iPhone Users Can Now Install iOS 26, a Comparison with iOS 18 Revealed
Apple has released its latest update for iOS, version 26, bringing a significant visual overhaul to the operating system. The main focus of this update is the introduction of Liquid Glass, a design that aims to give the iOS experience a more fluid and easier-on-the-eyes look.
The user interface in iOS 26 features shiny edges, translucent layers, and redesigned interface elements. The home screen, for instance, now boasts a more transparent and sheened dock background and search option compared to its counterpart in iOS 18. Icons on the home screen appear slightly larger, and the Control Center sports a new glassy look, with the 1x2 and 2x1 controls being more rounded than those in iOS 18.
The home screen's "All Clear" mode, when activated, makes Liquid Glass shine even brighter. However, it may introduce viewability issues, which can be remedied by the "reduce transparency" setting. Floating menu options will switch between black and white text based on the scroll direction and background color, providing a clean and intuitive user experience.
Notably, the background on notifications in iOS 26 is near-transparent with white text, contrasting with the more opaque black text in iOS 18. The digital clock in iOS 26 dynamically resizes depending on the wallpaper and number of notifications.
The Lock screen in iOS 26 remains largely unchanged, but the unlock effect simulates lifting a sheet of glass with a shiny edge when unlocking the iPhone, adding a touch of elegance to the process.
The new dynamic tab bars in iOS 26 change depending on scrolling or specific actions, aiming for a more intuitive experience. These dynamic tab bars resemble some features in Google's Android 16 in certain apps, indicating a growing trend towards similar design choices across mobile operating systems.
Despite the design update, iOS 26's new design is functionally similar to iOS 18. The photos app in iOS 26 demonstrates a less dramatic version of the background color adaptation feature that iOS 26 will offer, which is just a taste of what's to come.
The article mentions three upcoming features that are a bigger deal than Liquid Glass, but does not detail them in this paragraph. Apple's internal development team is credited with creating the Liquid Glass design as part of the visual redesign introduced in this version. The Liquid Glass design is Apple's biggest visual update since iOS 7 and was announced and refined by Apple itself.
Controls at the bottom in iOS 26 appear more like physical buttons with depth and a see-through background, providing a more tactile feel to the interface. Some app icons, such as Settings, Camera, and Mail, have been more influenced by the redesign in iOS 26 compared to others.
Users who did not install the beta builds can now access iOS 26, marking the official rollout of this significant update. With its Liquid Glass design, iOS 26 promises to offer a more modern and visually appealing user experience to iOS users.
