7 Cool New Features Coming to iPhones With iOS 26

Apple’s greatest software program redesign in over a decade is formally out.

The brand new iPhone software program, iOS 26, launched Monday. It consists of a number of standout options throughout its suite of services. The replace will likely be preloaded onto the freshly launched iPhone 17 and iPhone Air, which can be found for preorder as of Friday. Older fashions will also be up to date to the brand new iOS.

Apple first launched iOS 26 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June, the place it demonstrated a number of of the options which can be obtainable as of Monday. It comes with a brand new look that Apple known as the “broadest design replace ever” through the WWDC keynote.

We rounded up the brand new iOS 26 options we discovered to be the best or most helpful.

Let’s dive in.

The brand new look: Liquid Glass

Whereas it isn’t unique to the iPhone, Liquid Glass was the principle function touted at WWDC 2025.

It is Apple’s new design language for its software program and the corporate’s first main software program redesign for the iPhone since iOS 7. It extends throughout Apple’s different units too: It is obtainable in software program updates for Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.

With a translucent, glass-like aesthetic, the Liquid Glass design adapts in several environments based mostly on content material and context and is coming to all the pieces from switches and sliders to the iPhone’s residence display screen and management heart.

Extra Visible Intelligence options

If in case you have an iPhone that is highly effective sufficient to run Apple Intelligence, there are some new Visible Intelligence options that may inform what’s in your display screen that can assist you take varied actions.

In the event you’re scrolling on social media, for instance, and also you discover a product you want, you’ll be able to press the identical buttons you’d press to take a screenshot. Then, a brand new choice will supply Visible Intelligence capabilities, together with looking out websites like Google and Etsy for the product to purchase. (Android customers conversant in Google’s Lens AI instrument have loved an analogous function for a bit now.)

You too can ask ChatGPT about what you see in your display screen, or in the event you come throughout an occasion, you’ll be able to add it to your calendar, prepopulated with the date, time, and site.

Large enhancements to your group chats

Messages additionally get an improve in iOS 26. Typing indicators — the bubble with three dots that permits you to know when somebody is typing — are coming to group chats; these had been beforehand solely obtainable in one-to-one messages between two individuals.

And look out, Venmo: You too can begin requesting, sending, and receiving Apple Cash in group chats.

As well as, you will quickly be capable of create polls and set backgrounds for chats, whether or not you select from a preset providing or use AI to create a customized one in Apple’s AI picture generator, Picture Playground.

In messages, you can begin making Frankenmoji (not an Apple time period, that is simply ours) to mix a number of emoji or Genmoji, and even a textual content description of anything you need to add, to create a novel one.

Assist coping with pesky cellphone calls

The Telephone app appears quite a bit completely different in iOS 26. As an alternative of the decision log, voicemails, and favorites being underneath separate tabs, they’re mixed to point out who’s calling, what they’re saying, and who you would possibly need to name.

There’s additionally the Name Screening function, which primarily solutions unknown calls so that you can decide whether or not they’re spam. If the transcript appears legit, you’ll be able to reply the decision your self.

Maintain Help, one other new function, can detect maintain music on customer support calls and hold your spot in line till an agent is obtainable to assist, so you do not have to sit down there ready for them.

New journey instruments

Your Apple Maps app is getting smarter. As you progress about, Maps will study your routine and counsel higher routes every day. It’s going to know your most popular route and adapt to adjustments to your each day commute.

With the brand new Visited Locations function, you do not have to rack your mind for that restaurant you went to however cannot keep in mind the identify of. Your iPhone will detect the place you’re and retailer it in case you might want to come again to it later.

For air journey, boarding passes are getting a brand new look, and there are instructions to search out your gate within the airport.

New options additionally assist you to get by TSA with fewer bodily paperwork in your hand. In 9 taking part states, you’ll be able to retailer your ID in your Apple Pockets.

“Digital ID can be utilized for home journey at supported TSA checkpoints, in apps, and in individual the place age and id verification are required,” Apple says.

Translations in actual time

Texting, calling, and FaceTiming throughout language boundaries are about to get simpler. Due to Apple Intelligence, iOS 26 consists of live translation for Messages and one-on-one calls through Telephone or FaceTime.

Stay translation on Messages is obtainable for English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and simplified Chinese language.

On Telephone and FaceTime, dwell translation is just obtainable for English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. Later this yr, the corporate plans so as to add help for simplified Chinese language, conventional Mandarin Chinese language, Italian, Japanese, and Korean.

Stay translation may even be obtainable through AirPods 4 with Lively Noise Cancellation and AirPods Professional 2 and later.

The brand new Apple Video games app

Apple is introducing a brand new Video games app, which permits customers to play with associates and discover new sport suggestions.

The personalised hub permits customers to see all of the video games they’ve downloaded throughout iPhone and iPad in a single location. It additionally centralizes all associates and teams from Recreation Middle — Apple’s social gaming community — in a single place.

Customers may also connect with and navigate the Video games app through a suitable sport controller.