Apple has confirmed the upcoming release of iOS 26 which gets a new look and a hugely important feature that will stop annoying spam calls.
It’s been a very busy week for Apple. The US technology giant has just confirmed the official release of iOS 26 (yes, that name is correct and no, it won’t be called iOS 19 as many would have expected).
This latest and greatest operating system will arrive on devices later this year and brings with it a shiny new Liquid Glass appearance that will make things look far more glossy and futuristic. A refreshed home screen will be available with a clock that adapts depending on what’s on the screen and wallpapers that can be given a 3D appearance.
Liquid Glass also brings new customisation options to app icons and widgets, including a stunning clear look which makes your apps blend seamlessly with the background.
Other extras also include improved messaging, instant language translation and a new way to game on the iPhone.
These are all a nice boost from Apple, but there will be another big reason to download and install iOS 26 when it appears this autumn.
Apple has added a new feature in this release called Call Screening, which won’t let unknown numbers start bothering you until the person on the other end of the phone confirms who they are.
Once they have explained to Apple’s Intelligence exactly what they want, a message then appears on the iPhone’s display letting you know why they are ringing you – it’s then up to you if you let the call come through.
If you are happy for the calls to continue, you can unblock the number, and if you suddenly don’t want to be hassled by the number, you can add it back to the Call Screening list.
With so many of us now getting bothered by unwanted calls, this could be one of the most useful changes ever from Apple.
There are some other neat updates as well including Hold Assist which lets you know when someone at the call centre finally answers the phone. The Messages app will also check unknown numbers and place texts in a separate spam-style folder.
“iOS 26 shines with the gorgeous new design and meaningful improvements to the features users rely on every day, making iPhone even more helpful,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering.
“Experiences are more expressive and personal, from the Lock Screen and Home Screen, to new capabilities across Phone and Messages that help users focus on the connections that matter most. And with powerful new Apple Intelligence capabilities integrated across the system, users can get things done easier than ever.”