Discover the top 10 iOS 26 features coming to your iPhone, from the revamped camera interface to upgraded CarPlay functionality.
🖋 By Meenakshi – AZAD Architects, Barnala
Apple iOS 26: Top 10 Features from Live Translation to Games
Just hours after unveiling iOS 26 at WWDC 2025, Apple began rolling out the first developer beta of its latest operating system.
Packed with powerful new features, iOS 26 also debuts a refreshed user interface called “Liquid Glass,” giving iPhones a sleek new look.
Liquid Glass Interface
The most striking visual update in iOS 26 is the “Liquid Glass” design language. Borrowing elements from visionOS, Apple has reimagined menus, notifications, the Control Center, and more with a translucent, fluid aesthetic.
To complement the refreshed design, Apple has revamped the visual style of its core apps such as Messages, Phone, and Camera. Additionally, UI components like toolbars and tabs have been redesigned. Drop-down menus are being replaced with rounded, more subtle menu pop-ups that Apple claims offer a less distracting experience.
Redesigned Homescreen and Lock Screen
iOS 26 brings a fresh new look to both the lock screen and homescreen. The lock screen now features an updated time and date widget styled with the Liquid Glass effect, along with a dynamic widget that adjusts its size based on the wallpaper.
Users can also create immersive spatial scenes that add depth and motion as the phone moves. On the homescreen, Apple now allows users to make app icons translucent, offering a more personalized and modern aesthetic.
Updated Camera App
After years of minimal changes, Apple has finally refreshed the Camera app in iOS 26, bringing a more modern and intuitive experience to users.
Rather than the traditional, crowded row of shooting modes above the shutter button, Apple has shifted them to the bottom of the screen in iOS 26. The new design also tucks away on-screen controls into a clean, swipe-up menu from the active mode, offering a more streamlined and user-friendly interface.
Real-Time Translation
Driven by Apple Intelligence, iOS 26 introduces a new Real-Time Translation feature that instantly translates messages into your chosen language as you receive them. This smart functionality is also being integrated into core Apple apps like Phone and FaceTime for seamless multilingual communication.
AI-Powered Call Summaries
In addition to real-time translation, the Phone app now offers AI-generated summaries of your voice calls. These concise voicemail overviews appear directly on the main screen, helping you quickly recall conversations. Apple has also redesigned the interface with a unified layout that combines Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails into a single, streamlined view.
Introducing the New Games App
With iOS 26, iPhones will feature a brand-new Games app that serves as a central hub for all your games, providing easy access to Apple Arcade titles. The app also includes a special section for multiplayer games and leaderboards, enhancing your gaming experience.
Improved Visual Intelligence
Apple first launched Visual Intelligence in iOS 18, initially limited to the camera viewfinder. With iOS 26, this enhanced feature extends to analyzing what is displayed on your screen. While it functions more like a screenshot tool—requiring you to capture an image before providing details—it also offers handy new capabilities, such as detecting events in photos and prompting you to add them directly to the Calendar app.
Fresh Emojis and Image Creation Styles
Emoji fans will be excited about iOS 26’s new features, which let you blend two emojis directly from the keyboard using Genmoji. Additionally, the Image Playground app allows users to create and customize emojis to their preference. Apple also highlights that with Image Playground, you can prompt ChatGPT to generate images in diverse styles such as Ghibli, lo-fi, and others.
Updates to CarPlay
iOS 26 introduces three major new features to CarPlay: widgets, live activities, and tapback responses. Much like in iMessage, users can now pin their favorite conversations for quick access. Additionally, incoming calls will no longer occupy the full screen; instead, they will appear as a compact notification at the bottom of the display.
How to Download and Install iOS 26 on Your iPhone
iOS 26 is compatible with iPhone 11 and newer models. However, Apple Intelligence features are exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 series models, including the new iPhone 16e.
To install iOS 26, visit “developer.apple.com” and sign in with your Apple ID. Then, activate Developer Mode by navigating to Settings > Privacy & Security on your device.
After that, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and select “iOS 26 Developer Beta.” Tap “Download and Install” and follow the prompts on your screen.
Your iPhone must be running iOS 18.5 to access the iOS 26 Developer Beta. Be sure to back up your important data and have at least 15GB of free storage available.
Note: Since iOS 26 is still in beta and may contain bugs, it is recommended not to install it on your primary device.
#Technology #AppleIOS #iOS26 #iPhoneFeatures #MobileOSUpdates #LiveTranslation #GamesApp #AppleSoftware #TechNews #iPhoneTips #MobileTechnology
📌 Thank you for reading!
Follow Finance (Azad Architects, Barnala) for practical tips from an architect, blogger, technical expert, and financer's lens.
Finance (Azad, Architects Barnala)
