Every 12 months, Apple makes grandiose bulletins concerning the subsequent improve to the iPhone working system at its Worldwide Developers Conference occasion in June, then it brings these concepts into actuality with the discharge of that new model of iOS in September. This 12 months was no completely different.With iOS 26, now out there to most people, the main target of the newest improve is the brand new Liquid Glass design and Apple Intelligence options that energy translations, summaries and customized emoji. Those modifications are large and not possible to overlook. What’s simpler to miss are the quieter tweaks Apple would not spend a lot time speaking about. They do not dominate the stage on the WWDC, however they’ll quietly reshape the way in which your iPhone feels in each day use. If you spend slightly time digging by way of your settings or attempting out the inventory apps, you may discover them: instruments that shave seconds off routine duties, customization choices that make your cellphone really feel extra private and refined reminders that your iPhone remains to be evolving in small however significant methods. Here are 18 of my favourite hidden options in iOS 26, and why it’s best to care about them. Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content material and lab-based evaluations. Add CNET as a most popular Google supply on Chrome.1. Change the default snooze period on your alarmIf you have ever questioned concerning the seemingly arbitrary 9-minute snooze choice on the iPhone, there’s historical past behind it. It’s a relic of analog design, when early mechanical alarm clocks could not simply be set to 10-minute intervals, so engineers went with a minute much less. Digital clocks do not have this limitation, however the custom caught. On iOS 26, you’ll be able to lastly change your snooze size. All it’s worthwhile to do is go to the Clock app, faucet on an alarm you’ve got and hit Snooze Duration on the backside. You can set snooze between 1 and 15 minutes, however the setting solely applies to every alarm individually. That means you may both must hold reusing the identical alarm or modify the snooze every time you create a brand new one. You have to vary the snooze period for every alarm you set. Nelson Aguilar/CNET2. Create a customized ringtoneYou not want GarageBand (or a Mac) to make your individual ringtone. In Files, faucet an MP3 or M4A that is below 30 seconds, hit the Share button and faucet Use as Ringtone. iOS 26 drops it into Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, the place you’ll be able to set it system-wide or assign it to a contact. The similar choice exhibits up for Voice Memosvia the share sheet. Note: Apple Music tracks aren’t eligible as customized ringtones. Nelson Aguilar/CNET3. Copy solely a choice of a textual content message Messages now allows you to spotlight and duplicate simply a part of a textual content bubble as an alternative of grabbing your entire factor, which is beneficial for those who’re attempting to repeat a password or code that is not highlighted. Press and maintain on the message, hit Select after which use the choice handles to seize solely the part you need. It’s particularly useful when an extended message accommodates only one snippet it’s worthwhile to paste elsewhere. Nelson Aguilar/CNET4. Visited locations in Maps Maybe you wish to bear in mind the Thai meals place you tried on trip or retrace the route from a weekend. Instead of scrolling by way of your images or texts to jog your reminiscence, the reply is already in Maps. Apple Maps now retains a report of the locations you have visited, full with dates and particulars. Open Maps > Profile icon > Places > Visited Places to see the checklist. It’s personal and saved domestically in your iPhone, so solely you’ll be able to see it. The characteristic remains to be in beta, which suggests it might need bugs and different points — for now. Nelson Aguilar/CNET5. Battery cost time estimates When you plug in your iPhone to energy, the lock display now tells you the way lengthy it should take your battery to achieve 80% and 100%. You’ll see “13m to 80%” or “1h 8m to 100%” proper above the time and beneath the battery indicator. You may go to Settings > Battery to take a look at this info. It’s a easy addition, however it takes the guesswork out of planning fast top-offs earlier than heading out. If you do not see the battery share on the prime of your lock display, hit the house button. Nelson Aguilar/CNET6. Adaptive Power Mode A brand new choice in Settings > Battery > Power Mode introduces Adaptive Power. Instead of selecting between Low Power and Standard, Adaptive adjusts efficiency and background exercise on the fly. If you are streaming music at dwelling, it saves battery. If you are gaming or recording video, it pushes efficiency. You do not have to consider it — the cellphone adapts robotically. 7. Turn images into 3D Spatial Scenes In Photos, you may now discover a Spatial Scenes characteristic, which turns images into immersive, 3D-like views with refined movement. Open a photograph within the Photos software and search for the Spatial toggle on the highest proper. With appropriate units, you’ll be able to tilt and transfer your iPhone to discover depth and perspective as for those who had been nonetheless standing there. 8. Search screenshots with visible intelligence In iOS 26, Visual Intelligence kicks within the second you are taking a screenshot. As quickly as you are taking a screenshot, faucet the thumbnail to open the editor, and you will see two new buttons: Ask (ship the screenshot with a typed query to ChatGPT) and Image Search (ship it to Google for visually comparable outcomes). You may paint a selected space along with your finger to focus on what you are asking about. Even with out these buttons, iOS will floor contextual actions, for instance, “Add to Calendar” in case your screenshot contains an occasion or procuring outcomes if it spots a product. Detection occurs on-device, however utilizing Ask or Image Search shares the picture with the related providers, so skip them on delicate screenshots. To search one thing within the screenshot, merely paint over it along with your finger. Nelson Aguilar/CNET9. Apple Music lyric translationsIf you take heed to songs in different languages, Apple Music can now translate lyrics in actual time. Tap the Lyrics view, then hit the brand new Translate These Lyrics button on the underside left to see the translated lyrics line up with the music, proper beneath the unique lyrics. This lets you benefit from the which means of the track with out shedding the rhythm and is ideal for locating new genres. This will not work for each track. Nelson Aguilar/CNET10. Screen incoming calls The Phone app now helps stay name screening. When an unknown quantity is available in, faucet Screen Call and watch a real-time transcript of what the caller says. You can resolve whether or not to reply, decline or let it go to voicemail. It feels just like the iPhone borrowed considered one of Android’s greatest concepts and polished it. 11. Take a photograph along with your AirPods AirPods get a brand new trick: act as a distant shutter button. With the Camera app open, double-tap on an AirPod to snap a photograph. It’s nice for group pictures or when your cellphone is on a tripod throughout the room. 12. Add backgrounds to your textual content messages You can now give a textual content message thread its personal vibe. In iOS 26, you’ll be able to set a customized dialog background in Messages. All it’s worthwhile to do is open a chat, faucet the identify/title on the prime, select Backgrounds after which decide a colour, gradient, photograph or generate one with Image Playground. You can take away the backgrounds in the identical manner, simply choose None. Nelson Aguilar/CNET13. Edit PDFs with Preview The Preview app, lengthy a macOS staple, is now built-in into iOS for PDFs. Open a PDF in Files or Mail, faucet Markup, and you’ll spotlight textual content, add notes, signal paperwork or rearrange pages. No third-party app required. Preview is a standalone app you need to use to edit your PDFs. Nelson Aguilar/CNET14. Swipe from the center of the display to return Apple added a brand new gesture for smoother navigation. Instead of swiping proper solely from the left fringe of the display, now you can swipe proper from the center of the display to return. It works in Safari, Settings, Mail and different inventory apps. Try swiping left-to-right from wherever within the app window, and you will transfer again with out having to hug the sting. 15. Check the climate even when you do not have serviceiOS 26 brings satellite tv for pc connectivity to the Weather app, so you’ll be able to nonetheless examine situations even while you’re off the grid. If you are mountain climbing within the mountains or touring by way of a lifeless zone, the app will use Apple’s satellite tv for pc system to tug down primary forecasts like temperature, likelihood of rain and extreme climate alerts. You’ll see a small satellite tv for pc icon on the prime of the Weather app when it is in use. It clearly will not change a full connection, however it makes the iPhone way more helpful in these no-service moments. 16. Get notified to scrub the digicam lens When the Camera app detects glare, haze or smudges on the lens, it’s going to gently remind you to wipe it clear. You’ll see a fast on-screen alert earlier than you are taking the shot. It’s not intrusive, however it could possibly prevent from realizing later that your once-in-a-lifetime photograph got here out cloudy. 17. HDR screenshotsScreenpictures now seize in HDR on iOS 26, which suggests what you save appears a lot nearer to what you really see on the show. Open a brilliant photograph, take a screenshot, and you will discover the identical vivid highlights and distinction preserved in your Photos library. 18. Passport in Wallet Wallet will quickly assist digital passports in some areas. Add it the identical manner you’d a driver’s license: Wallet > + > Add Passport. Once arrange, you need to use it at supported airports and checkpoints. It’s not common but, however it’s the clearest signal that your bodily pockets is on borrowed time. iOS 26’s largest options might get the highlight, however it’s these smaller touches that make utilizing the iPhone really feel smoother and extra private. From smarter alarms to immersive images to sensible name screening, the replace is filled with small wins you may discover day by day. And that is what makes it price putting in.
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