users wishing to experience the iOS 26 public beta must first register for the testing program on Apple's official website, after which they can find and install it in their device's “Settings - General - Software Update - Beta Updates.”
It is worth noting that the significant upgrade features for Siri, which Apple previously promised, did not appear in iOS 26 and are expected to be officially launched in 2026.
AI Features Quietly Launched
Although the highly anticipated major upgrade for Siri is absent, Apple has cleverly embedded some new AI features in iOS 26.
These include real-time translation capabilities implemented in iMessage and FaceTime, as well as visual search capabilities based on screenshots. For example, users can circle a lamp in a screenshot of a news article, and the system can help find online purchasing channels.
Meanwhile, some basic applications have also been updated. The new phone app integrates recent calls and voicemail into the same interface. Apple has also enhanced the built-in filtering tools to more effectively filter out spam calls and messages.
The release of this public beta follows Apple's traditional annual software update cycle. Apple typically unveils new systems at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June each year, allowing software developers to try them out first.
Subsequently, a public beta is released in the summer to attract early users willing to help fix system bugs and try out new features.
Finally, the official version of the software will be pushed to all users alongside the new iPhone hardware released in the fall, at which point most users' devices will automatically complete the update
