Top New Features to Explore in iOS 26: Liquid Glass Update

iOS 26: A Major Redesign

• 📱 iOS 26 represents one of Apple's biggest design changes, introducing a new look and feel to the iPhone, referred to as Liquid Glass.
• ⚠️ While the update is significant, users don't have to upgrade immediately, as Apple will continue providing security updates for iOS 18.

Enhancements in Messages and Calls

• 📊 The Messages app now allows users to create polls by tapping the plus sign and selecting "Polls," enabling easy group decision-making.
• 🖼️ Users can set custom backgrounds in messages by tapping a contact's name or group, then selecting "Backgrounds." Note that the recipient must also have updated their software to see it.
• 📞 Call Screening is a new feature that filters unknown callers. By going to Settings > Apps > Phone and selecting "Asked reason for calling," callers will have to state their purpose before the phone rings, with this information displayed on the lock screen.
• 🎧 Hold Assist listens to hold music for you and alerts you when someone picks up.

New Features in Clock and Photos

• ⏰ The Clock app now offers more flexibility for the snooze function, allowing users to choose any duration between one and 15 minutes, instead of the previous 9-minute limit.
• 📸 Photos can be transformed into 3D photos by tapping a new spatial icon, which works on both new and old pictures.
• 🧹 A feature to check for duplicate photos is available under the Photos app > Collections > Utilities.

Customization and New Apps

• 🎶 Users can now create custom ringtones from many supported audio files by opening the file in the Files app, sharing it, and selecting "Use as Ringtone."
• 📄 A new app called Preview allows users to scan documents, add markups, fill out forms, and even sign with their finger.
• 🎨 For those who find the "Liquid Glass" aesthetic too intense, Reduced Transparency can be enabled in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text to tone down see-through elements.