The 100 changes and features that iOS 26 brings to the iPhone

Apple unveiled iOS 26 during its annual developers conference. WWDC25 The new operating system includes a huge and long list of new features and changes coming to iPhone devices. Currently, the first developer beta of iOS 26 is available, and a public beta will follow next month. The update will be released to all users later this year (in September). That's why, in the following lines, we decided to review the first part of the 100 changes and features that iOS 26 brings to the iPhone.

100 Features and Changes with iOS 26

1. A new glass design with glossy app icons and a transparent interface that reflects the surrounding colors.
2. Redesigned tab bar in apps.
3. A new “Delete” option for Home screen icons and widgets, alongside the existing “Light” and “Dark” options.
4. On the lock screen, the clock dynamically adapts to fill the empty space.
5. On the lock screen, there is an option to display the album cover in full screen.
6. Polls are now available in group chats within the Messages app.
7. Add a custom wallpaper to any conversation in the Messages app.
8. You can now send and receive money with Apple Cash in group chats in Messages.
9. The typing indicator is now visible in group chats within the Messages app.
10. There's a new "Add Contact" button in group chats in the Messages app.
11. The new Select option in the Messages app lets you select a portion of text within a message bubble.
12. The Messages app can scan messages from unknown people and place them in a dedicated folder.
13. Messages now has a natural language search feature.
14. Hold Assist waits for you during a call and alerts you when the other party is ready to answer.
15. Call Screening automatically answers unknown callers, asking for their name and the reason for their call, before your iPhone rings.
16. Instant translation of calls and text messages via phone apps, FaceTime, and Messages.
17. The Apple Games app lets you discover games and in-game events and compete with friends in new challenges.
18. The preinstalled Preview app lets you create, edit, annotate, mark up, and export PDF files, as well as crop, flip, rotate, and resize images.
19. Split the Photos app into Library and Collections tabs.
20. Related video thumbnails now appear in search results in the Photos app.
21. In the Photos app, you can create 3D spatial copies of photos on your iPhone.
22. The Camera app features a simpler design with Video and Photos tabs.
23. You will receive an alert if the camera lens needs cleaning, provided that “Lens cleaning tips” are enabled in Settings.
24. The screenshot editing interface has been slightly redesigned.
25. with iOS 26 When your iPhone is connected to CarPlay, taking a screenshot on your phone won't create a screenshot on CarPlay.
26. You can now stop iCloud Drive syncing over mobile data from Settings.
27. The phone app has a design that combines Favorites, Recents, and Voicemail.
28. The phone app supports screen sharing and gaming during phone calls.
29. New monogram styles for contacts in the Phone app.
30. If you have more than one SIM card, the new Focus mode will let you not receive any calls or notifications from just one SIM card.
31.  The Notepad app allows you to create multiple notes.
32. Notepad entries can now be viewed on the map.
33. Notepad allows you to add images directly with text.
34. The Passwords app now displays a history of passwords.
35. Safari now has three layouts: compact, bottom, and top.
36. Advanced protection against digital fingerprinting reaches all browsing activity by default.
37. The Tips app provides step-by-step guides to troubleshoot common iPhone errors and how to fix them.
38. You can now test the AirPods beta program directly from Settings.
39. You can start recording a video in the Camera app by long-pressing the stem of your AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 2.
40. Both AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 now offer studio-quality audio recording.
41. AirPods can detect when you're sleeping and automatically pause the sound.
42. You'll be notified when your AirPods are fully charged.
43. You can be reminded to charge your AirPods when the battery life is running low.
44. AirPods audio can now be automatically switched to CarPlay as needed.
45. You can set a custom snooze duration from 15 minute to XNUMX minutes in the Clock app.
46. Visual intelligence now works with on-screen content, allowing you to ask ChatGPT questions about what you're watching.
47. Visual intelligence can now read aloud and summarize screenshots with text.
48. Genmoji can now combine two emojis into one custom emoji.
49. Image Playground introduces new image styles for ChatGPT, including oil painting, watercolor, vector, anime, and typography.
50. The Shortcuts app has a new set of shortcuts powered by Apple Intelligence.
51. Apple Music lets you pin playlists, albums, and artists to the top of the Library tab.
52. Apple Music lets you create folders for your playlists.
53. Song lyrics can be translated on Apple Music.
54. The Lyrics Pronunciation feature allows everyone to sing along to the song, no matter the language.
55. AutoMix uses intelligence to transition from song to song like a DJ.
56. Boarding passes in the Wallet app offer the ability to view and share live activities for real-time updates.
57. The Wallet app now displays relevant information below your boarding pass, such as directions to Apple Maps, the appropriate airport terminal, and a shortcut to Find My baggage tracking.
58. Create your digital identity in the Wallet app using your passport, to verify age and identity on supported websites and apps, and at select stores and TSA checkpoints (TSA). But only in America so far.                         
59. You can manage auto-fill credit cards in the Wallet app.
60. iOS 26 brings Adaptive Power Mode to reduce power consumption and extend iPhone battery life by slightly lowering screen brightness or allowing some background activities to run longer.
61.  In Settings, you can see how long it takes for your iPhone battery to fully charge while the device is charging.
62. The Battery section in the Settings app has been completely updated.
63. The Keep Audio on Headphones option automatically switches audio to recently connected devices, such as car speakers or Bluetooth headphones, when listening through AirPods or other headphones.
64. You can now access your blocked contacts list via the Settings app.
65. Safety Check is now an option when blocking a contact.
66. Apple News+ subscribers in the US and Canada can play a new emoji game.
67. A new set of background sounds is available, such as “unintelligible human voice”, “steam”, “airplane”, “boat”, “bus”, “train”, “rain on the roof”, and “quiet night”.
68. The so-called home bar at the bottom of the screen is frequently hidden.
69. Satellite weather allows you to receive the latest weather forecast information while you're out of Wi-Fi or mobile network range.
70. In the Notes app, notes can be saved as a Markdown file.
71. Using Apple Intelligence, the Reminders app can suggest tasks and grocery orders based on emails or other text on your device.
72. Apple Intelligence can automatically categorize reminders in the Reminders app.
73. You can now create reminders in the Reminders app via the Action button.
74. Apple Maps can track your commute between home and work, notify you if there are significant delays on your usual route, and offer alternative routes if available.
75. The Maps app can discover and save places you visit and spend time in frequently, such as restaurants or shops.
76. The Maps app now lets you choose from additional types of incidents on the Report an Incident screen.
77. You can use your iPhone as a wireless microphone for Apple Music Sing (which lets users sing their favorite songs with adjustable vocals and real-time lyrics) on Apple TV 4K.
78. In the Apple Podcasts app, a wider range of playback speed options is now available, from 0.5x to 3x.
79. In the Bell Podcasts app, the Dialogue Enhancement option allows you to hear speech more clearly despite background noise.
80. In the Wallet app, Apple Intelligence can now identify, summarize, and display order tracking details from emails sent from merchants or delivery companies.
81. Apple Pay now lets you use rewards and credit cards for in-store purchases.
82. Personalized plans in Apple Fitness+ can now automatically create a personalized schedule based on a user's exercise and meditation preferences.
83. Accessibility features include Accessibility Reader to provide a personalized reading experience, as well as Braille Access, an interface designed for iPhones with braille displays.
84. Personal Voice now enables you to create a smoother, more natural version of your voice in less than a minute, using just 10 recorded phrases.
85. Vehicle Motion Cues has added new options to help reduce motion sickness.
86. Parents can now create or transfer children to child accounts more easily.
87. Parents can allow their children to download an app with an age rating that exceeds the content restrictions they have set.
88. Improvements to Communication Limits, Communication Safety, and the App Store include parental approvals for contact requests from children, and blurring sensitive content in FaceTime calls and photos in shared albums.
89. A new “Transfer from Android phone” option is available during eSIM setup.
90. The iPhone now supports Wi-Fi Aware (which allows nearby devices to connect).
91. You can sync your captive Wi-Fi gateway login information across Apple devices.
92. Calculator available in Arabic.
93. Multi-text keyboard for Arabic and English languages.
94. You can now select spelling while using the dictation feature.
95. The Liquid Glass design extends to CarPlay when using an iPhone running iOS 26.
96. CarPlay now displays live activities on the dashboard screen.
97. CarPlay now displays widgets like calendar appointments and Home app extension controls.
98. CarPlay now offers a built-in display of incoming calls.
99. CarPlay now shows pinned conversations in the Messages app.
100. CarPlay now lets you reply to messages using the six standard colorful emoji icons just like in the Messages app.

Conclusion

We've reviewed the 100 changes and features that iOS 26 brings to the iPhone. It can be said that iOS 26 is not just a traditional update, but rather a qualitative leap that will provide a different and amazing experience for iPhone users.

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