iOS 26 brings many changes to the iPhone. Although the largest culminating point – the redesign of liquid glass – is available on all iPhones that can perform iOS 26, there are several features in the new update that requires more recent iPhone models and Apple Intelligence. Here are the features and requirements of their device.
Visual intelligence with screenshots
Need: iPhone 15 pro or more recent
Last year, Visual Intelligence made its debut as a special camera function for the iPhone 16 line. Now, the functionality of the AI has extended to more places on the system scale.
Take a screenshot in iOS 26, for example, and you will see an option to use visual intelligence to analyze the content of what you have captured.
This new tool can be ideal for shopping, adding events to your calendar, and more.
Live translation in messages, facetime, telephone
Need: iPhone 15 pro or more recent
Apple has done a lot of work this year to allow live translation on its various devices.
Live translation works inside messages, FaceTime and telephone application to make linguistic barriers less than ever.
Here are the details by apple::
In the messages, live translation can automatically translate messages. If a user makes plans with new friends during his travels abroad, his message can be translated as he taps, delivered in the favorite language of the recipient, and when he obtains an answer, each message can be translated instantly. On facetime calls, a user can follow live legends translated while hearing the speaker’s voice. And during a telephone call, the translation is spoken aloud throughout the conversation.
3D effect of the lock screen
Need: iPhone 12 or more recent
iOS 26 will embellish the locking screen of your iPhone not only with the new liquid glass design, but also a fun 3D effect.
Of the Apple website Describing changes in the lock screen:
Time dynamically adapts to your photo and the surrounding space, keeping your subject in sight. When you move your iPhone, your photo comes to life with a new 3D effect.
Actions shortcuts with the AI powers
Need: iPhone 15 pro or more recent
Apple Shortcuts Apple has acquired new actions in iOS 26 which can exploit the existing AI functionalities.
For example, you can use actions to create images, summarize text or “Press Apple Intelligence’s models directly to provide answers that feed your shortcut”.
If you are a shortcut user, pressing Apple Intelligence should open new impossible powers before.
Reminders suggestions and organization
Need: iPhone 15 pro or more recent
In iOS 26, Apple Intelligence feeds two new aspects of the Reminders Application:
- Suggestions
- Organization
With AI, the reminders will suggest creating new tasks or grocery elements based on the text discovered on disk in your iMessages, E-mails, etc.
In terms of organization, reminders can also automatically categorize a list of tasks in different sections using AI.
Apple portfolio order monitoring
Need: iPhone 15 pro or more recent
Apple Wallet has been offering orders for years, but traders have been largely reluctant to support functionality. As a result, you have probably rarely benefited from it on your iPhone.
But in iOS 26, Apple uses AI to extract e-mail tracking details in your reception box. This means that traders do not need to refer to the Apple system so that their commands appear in the Wallet application.
Hopefully this should make the Apple Wallet control follow -up function much more useful than before.
New Genmoji and Playground Image upgrades
Need: iPhone 15 pro or more recent
Last year, Genmoji and Image Playground were launched as a new Image tools from Apple Intelligence.
In iOS 26, these existing features are improved in several ways.
Genmoji can now be created by mixing two existing emoji or by writing a description next to the mixture. You can also personalize Genmoji hairstyle, clothes, etc. When inspired by a friend or a family member.
Playground image integrates the powers of generation of chatgpt images, unlocking a pile of new style options for images, in particular:
- Anime
- Oil painting
- Vector
- Watercolor
There is also an option “any style” where you can simply describe any type of image you want to make.
Background creation messages and survey suggestion
Need: iPhone 15 pro or more recent
The application of Apple’s messages obtains a variety of new features in iOS 26.
Two features, surveys and backgrounds of this type, are delivered with certain aspects of AI which are exclusive to new iPhones.
Although you can create a message survey on any iPhone model, if your device supports AI, you will see survey suggestions that can be easily written via Apple Intelligence.
And for backgrounds, in addition to choosing from Apple’s action images for everyone, new iPhones can also create personalized backgrounds using the integration of integrated image playground.
