iOS 26 Features That Will Impress You

iOS 26 is the next major release of Apple’s iPhone operating system. If you were expecting iOS 19 after iOS 18, the jump to iOS 26 might come as a surprise. Apple is adopting a new numbering system to align with the 2025 - 2026 release cycle. Moreover, this change brings consistency to the brand’s naming across all upgrades—macOS, iOS, visionOS, and watchOS.

Get ready to enhance your iPhone experience with iOS 26. The update will bring plenty of features and tools that will make every day effortless. These include a new design, more advanced AI capabilities, smarter automation, and customisation options. The list doesn’t end here, and that’s exactly what we’re going to explore in detail throughout this blog. Let’s take a closer look.

Features of iOS 26

With the iOS 26 release date expected in September 2025, many users are curious about the new capabilities. Let’s take a look at some of the key features that you can expect from the upcoming update:

Liquid Glass

iOS 26 is introducing a redesigned interface with “Apple’s Liquid Glass”. It will give all the elements on the screen a translucent look by reflecting and refracting the surrounding content. This stunning new design will extend to apps, notifications, pop-up menus, and buttons.

Apple confirmed that the Liquid Glass mimics real glass, shifting its appearance depending on the context. The elements gain a sense of depth and layering with this feature. As you move or tilt the device, highlights and reflections shift subtly to create a more “alive” appearance.

Personalised Lock Screen

With every update, Apple makes the Lock Screen more engaging, and iOS 26 continues this trend. You can expect two major changes with this update. First, the time display may appear larger or shrink automatically depending on your wallpaper design. Second, the new “Spatial Scene” will let you transform 2D photos into 3D wallpapers. This effect is supposed to add a sense of motion when you tilt or move your device.

Live Translation in Messages, Phone, and FaceTime

In the upcoming iOS 26 update, you’ll be able to translate phone and text conversations in real time. Live Translation, one of the most anticipated features of Apple Intelligence, will work across various applications, including Phone, Messages, and FaceTime. Even during a FaceTime call with someone who speaks a different language, the translations can appear as captions or spoken audio, making conversations feel natural. However, only iPhone 15 Pro or later models are expected to support this feature, since it relies on the advanced processing power of the A17 Pro chip.

Visual Intelligence

Explore more with Visual Intelligence. This upcoming feature will allow you to search and interact with objects on your screen through ChatGPT. For instance, if you like a dress uploaded by someone on Instagram, you can take a screenshot and use Visual Intelligence to find that exact outfit or a similar style online.

Messages

The Messages app will be getting a complete makeover with Apple iOS 26. It might include a customisable background, options to create polls, improved blocking and spam filtering features. Here’s a closer look at what’s coming:

• Customisable Background: There will be an option to set a custom background in an individual or group conversation. All you would have to do is tap on the name at the top of the screen and choose the “Backgrounds” option.
• Unknown Senders: Messages from unknown senders won’t send notifications if the filter option is enabled. However, you will still receive alerts for time-sensitive notifications.
• Spam Messages: Unidentified and spam messages will be sorted into two different categories in iOS 26. A new “Filter box” will appear at the top right corner of the Messages app to help you manage these texts separately. If messages are in any of these categories, a badge will let you know, but you won’t get any notifications.
• Group Chats: In this iOS 26 feature, you will see typing indicators to know who is typing in the group. Moreover, an option to send and receive money through Apple Cash will also be available. If someone in the group chat isn’t in your contacts, you will have an option to add them quickly by tapping a button.

Call Screening

The iOS 26 Call Screening feature expands on Live Voicemail to give you more control over incoming calls. When an unknown number tries to reach you, your phone will ask the caller to provide their name and reason for calling. This information is shared with you instantly, so you can decide whether to answer or ignore the call.

Apple Music

Expect several new Apple Music features with the iOS 26 update. For instance, pin your favourite albums, songs, playlists, or artists at the top of your Library. Pins will appear immediately. If not, an option to try pinning or unpinning one item to refresh the sync is made available.

Furthermore, you will be able to customise the tap action to either open the album, play the music, or shuffle tracks. An option to automatically download pinned items is also included, and it can be turned off in Settings. This update is to keep your most-played music right where you want it.

Another standout addition is Apple Music’s focus on making songs accessible across languages. The new “Lyrics Translation” feature will help you understand the meaning of your favourite tracks by showing the translation right on the screen. Plus, you would also get “Lyrics Pronunciation” to guide you on how to say the words correctly, so you can sing along with confidence.

AutoMix is also on its way, working like a DJ by smoothly blending one song into the next. By adjusting the rhythm and tempo, it keeps the music flow natural and the vibe uninterrupted. Together, these iOS 26 features will make listening to music more fun and inclusive for everyone.

Apple Maps

A new feature called ‘Visited Places’ is coming to Apple Maps to help you keep track of the locations you have visited, such as your favourite cafe or local shop. Your iPhone will automatically detect when you’re at these spots and save them for you to “see later in the Maps app. Importantly, all this information will stay private and secure.

Using on-device intelligence, your device will also learn to understand your daily trips, such as your route to home or work. You’ll be suggested the preferred route and alerted if there’s a delay ahead. If needed, it will suggest alternative routes to help you avoid traffic.

Apple Wallet

Options to pay in instalments or use reward points are also being included in the Apple Wallet. It’s an attractive feature for those who shop using Apple Pay on their iPhones, giving them more ways to manage money.

Travellers can also look forward to a refreshed design for boarding passes in Wallet. They would deliver live updates about your flight, so you will always know real-time information. Moreover, they will make it simple to get to your gate with built-in Maps, track important items with Find My, and even report missing bags. All these handy features are designed to take the stress out of travel.

AirPods

With iOS 26, Apple is making it easier to record videos by letting you start filming by pressing and holding your AirPods. This is applicable only if they have the H2 chip. That being said, the update is great for content creators and anyone with a regular watch to control their phone hands-free.

Photos App

Many iPhone users found the Photos app redesign in iOS 18 disappointing due to cluttered layouts and folders. Apple fixed these issues, and the improvements are set to debut with the release of iOS 26. The new layout will focus on two main tabs. One is with a full photo library, and the second is for albums and media types like videos, screenshots, and shared content.

Safari

Safari is receiving a comprehensive update with iOS 26. The web pages will extend from the top to the bottom of the screen, letting users see more content at once. Yet, the page will retain the refresh and search buttons.

For apps like Apple Music, News, and Podcasts, the bar with different tabs will float above the content instead of staying at the bottom. When you scroll down to focus on what you are reading and listening to, the tab bar will shrink out of the way. Scrolling back up makes it expand again, giving you quick access to switch between sections.

CarPlay

With Apple iOS 26, CarPlay gets a more refined and user-friendly design. Incoming calls will appear in a compact view, letting drivers see caller information without covering navigation.

Additionally, you will find Tapbacks and pinned conversations within Messages that will help drivers respond quickly and stay organised. Widgets and Live Activities will offer timely updates to help drivers keep their focus on the road. These improvements will elevate the driving experience by integrating iPhone functionality with the vehicle’s interface across all screens.

Mobile Guru: Explore Refurbished iPhones at Budget-friendly Prices

The iOS 26 feature update is shaping up to be one of the most exciting releases yet, bringing smarter tools to iPhone users. Whether it’s live translation in messages, smarter maps, or visual intelligence, there is plenty to look forward to. The best part is that most of these updates will also be available in the iPhone 11 series and later. This means you won’t have to purchase the latest model just to enjoy the new features.

Mobile Guru makes updating to the latest features easier at great deals. We offer a wide range of refurbished iPhones in Australia, including last year’s release—the iPhone 16 series. These devices deliver great performance at a budget-friendly price.

If you’re looking for a reliable iPhone without paying a hefty cost, our refurbished models are a smart choice. Each device undergoes a thorough 72-point check to ensure it meets high-quality standards. To explore our range, visit our collection page. For any questions, feel free to call us on 1300 362 017 or email us at hello@mobileguru.com.au.