WWDC 2026 has begun, which means it’s been almost a year since I first started using iOS 26 — first through the developer beta and then through the public releases. Since then, I’ve been able to explore several new features and test them against their Android counterparts.
In our initial iOS 26 review, my colleagues and I detailed how these features work and what benefits they provide. Now, I want to go back and rate them based on how much I actually use them. Quite frankly, not all of them had a lasting impact. That’s why I’m excited to see what’s to come in iOS 27 and how it will signal future hardware releases like the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and yes, the rumored iPhone Fold.
Here are my favorite iOS 26 features after almost a year with the new software. I’m curious: how much do you use them?
Modification of the liquid-glass interface
There was a lot of controversy surrounding Apple’s new design language with Liquid Glass, especially since the transparency made some interface elements difficult to see. However, that is fixed with options that allow you to adjust the opacity of the effect. As a result, I love the new aesthetic and have driven it since the beginning.
Verdict: It’s a slick aesthetic that’s clearly iOS 26.
Spammers can be avoided with call screening
Visual Voicemail has been great since it launched with the original iPhone, but it finally got a well-deserved upgrade in iOS 26 with Call Screening.
This feature excels at detecting potentially fraudulent calls, avoiding the frustration of dealing with spammers by directing them directly into the screening process. I love using it because it transcribes their voice in real-time, allowing me to decide whether to send a message or let them finish.
While it’s still not as robust as the Pixel 10 Pro’s quarter screen kit, it’s a great start for Apple.
Verdict: Blocking spam calls is a huge time saver.
3D lock screen with spatial display
iOS 26 clearly brings more customization to the table than ever before. From adding widgets to changing icon colors, Apple has finally bridged the customization gap. But the real showstopper for me is the ability to create a spatial view on my lock screen.
This feature lets me take a photo I’ve captured and apply a spatial effect tailored to the lock screen to create an amazing illusion of depth. Tilting my iPhone a bit shows how impressive the 3D effect is, but I love the clever layering of other elements like the clock and notifications to complete the look.
Verdict: My lock screen has never looked so charming.
Hold Assist lifts me up and saves me from music
Like Call Screening, Assist Capture in iOS 26 has become a handy tool that I rely on whenever the situation arises. Instead of sitting idly in line with looping elevator music, I let Hold Assist wait for me, freeing me to focus on something else.
Once a human agent picks up on the other end, I’m notified immediately so I can jump right into the call. While most times I’ve had them so far have been under five minutes, it’s still an incredibly liberating feature to have in your pocket.
Verdict: An absolute lifesaver, meaning you’ll never have to endure music again.
Translator mode with live translation
When iOS 18 launched, it introduced the ability to transcribe voice memos and create text summaries — a useful tool I often used to shorten long press conference announcements. With iOS 26, Apple adds a new capability with Live Translation, which lets you watch on the fly during phone and FaceTime calls. Powered by Apple Intelligence, it essentially acts as a personal translator.
While it’s accurate and effective compared to Samsung’s Galaxy AI, it’s nowhere near as impressive as the Pixel 10 Pro’s Voice Translate feature, which uses generative AI to clone my voice and use the appropriate regional accent.
Verdict: It works fine, but it clearly doesn’t match Google’s version.
Easier searches with visual intelligence
With the arrival of iOS 26, the new Apple Intelligence features were limited, but the most meaningful addition was the expansion of Visual Intelligence. Its functionality is now baked right into the screenshot tool, allowing me to instantly search for anything I see on my screen.
It’s Apple’s answer to Google’s Circle Two search, making it easy to identify an actor in a video or determine whether an outdoor shrub is poisonous. I love that I no longer have to go to Safari to search for things manually, which is why this feature is so handy.
Verdict: Saves me the hassle of checking everything manually.
Quick engagement with polls on news
Group Messaging in iOS 26 gained its own ability to create polls, ideal for gathering responses quickly in a central location rather than sorting through conflicting responses over hours.
Since I don’t participate in as many large group chats as others, I don’t rely on this as much as other new features.
Verdict: Useful if your daily routine revolves around group chats.
New CarPlay features
As I test drive many of the top electric cars, I regularly connect my iPhone to access CarPlay while driving. iOS 26 introduces new features that make the interface more intuitive and visually appealing — especially how it reflects the phone’s new Liquid Glass aesthetic.
Other features I rely on are the ability to add new widgets to the CarPlay home screen, the option to replace Siri for ChatGPT, and support for quick tapback message replies.
Verdict: A beautiful, highly functional upgrade for anyone who spends significant time on the road.
Streamlined camera app
For years, I’ve criticized Apple for burying essential shooting controls inside the viewfinder instead of making them easily accessible. Fortunately, iOS 26 addresses my long-standing frustrations with its streamlined camera app layout.
In addition to using a sleek Liquid Glass aesthetic, the app allows me to adjust photo and video resolutions directly from the screen without forcing me to dive into the main settings app like in the past. While Apple could add some more advanced tweaks to match the sheer depth of Samsung’s Pro mods, this is a huge, long-overdue update.
Verdict: Precise cleaning awaits iPhone photographers.
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