A year ago, Apple presented the latest design overhaul to the iPhone Photos Application, to follow it with another major change this year. During the WWDC 2024 keynote, many Apple users were furious with design adjustmentsEspecially since Apple has removed the sidebar in favor of new collections and carousels.
Although the company has improved the photo application with iOS 18.2, adding the possibility of sorting alphabetically albums, by date created or manually, as well as improvements to consult the videos and navigate the collection views, many users were still not satisfied with changes.
Now, going from iOS 18 to iOS 26, Apple makes significant updates to how users interact with the photo application. The application is now divided into two sections: the library and the collections.
In the library, you can see all your photos and decide if screenshots and shared images must appear there. The Collections tab shows the design changes introduced for the first time in iOS 18.
This update tackles the unique vision format of which many iPhone users have complained during the iOS 18 cycle 18. Once the software update will be deployed later this fall, users will be able to display all their photos in a section and access memories, pinned albums, people and pet suggestions, and more in another.
Apple has found a better way to highlight the photos that matter most
To tell the truth, I was one of the few people to appreciate the design changes in the 18 -photos iOS application. I liked having everything in one place and I found the tiring of the sidebar. But after the online backlash and some users even jumping the iOS 18 update due to the change, it seems that Apple found a compromise by listening to the comments.
For those like me who appreciated the new design, switch between the two main tabs at the bottom of the application will be a small fit. And for those who did not like it, the same configuration should make the application more usable overall.
Apple is still in the early stages of beta iOS 26 tests, so parts of the experience may still change. But several notable adjustments are already in place, from the new liquid glass user interface to features such as the collapse of the collections, reorganize them and the personalization of the way you view your photos.
We will keep an eye on how Apple continues to refine the iOS 26 photos app as the beta version progresses. Below, you can consult other modifications to come in this next software update.
