Apple presented the IOS 26 public at its annual world conference event for developers in early June, and since then has polished the software with developers for the possible beta version. Now that it is finally available for everyone, you may be wondering if it is worth diving directly or waiting for the official launch of the software – probably in September. This is what we are here to answer.
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To prepare the field, Apple iOS 26 offers a new refreshing look, more rationalized first part applications, more functionalities through popular services and some smaller Easter egg features that considerably improve the conviviality of your iPhone. My colleague Zdnet Kerry Wan and I have tested the public beta version (via the developer Beta 4) for a few weeks, and here are our biggest dishes to take away so far.
1. Visual intelligence is almost ready for prime time
When I tested visual intelligence for the first time on iOS 18, I mainly used the functionality to translate signaling and menus when I travel abroad. Compared to multimodal tools competing on other phones, the functionality was significantly naked. However, I found myself using it more often on iOS 26, thanks to the ability to better process information on the screen and follow the relevant tasks.
More specifically, being able to add a calendar event of my email was a blessing. Apple now allows you to take a screenshot of an invitation (whether from email, messages or anything else) and execute visual intelligence. This suggests the options to be added to the calendar, read aloud and summarize. The use of the first option creates an event in the Calendar application with details such as the event name, time and duration.
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Although Kerry and I find that Samsung’s Ai Select and Google’s Google circle more easily look for the elements on the screen and perform functions according to AI suggestions, some users will prefer that Apple’s AI service also allows you to save screenshots for a future reference.
You can, of course, delete the screenshot just after creating an event, but the process of taking a screenshot and then waiting for suggestions to display the option “ Adding to the calendar ” is something that currently requires more than the ideal time.
It would be great if I could activate visual intelligence on the screen with a press (or double press) of the camera control instead of taking a screenshot.
2. Apple has corrected the photos application, fortunately
The Cupertino technology giant has redesigned the IPhone photos application in iOS 18 last year and presented it as “the biggest overhaul”. During 2024, I, like many others, I had never gotten used to the new user interface and I almost always felt frustrated by browsing my vacation photos. Apple listened to user comments to give us an update layout, and I love it.
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The new Photos Application is now compartmentalized by library and collections, so if I scroll until the end of my library, it automatically displays any exceptional backrest. Instead, these were moved to a separate collections tab. Overall, the application of the application looks cleaner and no longer frustra. Fewer tracks are necessary to access certain albums, bringing iOS 26 closer to the unanswered software experience that we expect from Apple.
Although we are on this note, the ZDNET team agreed that the possibility of quickly transforming almost all images into a spatial depth is the “gimmicky” function that we love the most. It’s fun, easy to use and works reliably – more than ever, on the public beta version. It is the same technology that gives lock screen wallpapers as the gyroscopic portrait effect.
3. A simplified camera arrangement
The largest overhaul of the application in iOS 26 is a simplified provision of the camera application. Apple now offers you two options for video and photo at the bottom, where you can slide up to reveal more parameters like flash, live photo, timer, etc. These can also be found by pressing the Settings button in the upper right corner.
You can press, keep and slide to go to other modes such as cinematographic video, portrait, etc. At first, I found the new look too minimal for my taste; Even if you know all the tools and settings of the camera application, there is no clear indication – like a menu button or a development symbol – how to access it. I imagine that more occasional users will find it difficult, at least at the start, to find certain parameters.
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Having a more minimalist design gives you the advantage of a quick and responsive user interface, which is a major advantage for photographers and users who seek to grasp quick photos.
Remove more of the interface also makes the framing and capture of subjects. My colleague Kerry recently made a trip to Barcelona and Lisbon, two cities filled with architecture and tiling with a Mediterranean influence. He found the application of very intuitive altered camera during the switching quickly between photo and video modes and the framing of panoramic views. When each small detail on buildings, streets and statues imported so much, the ability to easily see how things are inscribed in the viewfinder were appreciated.
4. Safari obtains the largest liquid glass treatment
The new appearance of improved liquid glass safari makes a big difference to read and browse web pages. Apple’s browser on iOS 26 does not only look better, but is more usable than before. For example, the emphasis on the minimization of the distracting user interface means what was previously a menu with two rows at the bottom (which has taken a large part of the web page) is now simply a three -floating three -button navigation bar – which includes the rear button, the URL bar and the three -point button.
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The navigation bar minimized when you scroll through a web page and switch from one tab to another with a shift is faster than ever. I also love that Apple has gathered additional web page options in a three -point menu, which shelters shortcuts like sharing, adding to the favorites, also adding a bookmark, etc.
One of our new favorite safari features is the introduction of haptic queues. For example, you will feel a soft buzz when an image or a file has been successfully downloaded from the web browser, while previously, it would appear as a hidden notification. These subtle software adjustments go very far, so much so that my colleague Kerry has passed mainly using chrome on his iPhone.
5. Our favorite locking screen feature is …
I have been waiting for this feature for years, and that’s finally there. No, it’s not the expandable clock widget that adapts to wallpaper. Nor is it the possibility of placing ticker widgets now on the lower half of the screen.
Instead, this is the fact that when you charge your iPhone now, iOS 26 displays the estimated battery charging time. It is a little touch, but which turns out to be surprisingly useful, giving me information on the glance exactly when my iPhone is completely busy when I am short of time. I am also a fan of the illustration of the album Rafère, which now fills the entire locking screen during streaming from Apple Music, Spotify and other services.
Bonus: use of my airpods as a camera remote control
As a solo traveler, there are times when I miss my Apple watch – which I often leave at home to reduce load needs – when I have to record or capture an image of myself. But now I can trigger a wireless video recording with my AirPods Pro 2.
Also: your airpods get 2 major upgrades for free thanks to iOS 26
Apple iOS 26 allows you to start saving the closed video by pressing and holding AirPods or AirPods Pro with the H2 chip. This should be particularly useful for content creators and people like me who prefer to wear an analog watch to an Apple Watch.
Keep in mind that all the features mentioned here could change before the stable version later this year, including them, their appearance and operation. Despite this, iOS 26 promises to be one of the most important updates in the Apple operating system for years, and we can’t wait to see what more consumers think in the near future.
