Hajra Naz
At WWDC 2025, Apple announced a wide range of new features coming with iOS 26 this fall. These updates will improve many of Apple’s core apps, making them smarter, more useful, and easier to use.
Phone App Upgrades
Apple is adding Call Screening, which allows your iPhone to silently answer unknown numbers and show you who’s calling and why—before you pick up. A new Hold Assist feature will stay on hold for you and alert you when a real person joins the call. Live Translation will also arrive, letting your iPhone translate live conversations in real-time, so both parties can speak and understand each other in different languages.
Messages Enhancements
In group chats, you can now create polls to plan events or vote on things, and Apple Intelligence will suggest starting polls when helpful. Group chats also get custom backgrounds, typing indicators, and support for Apple Cash transfers. Messages from unknown numbers will go to a separate folder, where you can choose to accept, block, or delete them. Live Translation in texts will translate your messages as you type and translate incoming messages automatically.
Apple Music Updates
Apple Music is getting a Lyrics Translation feature to help you understand songs in other languages and Lyrics Pronunciation to help you sing along. The new AudioMix feature lets songs transition smoothly using DJ-style beat matching. A karaoke mode turns your iPhone into a mic with lyrics on your Apple TV screen. You can also pin your favorite music to the top of your library for quick access.
Read More: New Report Details Apple’s Two-Phase iPhone 18 Launch Plan
Apple Maps Improvements
Apple Maps will use on-device AI to learn your commute routes and offer real-time traffic updates or alternate directions. A new Visited Places feature lets your iPhone track locations you’ve been to—like restaurants or shops. Apple says all this data is private and end-to-end encrypted.
Apple Wallet Features
Apple Wallet will soon support digital IDs, including a version of your passport or driver’s license. These can be used for age or identity verification in apps like Uber Eats or Chime and at TSA checkpoints. Wallet will also offer real-time Live Activities for flights, let you track bags, navigate airports, and view airline services. Plus, Apple Intelligence will automatically summarize delivery or order tracking emails and display the updates inside Wallet.
FaceTime Translation
FaceTime is getting Live Translation with real-time captions, making it easier to talk with someone who speaks another language.
Photos App Redesign
Apple is bringing back the tabbed interface in the Photos app, making it easier to browse albums and favorites and search your library. You’ll also be able to turn regular photos into 3D spatial images.
Camera App Tweaks
The Camera app is getting a simplified layout. The most-used modes—Photo and Video—will always be visible. You can swipe to access other modes like Portrait and swipe up to adjust settings like flash, timer, resolution, and more.
Apple Podcasts Features
Apple Podcasts will now let you choose playback speeds between 0.5x and 3x. A new Enhance Dialogue tool uses AI to make speech clearer when there’s background noise.
Image Playground with ChatGPT
Apple is adding ChatGPT integration to Image Playground. You can choose from styles like oil painting or vector art, or describe exactly what you want using the “Any Style” tool. ChatGPT will generate custom images based on your input.
