iOS 26

iOS 26 revamp detailed in new report: ‘digital glass’ design with big changes for Safari and more

Chance Miller | Jun 6 2025 - 7:20 am PT

iOS 26 is a huge improvement – but there’s one big problem

Ahead of WWDC kicking off on Monday, a new report from Bloomberg dives into the details of what to expect from Apple’s software overhauls. In particular, the report sheds new light on the major redesign coming as part of iOS 26, which is set to be the biggest revamp to the platform since iOS 7 in 2013.

As previously reported, Bloomberg describes the iOS 26 design as being based on visionOS. “The main interface element will be glass,” the report says. The “main interface element will be digital glass,” with a focus on more use of “light and transparency.”

The report continues:

Tool and tab bars will look different, and there will be redesigned app icons and other buttons. There’s also a strong focus on the use of pop-out menus, meaning users can click a button to get a quick list of additional options.

One lingering question about the iOS 26 redesign is whether app icons will be rounded to match the Apple Vision Pro interface. According to Bloomberg, the shape of app icons “is staying largely the same” in iOS 26.

The redesign will also extend to Home Screen widgets on the iPhone and iPad. Bloomberg says they have been “redesigned to match the new interface,” but will “largely function the same way as they do today.”

Safari will reportedly see one of the biggest revamps as part of iOS 26. The report describes a “significantly updated look” for Safari with a “more transparent and glassy address bar.”

A revamp is also coming to the Phone app, described as a “new view that combines favorite contacts, recent calls, and voicemails into a single, scrollable window.” This change, however, will allegedly be optional, and users will have the option to stick with the existing design if they prefer.

Finally, the Preview app that has existed on macOS for years is also coming to the iPhone and iPad this year. This will give users more robust tools for things like PDF management and annotation.

The report corroborates other details of iOS 26 previously reported by 9to5Mac. This includes a redesign for CarPlay, support for polls and automatic translation in the Messages app, and a dedicated “Apple Games app.” The story also corroborates changes coming to the Camera app, as previously reported by Jon Prosser.