iOS 26 introduces several new features for iPhone users, including systemwide AutoFill for credit cards, a new Visited Places feature in Apple Maps that tracks locations with privacy safeguards, and the ability to pin favorite music in Apple Music for quick access, enhancing convenience and usability.
iOS 26.2 introduces a new feature allowing iPhone users to have their screen flash brightly for notifications, providing an alternative alert method alongside the existing LED flash, accessible through Settings under Accessibility options.
iOS 26 introduces major design and intelligence upgrades, but also includes 18 subtle features like customizable snooze durations, creating custom ringtones, improved text copying, visited places in Maps, battery time estimates, adaptive power mode, 3D photos, screenshot search, lyric translations, live call screening, AirPods camera control, message backgrounds, PDF editing, new gestures, satellite weather, camera lens alerts, HDR screenshots, and digital passports, all enhancing daily iPhone use.
Apple has announced iOS 26 with a major redesign called Liquid Glass, a new translucent aesthetic for home and lock screens, and several new features like a redesigned Phone app, live translation, group chat polls, and safety features for FaceTime. The public beta is available now, with the final release expected this fall, and most iPhone models from 2019 onward will be compatible.
Google Photos is rolling out new features exclusively for iPhone users, including a light mode, glanceable photo data, new action buttons, improved photo stack management, and quick action badges. These enhancements aim to improve user experience on iOS, with an upcoming Android release expected soon, though no specific date has been provided.
Apple's WWDC announced iOS 26 with a new Liquid Glass design across its product line, featuring transparent icons, dynamic lock screens, and simplified apps like Camera, Photos, and Phone. The update introduces new features such as live translation, enhanced Maps, a dedicated Games app, and improvements to Wallet and FaceTime, all expected to launch in the fall alongside new iPhone models.
The iPhone 16 is rumored to include the Action button, previously exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro, which allows users to customize shortcuts for various actions. This feature could enhance multitasking and personalization, making the iPhone experience more consistent across models. The iPhone 16 is expected to have moderate upgrades, with the Action button being a significant addition for non-Pro users.
Apple unveiled its next iPad software, iPadOS 17, at the Worldwide Developers Conference, which will bring interactive widgets, lock screen customization options, and lock screen live activities similar to those on iPhones. The Health app will also be available on iPads, and the Notes app will receive an upgrade, allowing users to autofill PDFs and collaborate on PDFs in real time. The AR/VR headset, Vision Pro, was also revealed, along with iOS 17 and a new 15-inch MacBook Air.
iOS 16.4 is set to launch with new features including the return of the page curl animation on Apple Books, tweaks to Apple Music and Apple Podcasts, Voice Isolation for calls, duplicate detection on iCloud Shared Photo Library, and battery consumption information for the Always-On display. iPhone 14 Pro users will have more control over the Always-On display feature.