
iOS 26 brings lots of adjustments to the iPhone. Whereas the most important spotlight—the Liquid Glass redesign—is out there on all iPhones that may run iOS 26, there are a number of options within the new replace that require newer iPhone fashions and Apple Intelligence. Listed below are the options and their gadget necessities.
Visible intelligence with screenshots

Requires: iPhone 15 Professional or newer
Final 12 months, visible intelligence debuted as a particular digicam function for the iPhone 16 line. Now, the AI function has expanded to extra locations systemwide.
Take a screenshot in iOS 26, for instance, and also you’ll see an possibility to make use of visible intelligence to investigate the contents of what you captured.
This new software could be nice for purchasing, including occasions to your calendar, and extra.
Dwell translation in Messages, FaceTime, Telephone

Requires: iPhone 15 Professional or newer
Apple did lots of work this 12 months to allow stay translation throughout its varied gadgets.
Dwell translation works inside Messages, FaceTime, and the Telephone app to make language obstacles much less of an issue than ever earlier than.
Listed below are the main points per Apple:
In Messages, Dwell Translation can routinely translate messages. If a consumer is planning with new mates whereas touring overseas, their message could be translated as they sort, delivered within the recipient’s most popular language, and after they get a response, every message could be immediately translated. On FaceTime calls, a consumer can observe together with translated stay captions whereas nonetheless listening to the speaker’s voice. And when on a telephone name, the interpretation is spoken aloud all through the dialog.
Lock Display screen 3D impact

Requires: iPhone 12 or newer
iOS 26 will beautify your iPhone’s Lock Display screen not solely with the brand new Liquid Glass design, but additionally a enjoyable 3D impact.
From Apple’s web site describing Lock Display screen adjustments:
The time dynamically adapts to your photograph and the encompassing area, preserving your topic in view. Once you transfer your iPhone, your photograph involves life with a brand new 3D impact.
Shortcuts actions with AI powers

Requires: iPhone 15 Professional or newer
Apple’s Shortcuts app has gained new actions in iOS 26 that may faucet into current AI options.
For instance, you should utilize actions to create photos, summarize textual content, or “faucet immediately into Apple Intelligence fashions to offer responses that feed into your shortcut.”
If you happen to’re a Shortcuts consumer, tapping into Apple Intelligence ought to open up model new powers not potential earlier than.
Reminders strategies and group

Requires: iPhone 15 Professional or newer
In iOS 26, Apple Intelligence powers two new points of the Reminders app:
- Solutions
- Group
With AI, Reminders will counsel creating new duties or grocery gadgets based mostly on textual content found on-device in your iMessages, emails, and so forth.
On the group entrance, Reminders can routinely categorize a activity checklist into totally different sections utilizing AI as effectively.
Apple Pockets order monitoring

Requires: iPhone 15 Professional or newer
Apple Pockets has supplied order monitoring for years, however retailers have largely been extraordinarily reluctant to assist the function. In consequence, you’ve most likely seldom benefited from it in your iPhone.
However in iOS 26, Apple leverages AI to drag so as monitoring particulars from emails in your inbox. Meaning retailers don’t must decide in to Apple’s system for his or her orders to point out up within the Pockets app.
Hopefully this could make Apple Pockets’s order monitoring function much more helpful than earlier than.
New Genmoji and Picture Playground upgrades

Requires: iPhone 15 Professional or newer
Final 12 months, Genmoji and Picture Playground launched as new Apple Intelligence picture instruments.
In iOS 26, these current options are getting upgraded in a number of methods.
Genmoji can now be created by mixing collectively two current emoji, or writing an outline alongside the combination. You may as well customise a Genmoji’s coiffure, clothes, and many others. when it’s impressed by a buddy or member of the family.
Picture Playground integrates ChatGPT’s picture era powers, unlocking a bunch of recent type choices for photos together with:
- Anime
- Oil Portray
- Vector
- Watercolor
There’s additionally an ‘Any Fashion’ possibility the place you possibly can simply describe any sort of picture you’d prefer to make.
Messages background creation and ballot suggestion

Requires: iPhone 15 Professional or newer
Apple’s Messages app will get a number of nice new options in iOS 26.
Two such options, Polls and Backgrounds, include sure AI points which might be unique to newer iPhones.
Whilst you can create a Messages ballot on any iPhone mannequin, in case your gadget helps AI you’ll see strategies for polls that may be simply drafted by way of Apple Intelligence.
And for Backgrounds, along with selecting from Apple’s inventory providing of photos for everybody, newer iPhones can even create customized backgrounds utilizing the built-in Picture Playground integration.
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