iOS 26 is coming - What it means for your app’s future

The headline feature of iOS 26 is its new “Liquid Glass” aesthetic, a system-wide look that layers blur and transparency to create a soft, floaty feel across the interface. UI elements subtly react to device tilt with motion and light reflections, while the lock screen clock dynamically moves behind photo subjects, adding an immersive, futuristic vibe inspired by visionOS.

From a design perspective, it’s a daring move, blending sleek motion-driven elements with a modern style. However, the update hasn’t escaped criticism. Many users report poor colour contrast that impacts readability and accessibility, especially in bright light or against complex backgrounds. App icons and essential screen elements can be hard to see, which is a serious concern for users with vision impairments.

Apple is aware of these issues and is actively looking to amend these faults as the beta continues to develop, aiming to strike a better balance between style and usability before the final release.

For app owners, this means that the new style could influence how your app looks and performs by default. If your app’s UI doesn’t adapt well to these visual changes, users might struggle with readability or engagement. It’s worth reviewing your app’s contrast levels and testing your interface against these new design elements to ensure usability doesn’t suffer.

We’d argue Apple should have made Liquid Glass an opt-in theme rather than switching it to the default without prompt. The sudden change could leave some users (especially those with accessibility needs) disoriented and without guidance on how to switch back. Apple says user feedback will help refine the design, but relying on public critique feels like a missed opportunity. Broader user testing with more diverse needs and everyday use cases, like busy vs minimal backgrounds, might have caught these issues earlier.

iOS 26 also introduces more adaptive navigation and layout changes. For example, tab bars now automatically hide when scrolling and smoothly reappear as needed, giving apps a cleaner, less cluttered feel. Menus in apps like Safari and Camera become more context-aware, popping out in response to user actions to stay tidy and responsive.

These refinements make the interface feel more streamlined and modern, but app owners should keep an eye on discoverability. If important controls become too hidden or unintuitive, users might get frustrated or confused. Testing user flows on iOS 26 will be essential to confirm your app remains clear and easy to use.

One thing Apple nailed is consistency across devices. iOS 26 aligns design elements like icons, widgets, and sidebars with iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and even CarPlay, creating a unified look and feel across the ecosystem. For app owners, this is good news; it reduces the cognitive load for users switching between Apple devices and reinforces brand identity.

This consistency also means that users expect your app to look and behave reliably across different Apple platforms. If your app supports multiple devices, make sure it fits well into this cohesive design language. A seamless cross-platform experience will become even more important.

Widgets and icons now adjust their blur, contrast, and colour dynamically based on wallpaper and time of day, making the interface feel more alive and responsive. The lock screen adds subtle parallax effects reacting to device movement, creating depth without distraction.

While this brings a fresh, engaging experience, it could also cause issues for users with visual impairments, especially if background content compromises contrast or clarity. As an app owner, you’ll want to review how your app’s UI elements react in different contexts and ensure key information always remains visible and accessible.

iOS 26 ramps up Apple Intelligence with live translation in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone apps, making multilingual communication easier. Visual Intelligence lets users take actions based on what’s on screen, such as creating calendar events or asking questions; convenient, but accuracy isn’t perfect yet.

New playful features like Genmoji and Image Playground add personality, though some see them as novelties rather than essentials. Advanced users will appreciate AI-enhanced Shortcuts for workflow automation, but casual users may overlook them.

For app owners, this means AI-powered features are increasingly part of the platform’s toolkit. Think about how you can leverage these native capabilities to add convenience or fun to your app, but don’t rely on them as a sole differentiator just yet.

iOS 26 adds several useful communication tools: call screening for unknown callers, spam detection, and a hold assist feature that notifies users when a live agent is available, a godsend for many, though it might shake up industries like sales.

Messages now supports built-in polls and custom conversation backgrounds, adding options for personalisation and collaboration, but beware of adding unnecessary visual clutter.

Discovery features like smarter Apple Maps with learned route preferences and new visited places history improve travel and navigation. Apple Music gets AutoMix for seamless DJ-style song blending and Lyrics Translation. A new Games app centralises gameplay tracking and social challenges.

These additions highlight Apple’s focus on personalisation and utility, signalling that apps which integrate or complement these features may stand to benefit.

If your app is built with React Native (like the ones we develop), you’re in a strong position heading into iOS 26. Unlike some other cross-platform tools like Flutter, React Native renders native UI components, which means your app naturally inherits the look, feel, and behaviour of Apple’s latest updates without needing to completely reinvent the wheel.

That native-level compatibility makes it far easier to support new features like dynamic navigation, adaptive controls, or even the Liquid Glass aesthetic, because your app is already speaking Apple’s visual language. As iOS 26 evolves, React Native apps will be more agile in keeping up, without relying on heavy rework or platform-specific hacks.

In short: if you're working with us, your app’s future is already more futureproof.

Apple made some notable improvements in accessibility with a redesigned Braille experience and motion sickness reduction tools. Parental controls have been expanded, audio recording quality is improved, and the Photos app is redesigned for simpler browsing.

For app owners, the takeaway is clear: accessibility and inclusivity continue to be priorities. Ensuring your app aligns with these trends will help you reach a wider audience and comply with evolving user expectations.

iOS 26 is ambitious, visually striking, and packed with thoughtful features, but it’s also a reminder that bold innovation must be balanced with usability and accessibility.

If you’re an app owner, now is the time to:

• Audit your app’s design for contrast and readability against the Liquid Glass style.
• Test navigation and control discoverability on iOS 26 to avoid user frustration.
• Ensure your app feels native and consistent across Apple devices, embracing the cross-platform design language.
• Review dynamic UI elements and how they respond to different backgrounds and lighting conditions.
• Consider integrating Apple Intelligence features where they add clear value.
• Keep accessibility front and centre to avoid alienating users and to future-proof your app.

The launch of iOS 26 is an opportunity to future-proof your app. Some features might ‘just work,’ but others will need careful integration and design adjustments to really shine. With the right prep and iteration, this update could unlock better performance, deeper engagement, and a smoother user experience.

Need help figuring out what changes your app needs? We’re here to help you adapt and thrive in the new Apple era.