Top 5 iOS 26 Features You Need to Try in the Public Beta
Apple’s iOS 26 has officially landed in public beta, giving iPhone users a first-hand look at some of the most exciting updates the company has rolled out in years. After four developer betas, the public version is ready for testing-just keep in mind that it’s still a beta, so bugs and glitches are part of the ride. If you’re curious about what’s new, here are the top five features worth diving into right away.
1. Liquid Glass Interface
First up is the all-new Liquid Glass design-a visual overhaul that brings depth, translucency, and a futuristic shine to iOS. Buttons and elements now appear to float, with dynamic blurs and light reflections that adapt based on what’s beneath. Control Center, notifications, and system apps all get the glassy treatment. It’s bold, beautiful, and marks a fresh chapter in Apple’s UI evolution.
2. Simplified Camera App
Photographers and casual snappers alike will appreciate the redesigned Camera app. Apple has decluttered the interface, grouping just ‘Photo’ and ‘Video’ up front while hiding advanced settings behind intuitive menus. It’s cleaner, smarter, and far easier to use on the fly, whether you’re capturing a moment or composing a masterpiece.
3. Circle to Search with Visual Intelligence
Visual Intelligence gets a powerful upgrade in iOS 26, with a Circle to Search feature reminiscent of Google’s tool. You can now screenshot anything on your screen, draw a circle around the area of interest, and instantly search the web. Bonus: there’s an ‘Ask’ button powered by ChatGPT for deeper questions based on the image. It’s a strong step forward in on-device AI search.
4. Call Screening and Hold For Me
The Phone app finally catches up with modern call management. Call Screening lets you see and read what a caller is saying in real-time before picking up, while ‘Hold For Me’ listens when you’re on hold and alerts you when someone returns. These smart tools bring some long-overdue convenience to the iPhone’s core calling experience.
5. Spatial Scene in Photos
Spatial Scene is a visual treat for those using Vision Pro or just into immersive visuals. This new feature turns your photos into 3D-style images by analyzing depth and enhancing backgrounds. You can even set them as wallpapers. The early feedback? Surprisingly impressive and fluid-even in beta.
These five features are just scratching the surface of what iOS 26 has to offer. If you have a secondary iPhone lying around, it might be worth loading up the beta and experiencing the future of iOS today.