Apple has released iOS 26, bringing a major redesign and new features to iPhones and other Apple devices. The update introduces “Liquid Glass,” a new semi-transparent design across all Apple platforms, along with expanded Apple Intelligence features and tools to manage calls and messages.
Battery Drain After Update is Normal, Says Apple
If you’ve updated to iOS 26 and notice your battery draining faster, Apple says this is normal and temporary. In an official support page, the company explains that after a major update, your device needs time to complete background tasks like indexing data, downloading assets, and updating apps. Apple acknowledges users might “notice a temporary impact on battery life and thermal performance” immediately after updating.
Depending on how you use your iPhone, certain new features might use more resources, potentially causing “a small impact on performance and/or battery life,” according to Apple. The battery drain should stabilize once the initial setup process completes.
Liquid Glass: The Biggest Design Change Since iOS 7
The most visible change in iOS 26 is the new Liquid Glass design, which Apple has rolled out across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV simultaneously. This semi-transparent interface looks like frosted glass bubbles floating above backgrounds, with more rounded corners and a sheen that reacts to movement. The design allows you to partly see through icons, buttons, and menus to what’s beneath them.
Apple describes this as bringing “even greater consistency” across the Apple ecosystem while maintaining what makes each operating system unique. Many tech outlets consider this the most significant visual update since iOS 7 was released.
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New Features for Managing Calls and Messages
iOS 26 adds practical tools to manage unwanted communications. Call Screening can answer calls from unknown numbers, asking for the caller’s name and reason for calling before alerting you. Hold Assist will wait on hold until a customer service agent is ready to speak with you.
The Messages app can now screen texts from new senders and detect spam, filtering them to separate inboxes. Users can also create polls and add backgrounds to message conversations.
Apple Intelligence Expands
Apple Intelligence features have been expanded, with Live Translation now available in Messages, FaceTime, Phone, and with AirPods. Visual intelligence lets users take screenshots and ask questions about what they’re looking at, or search for similar images across supported apps.
Creative tools include Genmoji for combining multiple emojis and integration with ChatGPT in Image Playground for new image styles. However, these features have language and regional availability constraints.
Cross-Device Updates
iPadOS 26 brings an entirely new windowing system with a Mac-like menu bar, allowing users to resize and move windows. The Files app has been revamped, and the Preview app from Mac is now available on iPad.
macOS 26 Tahoe includes the biggest-ever update to Spotlight, allowing users to take actions directly from search. The Phone app now comes to Mac with call screening and hold assist features.watchOS 26 introduces sleep scores and FDA-cleared hypertension notifications for Series 9 or newer watches, which can alert users if signs of chronic high blood pressure are detected over a 30-day period.
