iOS 26.1, macOS 26.1, and more are now rolling out: battery life boosts, Apple Intelligence language expansion, Liquid Glass controls, and key UX upgrades
Apple has begun publicly rolling out its latest wave of software updates across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro, and HomePod. Early user reports point to noticeably better battery life on iOS 26.1, particularly on the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The update weighs in at a hefty 11.44 GB, likely because Apple is bundling on‑device foundational AI models with the build.
What’s new in iOS 26.1
– Liquid Glass effect toggle lets you adjust UI translucency for elements like notifications and tab bars.
– Option to disable the lock-screen camera swipe to prevent accidental launches.
– Apple Intelligence adds support for Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
– AirPods Live Translation expands with Chinese (Mandarin, simplified and traditional), Italian, Japanese, and Korean.
– Apple TV+ is rebranded to Apple TV with a refreshed app icon.
– Local Capture, previously on iPadOS, arrives on iOS to record your own audio and video during calls, with a new option to choose the save location.
– Swipe to change tracks in Apple Music.
– New notification forwarding option in Settings.
– Fresh wallpapers.
– Alarms now require a sliding gesture to dismiss.
– Dedicated scrubber for photos and videos for faster, more precise navigation.
What’s new in macOS 26.1
– Liquid Glass effect toggle for customizable translucency.
– Apple Music AutoMix over AirPlay.
– Improved FaceTime audio quality, especially on low-bandwidth connections.
– Communication Safety and web content filters enabled by default for existing child accounts ages 13–17 (age range may vary by region).
What’s new in iPadOS 26.1
– Slide Over returns, bringing back the floating mini-window for a secondary app. Note: you can no longer stack multiple apps for quick switching.
– Liquid Glass effect toggle.
– Swipe to change tracks in Apple Music.
– Apple Intelligence now supports eight additional languages.
– Local Capture now lets you choose where to store recordings.
– Dedicated scrubber for photos and videos.
Other platform updates
– tvOS 26.1 focuses on behind-the-scenes improvements with no major front-end changes.
– visionOS 26.1 introduces the Vision Pro app on iPad and updates the spatial gallery experience.
– HomePod Software 26.1 delivers performance and stability enhancements.
If you’re updating today, plan for the large download on iPhone and consider backing up your device beforehand. With battery life gains, expanded Apple Intelligence language support, interface refinements like the Liquid Glass toggle, and handy quality-of-life additions across the ecosystem, this is one of Apple’s most meaningful mid-cycle updates in recent memory.
