Apple has launched its latest iPhone lineup, including the sleekest model yet, the iPhone Air. But you don’t have to splurge on a new iPhone to enjoy a refreshed experience. The brand-new iOS 26 software update is now available for download, bringing a host of handy features and a stunning new glass-inspired interface. Here are the top 5 iOS 26 features, explained in detail using official info.
Top 5 features of the latest Apple iOS26
Smarter tools, a glossy new interface, and powerful AI features!
Liquid Glass Design
iOS 26 introduces the Liquid Glass design language, delivering a consistent and elegant visual experience throughout the system. The Lock Screen dynamically adapts the time display to your chosen wallpaper, while notifications shift to ensure your photo’s subject remains visible. App icons have been redesigned, offering a choice of light, dark, tinted, or see-through styles for a more personal and fluid appearance. The entire interface benefits from faster, smoother animations that enhance responsiveness and visual appeal.
Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence goes deeper in iOS 26, with smarter features embedded across system apps. Live Translation is now built into Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app, allowing real-time text and voice translation during conversations. Visual Intelligence lets you interact directly with content on screen, like turning a photo of an event into a calendar entry or transforming a list in an email into reminders. Image Playground lets you generate custom graphics from text prompts, while Genmoji produces personalised emojis based on your friends or family.
Enhanced Communication Tools
iOS 26 enhances communication by reducing the frequency of interruptions. Call Screening can now handle unknown numbers automatically, prompting callers to leave a message before your phone rings. Messages introduces advanced filters that sort unknown contacts into a separate section. CarPlay gets smarter with Live Activities, showing important real-time info at a glance, plus Tapbacks to react quickly without leaving the main screen. These updates streamline communication while reducing digital clutter.
Preview App for iPhone
For the first time, iOS 26 brings a full-featured Preview app to iPhones, allowing easy viewing, editing, and sharing of PDF documents and images. You can easily scan paper documents, fill out forms using Autofill, and export files in various formats or optimised sizes. This makes managing your documents directly on your iPhone much more efficient, replacing the need for third-party apps or computer-based solutions for basic PDF tasks.
Journal App
The new Journal app is designed to help you organise your thoughts and memories. You can create multiple journals dedicated to different areas of your life, work, travel, fitness, and more. The app supports adding drawings directly into your entries, alongside photos and text, to make journaling creative and fun. Journal entries can be mapped by location, helping you visually track where your memories happened, making reflection and organisation simple.