iOS 26 brings a striking new design called Liquid Glass that makes your iPhone interface beautiful, delightful, and instantly familiar. We’ve been exploring the upcoming update and found several impressive features that Apple hasn’t heavily promoted yet.
When using the iOS 26 beta, you’ll discover that Visual Intelligence now lets you search, ask questions, and take action with content directly on your screen. Additionally, the update introduces Live Translation in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, allowing you to communicate seamlessly across languages. Perhaps most helpful for busy users, Call Screening automatically answers unknown callers without interrupting you, while Hold Assist keeps your spot in line when waiting for live agents.
Even Apple Music gets significant upgrades with AutoMix, which uses intelligence to blend songs like a professional DJ by time-stretching and beat-matching at the perfect moment. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into these hidden gems and more features that make iOS 26 a substantial upgrade worth anticipating.
The new design language: Liquid Glass and beyond
Image Source: TechCrunch
Apple’s Liquid Glass design represents the most significant visual overhaul for iOS in years. I’ve discovered this new interface isn’t just about esthetics—it fundamentally transforms how we interact with our devices through a sophisticated system of translucent layers.
1. Clear app icons and dynamic lock screen
The most noticeable change comes to app icons, where Apple introduces a stunning “Clear” option that turns icons transparent, creating a glass-like appearance against your wallpaper [1]. This setting transforms both app icons and widgets into semi-transparent panels with layered text and images [2]. For those who find the effect too dramatic, you can easily customize transparency levels by long-pressing the home screen, tapping Edit, and selecting Tinted or Increase Contrast options [3].
On the lock screen, time now fluidly adapts to available space in your wallpaper image [4]. The clock intelligently adjusts to complement your chosen background, dynamically resizing depending on the number of notifications [5]. Furthermore, spatial scenes bring wallpapers to life with impressive 3D effects when you move your iPhone [4], creating depth and movement while keeping subjects visible [6].
2. Translucent controls that adapt to content
Beyond static elements, iOS 26’s controls showcase remarkable responsiveness. The system introduces glass-inspired translucent buttons that react to movement with real-time rendering [6]. In fact, when scrolling through apps, tab bars intelligently shrink to maximize content visibility while remaining accessible—then fluidly expand when you scroll back up [7].
Media controls now reflect and refract their surroundings, creating immersive experiences that blend beautifully with content [6]. Notably, these controls dynamically highlight and shift colors as you interact with them, delivering a new level of vitality across the interface [6].
3. Shared visual experience across devices
The Liquid Glass design extends seamlessly across Apple’s ecosystem. iPadOS 26 mirrors the iPhone’s translucent elements, whereas macOS 26 Tahoe introduces a translucent menu bar and dock background [2]. The shared design language ensures consistency while maintaining the distinct qualities that make each platform unique [7].
Even watchOS 26 adopts this esthetic with notification bubbles overlaid on watch faces and floating buttons in apps [8]. Consequently, your experience feels cohesive whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, creating a unified visual identity that’s distinctly Apple.
Apple Intelligence: The AI layer you didn’t expect
Beneath the glossy surface of iOS 26 lies Apple Intelligence—a powerful AI system that works directly on your device. Unlike many competing services, this feature respects your privacy by processing most requests locally rather than in the cloud.
4. Visual Intelligence for on-screen actions
Visual Intelligence transforms how you interact with on-screen content. Simply press and hold anywhere on your screen to analyze text, images, or videos. Need to identify a landmark in a photo? Tap and hold to get instant information. The same gesture lets you extract text from images, translate foreign languages in real-time, or even identify plants and animals.
The most practical aspect is how Visual Intelligence understands context. If you highlight a restaurant name in a message, it immediately offers to make reservations or check reviews. Similarly, selecting an address prompts directions, while highlighting dates suggests adding events to your calendar—all without switching between apps.
5. Live Translation across apps and AirPods
Live Translation takes communication to new levels in iOS 26. During FaceTime calls, the system can display subtitles in real-time as someone speaks in another language. This feature extends throughout the system—from Messages to third-party apps—making language barriers almost obsolete.
Perhaps most impressive is how Live Translation works with AirPods. When conversing with someone speaking another language, your AirPods can translate their words directly into your ears with minimal delay. As you respond, your iPhone speakers convert your words back to their language, creating a remarkably natural conversation flow despite the language difference.
6. Image Playground and Genmoji customization
Image Playground brings creative AI tools directly to your iPhone. Unlike basic filters, this feature generates completely new images based on your text prompts or existing photos. The results maintain Apple’s characteristic polish—looking professional rather than obviously AI-generated.
Genmoji takes emoji personalization to another level. Instead of picking from a standard set, you can describe exactly what you want (“cat riding a skateboard with sunglasses”), and iOS 26 creates a custom emoji matching your description. These creations integrate seamlessly with Messages and can be saved as favorites for quick access.
Throughout these features, Apple Intelligence maintains consistent design principles with the Liquid Glass interface—transparent controls overlay content naturally, and interactions feel fluid and responsive as you move between AI features.
Communication upgrades that fly under the radar
The Phone app in iOS 26 receives powerful upgrades that transform how we handle calls. Incoming calls from unknown numbers no longer interrupt your flow thanks to Call Screening [4]. This feature automatically answers calls in the background, asks callers for their name and reason for calling, then displays this information as text so you can decide whether to pick up [9]. You can enable this by going to Settings > Apps > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers [9].
Moreover, Hold Assist essentially eliminates the frustration of waiting on customer service lines [4]. When placed on hold, your iPhone monitors the call and notifies you when a live agent becomes available [10]. Simply tap the three-dot icon during a call and select Hold Assist to activate it [9].
Meanwhile, the Messages app now allows you to create polls with up to 12 choices [11]. This feature helps groups make decisions efficiently—just tap the plus button beside the message field and select “Polls” [11]. Primarily designed for iMessage group chats, polls even support the option for participants to add their own choices [11].
Finally, conversations become more personalized with custom backgrounds [12]. You can choose photos, colors, or AI-generated images that everyone in the chat will see [13]. Access this option by tapping the contact name at the top of any conversation [12].
Discovery and utility features you might miss
Hidden beneath iOS 26’s flashy exterior are practical features that enhance everyday usage. These quiet improvements might not make headlines yet will likely become your daily favorites.
Maps learning your routes
Your iPhone now remembers your preferred paths to frequent destinations [3]. Maps identifies which routes you regularly take to work or home, then alerts you about traffic delays or road closures before you leave [10]. Furthermore, the new Visited Places feature automatically detects and records locations you’ve been—like that restaurant you tried last week—storing them privately with end-to-end encryption [4]. This information stays exclusively on your device, allowing you to swipe away any unwanted entries [14].
AutoMix and Lyrics Translation in Apple Music
Apple Music now includes AutoMix, which functions like a personal DJ by seamlessly transitioning between songs [15]. The feature uses time stretching and beat matching techniques, eliminating awkward silence between tracks [4]. Alongside this, Lyrics Translation helps you understand songs in unfamiliar languages [15], whereas Lyrics Pronunciation guides you through singing along regardless of language barriers [16].
Wallet’s new travel tools
Boarding passes in Wallet have been completely revamped with convenient airport navigation maps [17]. These enhanced passes display real-time flight updates through Live Activities [17]. Beyond travel, Wallet now supports digital passports for domestic flights at select TSA checkpoints [2].
Games app with social features
The brand-new Games app serves as a dedicated hub for all your installed titles [1]. It features personalized recommendations based on what you and your friends play [1]. Particularly impressive is the Friends tab, where you can create custom score-based challenges, compare achievements, and initiate multiplayer sessions [1]. Apple Arcade subscribers get a specialized tab displaying the entire catalog [1].
Conclusion
iOS 26 stands as Apple’s most substantial update in years, going far beyond the eye-catching Liquid Glass design. After exploring its features thoroughly, I’ve found the real magic lies in how these updates work together to make our devices more intuitive and helpful.
Apple Intelligence certainly represents the most significant advancement, working directly on your device rather than sending data to distant servers. Visual Intelligence transforms how we interact with on-screen content, while Live Translation effectively eliminates language barriers across apps.
Communication tools deserve special attention as well. Call Screening saves us from unwanted interruptions, and Hold Assist finally solves the frustration of waiting on customer service lines. These seemingly small additions will likely become daily essentials for most users.
Additionally, the practical improvements to Maps, Apple Music, Wallet, and the new Games app show Apple’s commitment to enhancing everyday experiences. These features might not grab headlines, but they’ll quietly improve how we navigate, listen to music, travel, and play.
Though still in beta, iOS 26 already feels like a substantial leap forward. The combination of beautiful design and genuinely useful features makes this update worth the anticipation. Once you experience these improvements firsthand, you’ll wonder how you managed without them.
Key Takeaways
iOS 26 introduces game-changing features that go far beyond Apple’s marketing highlights, offering practical AI-powered tools and design improvements that will transform daily iPhone usage.
• Liquid Glass design revolutionizes iOS esthetics with translucent app icons, adaptive controls, and dynamic wallpapers that create depth across all Apple devices.
• Apple Intelligence processes AI locally on your device, enabling Visual Intelligence for screen analysis, Live Translation in real-time conversations, and custom Genmoji creation.
• Communication gets smarter with Call Screening that automatically handles unknown callers and Hold Assist that monitors customer service queues for you.
• Hidden utility features enhance daily workflows including Maps learning your preferred routes, AutoMix DJ capabilities in Apple Music, and enhanced Wallet travel tools.
• Privacy-first AI approach ensures your data stays on your device while delivering powerful features like real-time translation through AirPods and contextual screen interactions.
These under-the-radar improvements represent Apple’s most substantial iOS update in years, combining beautiful design with genuinely useful AI capabilities that work seamlessly across the entire ecosystem. For more reviews visit: product reviews
FAQs
Q1. What are some standout features in iOS 26? iOS 26 introduces the Liquid Glass design with translucent app icons and adaptive controls, Apple Intelligence for on-device AI processing, and communication upgrades like Call Screening and Hold Assist for a smarter phone experience.
Q2. How can I access Apple Intelligence features on my iPhone? To access Apple Intelligence features, go to Settings, tap on “Apple Intelligence & Siri,” and toggle on the “Apple Intelligence” option. This will enable AI-powered features across iOS 26.
Q3. Are there any hidden features in iOS 26 that aren’t widely advertised? Yes, iOS 26 includes several hidden gems like Maps learning your preferred routes, AutoMix DJ capabilities in Apple Music, enhanced Wallet travel tools, and a new Games app with social features.
Q4. How does iOS 26 enhance privacy while offering AI features? iOS 26 processes most AI requests locally on your device rather than in the cloud, ensuring your data stays private. This approach allows for powerful features like real-time translation and contextual screen interactions without compromising security.
Q5. Can you explain the new Call Screening feature in iOS 26? Call Screening automatically answers calls from unknown numbers in the background, asks callers for their name and reason for calling, and displays this information as text. You can enable it by going to Settings > Apps > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers.
References
[1] – https://developer.apple.com/games-app/
[2] – https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/18-hidden-ios-26-features-you-should-try-right-now/
[3] – https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-26-maps/
[4] – https://www.apple.com/in/newsroom/2025/06/apple-elevates-the-iphone-experience-with-ios-26/
[5] – https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/ios-26-is-now-available-heres-how-it-compares-to-ios-18/
[6] – https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/apple-ios-26-released-26-new-features-of-apples-biggest-software-update-of-2025-for-iphones/articleshow/123913609.cms
[7] – https://www.apple.com/in/newsroom/2025/06/apple-introduces-a-delightful-and-elegant-new-software-design/
[8] – https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/15/ios-26-iphone-apple-release-everything-you-need-to-know-liquid-glass-updates
[9] – https://www.wired.com/story/apple-ios-26-and-ipados-26-top-new-features/
[10] – https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/iphone/iphfed2c4091/ios
[11] – https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/ios-create-polls-messages-app/
[12] – https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/add-custom-backgrounds-to-messages-ios/
[13] – https://gadgets.beebom.com/news/apple-messages-adds-custom-backgrounds-polls-in-ios-26
[14] – https://www.igeeksblog.com/apple-maps-new-features-in-ios-26/
[15] – https://artists.apple.com/support/5550-ios-26-whats-new
[16] – https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/09/apple-music-adds-lyrics-translation-and-pronunciation-features-in-ios-26/
[17] – https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-26-wallet-app/