iOS 26 brings plenty of modifications to the iPhone. Whereas the most important spotlight—the Liquid Glass redesign—is on the market 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 machine necessities.
Visible intelligence with screenshots
Requires: iPhone 15 Professional or newer
Final 12 months, visible intelligence debuted as a particular digital camera 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 research the contents of what you captured.
This new instrument might be nice for purchasing, including occasions to your calendar, and extra.
Reside translation in Messages, FaceTime, Cellphone
Requires: iPhone 15 Professional or newer
Apple did plenty of work this 12 months to allow stay translation throughout its numerous units.
Reside translation works inside Messages, FaceTime, and the Cellphone app to make language limitations much less of an issue than ever earlier than.
Listed below are the main points per Apple:
In Messages, Reside Translation can mechanically translate messages. If a person is planning with new associates whereas touring overseas, their message might be translated as they kind, delivered within the recipient’s most well-liked language, and after they get a response, every message might be immediately translated. On FaceTime calls, a person can comply with 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 in addition a enjoyable 3D impact.
From Apple’s web site describing Lock Display screen modifications:
The time dynamically adapts to your picture and the encircling house, holding your topic in view. While you transfer your iPhone, your picture 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 use actions to create photos, summarize textual content, or “faucet immediately into Apple Intelligence fashions to supply responses that feed into your shortcut.”
When you’re a Shortcuts person, 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 facets of the Reminders app:
- Strategies
- 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 mechanically categorize a job listing 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 in all probability 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. Which means retailers don’t must choose in to Apple’s system for his or her orders to indicate up within the Pockets app.
Hopefully this could make Apple Pockets’s order monitoring function way 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 combo. You can even customise a Genmoji’s coiffure, clothes, and so on. when it’s impressed by a good friend or member of the family.
Picture Playground integrates ChatGPT’s picture technology powers, unlocking a bunch of latest model choices for photos together with:
- Anime
- Oil Portray
- Vector
- Watercolor
There’s additionally an ‘Any Fashion’ possibility the place you may simply describe any kind of picture you’d wish 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 facets which are unique to newer iPhones.
When you can create a Messages ballot on any iPhone mannequin, in case your machine 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 may create customized backgrounds utilizing the built-in Picture Playground integration.
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