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Apple first unveiled iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 back in June at its Worldwide Developers Conference, keeping in line with tradition. On September 9, alongside the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup and the new iPhone Air, the company finally put a date on when the software will roll out to everyone.
The release is set for September 15, which falls on a Monday. That timing follows Apple’s usual pattern, landing between pre-orders for the new iPhones opening on September 12 and their official retail launch on September 19. Naturally, every new iPhone model will ship with iOS 26 out of the box.
Both iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 have been in public beta for several weeks. Early testers have pointed out faster animations across the system, a first for iOS in recent memory, making the experience feel snappier.
The most significant change comes with Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language, marking the company’s boldest visual overhaul in years. The look extends beyond the operating system itself and into Apple’s own apps, giving the update a unified and modern feel.
iOS 26 also introduces a dedicated Games app, which consolidates gaming into a single hub, while Visual Intelligence gets an upgrade with features that closely resemble Google’s Circle to Search. On top of that, Apple has added ChatGPT integration, expanding the platform’s AI capabilities.
