5 new iOS 26 features iPhone users can look forward to using soon
Apple’s iOS 26 update, coming later this year, brings a fresh coat of paint and smart new features that go beyond cosmetic tweaks. Announced at WWDC 2025, the update introduces a more immersive interface and intelligent tools to make everyday tasks faster and more seamless. Here are five standout features to watch for:
A new look with Liquid Glass The most visually striking change is the Liquid Glass design — a translucent, responsive UI inspired by VisionOS. App icons, toolbars, and menus now appear glass-like, subtly adapting to your screen’s colors and how you tap or swipe. Apple staples like Messages and Camera have redesigned icons, and toolbars are now rounded and less intrusive.
Real-time message translation iOS 26 introduces automatic text translation for incoming and outgoing messages. Texts received in a foreign language are instantly translated to English (or your set language), and you can reply in another language with a simple toggle — a long-awaited feature that’s finally catching up to rivals.
Smarter group chats with AI Apple Intelligence powers group chat improvements, like live typing indicators, spam filtering, and the ability to generate or set custom backgrounds. It can even suggest polls when a decision needs to be made, saving the hassle of back-and-forth texts.
A more helpful Phone app The revamped Phone app gets smarter with voicemail summaries, a unified call screen, call screening for unknown numbers, and Hold Assist — which listens to boring hold music for you and alerts you when a person returns to the line.
All-new Apple Games App iOS 26 bundles all your games into a new Apple Games app, including Arcade titles and multiplayer games. With leaderboards and social integration, it’s a hub for casual and competitive gamers alike.
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