Five Ios 26 Features I Already Can't Live Without - And How To Access Them

1 month ago

Apple has been engaged prepping iOS 26 for its apt debut successful September. Until then, nan iPhone's upcoming caller OS has been accessible for anyone to try via a developer beta (now up to type 5) and nan first nationalist beta. Though iOS 26 still has astatine slightest a period of tweaks earlier it's finalized, nan beta flavors already supply a peek astatine what to expect.

You tin download iOS 26 beta connected your iPhone now. Here's really to instal it -- and which models support it.

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I've been moving nan nationalist beta since its merchandise connected July 24. Among nan caller and improved features successful iOS 26, these are my 5 favorites truthful far.

1. Liquid Glass

Adding a caller translucent creation to nan interface, Liquid Glass gives nan belief that you're looking astatine your surface elements done glass. With this caller artistic enabled, icons look much three-dimensional and layered, while menus are semi-transparent. I've publication immoderate antagonistic comments astir Liquid Glass, but I for illustration nan caller design.

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I consciousness nan interface draws maine successful and engages pinch maine successful an creator but applicable way. Comparing my trial iPhone pinch iOS 26 and my existent telephone pinch iOS 18, I tin intelligibly spot and admit nan differences pinch Liquid Glass.

2. Camera app

For iOS 26, Apple tweaked nan camera app to thief you much quickly and easy entree definite controls and settings. By default, nan app shows you nan 2 astir communal modes -- photograph and video. To segue to different modes specified arsenic portrait, pano, slow-mo, and time-lapse, swipe your digit near aliases correct aliases property down connected nan power to move from 1 mode to another.

Even better, nan cardinal settings are now much easy accessible and configurable. To show settings specified arsenic flash, exposure, filter, and timer, you tin still swipe up from nan bottommost arsenic always, aliases simply pat nan fastener pinch nan sanction of nan mode. Up pops a Liquid Glass paper pinch icons for each nan settings. Tap a circumstantial icon to set it. Depending connected your existent mode, controls besides look astatine nan apical for you to position and adjust.

3. Photos app

With iOS 18, Apple altered nan layout successful nan Photos app to show some your room and collections connected nan aforesaid screen. Though that whitethorn sound convenient, it upset galore iPhone users who now person to swipe up and down to move betwixt nan 2 views. With iOS 26, Apple has rectified that error.

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Open nan Photos app successful nan caller OS and you'll spot 2 icons astatine nan bottommost -- 1 for your Library and different for your Collections. By default, nan app opens successful Library position truthful you tin easy scroll done each your photos aliases position them by twelvemonth aliases month.

Tap nan Collections icon and you'll past spot your photos organized by memories, albums, people, and different criteria. You tin besides reorder nan different collections to spot your favourite ones astatine nan apical of nan screen.

4. Screen your calls

To thief you amended combat scam and spam calls, iOS 26 adds a adjuvant caller action to nan Phone app. You tin now surface a telephone from an chartless number by asking nan caller for definite information. Before you take whether to prime up nan call, nan personification connected nan different extremity is asked why they're calling. That accusation past flashes connected nan surface to thief you determine really to grip nan call.

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To alteration this, caput to Settings, prime Apps, and past pat nan Phone app. Swipe to nan conception for Screen Unknown Callers and pat nan action for "Ask Reason for Calling." The adjacent clip you person a telephone from a stranger, nan personification will beryllium prompted to explicate why they're calling. You tin past reply aliases disregard nan call.

5. Set your default apps

Apple hasn't made it easy to alteration your default apps. In nan past, you had to drill down to each app that you wanted to alteration aliases set. Now pinch iOS 26, you tin take each your default apps successful 1 place. For this, spell to Settings, prime Apps, and past pat Default Apps. From here, you're capable to modify nan defaults for email, messaging, calling, telephone filtering, browser, translator, passwords, contactless payments, and keyboard.