• Apple and Google take separate paths with iOS 26 and Android 16.
• Apple focuses on design, while Google goes all-in on AI.

For years, smartphones from Apple and Google have followed a similar formula. Whether you picked an iOS or an Android device, the basic setup didn’t change much: a grid of apps, swipe-able screens, and occasional visual updates. But with the arrival of Apple’s iOS 26 and Google’s Android 16 this year, the two companies are starting to go in separate directions – not just in how their software looks, but in what it does.

Apple’s new operating system, coming this autumn, introduces a fresh look called “Liquid Glass.” The interface now blends into the background with translucent menus and soft visuals that make icons and buttons seem to float on the screen. It’s meant to feel clean and elegant and to offer a consistent experience on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. For Apple, the focus is on refining design – a move that plays to its reputation for polished aesthetics.

Google’s Android 16 update is going in a different direction. It brings in “Material 3 Expressive,” a brighter, louder design language that puts bold colours front and centre. Users can customise their phones with vivid themes – pink windows, violet buttons, and colourful highlights that reflect a more playful approach. Google says it wants Android to feel emotional and dynamic, with a user interface that feels more personalised.

But design changes only scratch the surface of what’s shifting. Under the hood, Android 16 is taking a big step into artificial intelligence. Google has integrated its Gemini AI assistant into the operating system whether asked for or not, acting as users write emails, edit images, generate lists, or providing suggestions drawing from and integrated into separate apps. Gemini is present in Google’s core apps and continues working in the background, offering its input before users ask for it.

A new “AI Mode” uses personal data – like calendar events, recent searches, or photos – to make suggestions. Google says it handles data “responsibly,” but some users may not be comfortable with a system that watches so closely. There’s a balance between useful and intrusive, and it remains to be seen how Android users will respond.

Meanwhile, Apple’s AI approach is more cautious. The company has introduced a few new features through its Apple Intelligence system, like real-time language translation during FaceTime calls or text conversations, and the ability to scan a screenshot and suggest next steps. For instance, take a screenshot of a concert flyer and your phone might prompt you to add the date to your calendar. Or snap a handbag you’re eyeing and get a link to shop for similar items.

These may be helpful additions, but they’re not new to Android users. Google rolled out real-time translation tools in 2021 and has long-offered visual search through features like Circle to Search, where users can draw around an object to find related images online. Some have called that feature more of a novelty than a necessity, but it’s an example of how Android tends to experiment early.

One feature that’s notably absent from iOS 26 is an updated version of Siri. Apple had been working on a new AI-powered Siri meant to compete with Gemini, but internal testing showed it got nearly one in three responses wrong. Google’s Gemini has suffered from its own issues, but the company remains fully committed to AI.

Apple has postponed the relaunch of Siri, and in the latest version of iOS will remain mostly unchanged. Apple users can send some questions to ChatGPT, but the integration is still basic.

All of this points to a wider shift in direction, and Apple seems more focused on design, consistency, and privacy. The company wants its devices to feel intuitive and stable, with AI features that stay in the background. Google is more willing to take risks, putting AI at the centre of the experience in an attempt to turn smartphones into what it frames as active assistants.

The divide means your choice of phone could shape how you use technology in the coming years. If you prefer a system that purports to be able to automate tasks and can make suggestions based on large language models, Android may offer more right out of the box. If you want a clean, visually polished interface with tighter control over how your data is used, with less AI input, iPhones may be a better fit.

What’s clear is that the days of Apple and Google moving in lockstep are over. With iOS 26 and Android 16, the two mobile giants are no longer trying to match each other feature for feature. They’re building different futures – and users will have to decide which one fits them best.