Apple Rolled Out iOS 26 With Liquid Glass, Call Screening and 26.5 Security Upgrades
Updated
Updated · CNET · Jul 1
Apple Rolled Out iOS 26 With Liquid Glass, Call Screening and 26.5 Security Upgrades
3 articles · Updated · CNET · Jul 1
Summary
iOS 26, released in September 2025, delivered Apple’s biggest iPhone visual overhaul since iOS 7 in 2013 with the new Liquid Glass interface.
Call screening became one of the update’s headline additions, alongside text screening, privacy controls, Safari protections and other hidden features aimed at reducing spam and tightening security.
Subsequent releases expanded the software further: iOS 26.5 added end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging, iOS 26.4 brought new emoji and video podcasts, and iOS 26.3 introduced more privacy controls.
Apple has also used smaller patches such as iOS 26.5.1, 26.4.1 and 26.3.1(a) to fix bugs and ship security improvements, while later settings let users tone down Liquid Glass effects.
The look back at iOS 26 comes after Apple unveiled iOS 27 at WWDC in June, with Siri AI and other AI features slated for compatible iPhones this fall.