I’m ready to banish spam callers, show off the slick new interface, and see if Live Translation can help me communicate with my in-laws.
Apple held back on futuristic announcements at this year’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), drawing criticism from AI insiders (including me), but the small tweaks it debuted for iOS look like they’ll be a pleasure to use on a daily basis.
The formal iOS 26 update arrives this fall, but Apple just dropped the beta version. It’s usually a solid preview of the final version, and ideal for testing out the tech. Here’s how to check it out, and the five iPhone features I’m most excited to try.1. Group Text Polls to Save Us From the Slog
Group chats often create a million message notifications. One study found that 42% of people say managing them feels like a part-time job, especially when the group needs to make a choice.
With the new polling feature inside Messages, you can create a quick survey that others can respond to without needing all that back and forth. That would’ve been a great feature for a bachelorette trip I was on recently, where we voted on what restaurant to order dinner from in a much more cumbersome way. One person would send individual texts with each option, which everyone else would vote on by «liking» their favorite. A formal group chat poll function would’ve been much cleaner and easier.
You can also now settle up the bill with Apple Pay right in the group chat. At that bachelorette, we used Splitwise, which it sounds like iOS 26 could replace, saving time and mental energy.2. Liquid Glass Is Elegant, If Slightly Underwhelming
Apple’s «Liquid Glass» UI overhaul wasn’t as dramatic as I expected, but it’s a welcome upgrade. Because let’s face it: iPhones are eye candy and status symbols. It’s important for Apple to keep them looking elegant and fresh, and the redesign accomplishes that to some degree.
