Apple’s newest software is here – and it should be landing on your iPhone now. The newest smartphone software hasn’t just changed its name, opting to skip ahead to iOS 26 from last year’s iOS 18 release. It also comes with a brand new look, and some new features.
If you have automatic updates turned on, you will get a notification that the new version of the software is there to install. If you haven’t been alerted yet, go to Settings> General>Software update to download and install it.
Not everyone can get the update though. The iPhone 11 and newer can download and install the latest software. That means XS, XS Max and XR handsets will not be getting the update.
There is another catch. While iPhone 14 users can install the new software, along with the 12, 12 and 11 brethren, they won’t be able to use Apple Intelligence features. Those are reserved for the iPhone 15 and newer.
RM Block
So what does iOS 26 have in store for you? Here are some of the best features.
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Liquid Glass
Apple’s latest software has a new look, which the company debuted in June at its developer conference. Dubbed Liquid Glass, it means menus are more transparent than in iOS18, and icons have taken on a glassy hue.
You can also make the entire home screen look like glass through the customisation options, draining the colour from your app icons or adding a tint, with your phone’s wallpaper blurred as if it is behind frosted glass. Reducing the array of bright colours also has the bonus of reducing the pull of your smartphone, similar to putting it into greyscale mode.
However, the new look won’t suit everyone. If Liquid Glass is making it more difficult to view your phone, you can reduce the transparency. Go to Settings>Accessibility>Display and Text size to find the control.
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Call screening
If you dread picking up calls from unknown numbers, fear not: iOS 26 has a new spam call screening feature that asks callers to leave their name and a reason for their call before it is put through to your phone.
You can then decide if you want to answer the call or send it to your phone’s voicemail – assuming the person calling has stayed on the line.
That works for any number that is not saved to your contacts. However, you can add names to numbers that call you regularly but you don’t want to save to your contacts. That way they can get through without having to provide the same details over and over.
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Live Translate
Apple has integrated Live Translation into the operating system so you can translate text messages, calls and FaceTime from a selection of languages. It happens in real-time too, with text messages translated and delivered in the recipient’s chosen language, while FaceTime calls are captioned live. Regular phone calls have the translation spoken aloud as you are on the phone.
It requires a little intervention – on phone calls, you will need to enable translation once you are in the call, for example – but text messages are translated automatically once you have set the appropriate languages. You’ll need to download some language packs before it can do offline translation.
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Redesigned Photos app
Apple’s Photos app tried hard, but it was often hard to find what you were looking for. Sometimes you needed to find an album, but more often than not you just wanted to scroll through your phot library to find the correct photo.
However changes to the design over the years left us floundering among the featured photos, people and pets, and collections of memories.
Now Apple has simplified things with two tabs: library and collections. Straightforward, simple and easy to navigate.
Alarm updates
Saving the best for last, Apple has decided to finally give us control over the snooze button. Specifically, you can now set the length of time between hitting the snooze button and being jarred out of your sleep again. Once it fits between one and 15 minutes, that is.
