Apple’s new main model of its cellular software program is coming in September, with messaging specifically set for a giant improve.
The Messages app in iOS 26 has been given a brand new look with the so-called Liquid Glass design. On the similar time, it introduces a spread of options that enhance each personal and group chats, from customised backgrounds to good real-time translation.
Right here’s a better take a look at all the things that’s coming.
Customized background for every dialog
Now you can select a customized background for every chat. Customers can select from ready-made themes comparable to sky or water, strong color choices or pictures from their very own gallery. It’s additionally potential to generate pictures utilizing Apple’s generative AI ‘Picture Playground’ app.
This characteristic is just out there in iMessage conversations and requires iOS 26, iPad OS 26 or Mac OS Tahoe.
Polls in chats
Customers can create polls instantly in chats, with as much as twelve response choices.
On gadgets that assist Apple Intelligence, Messages may also counsel making a ballot primarily based on the content material of the dialog.
Dwell translation in actual time
Utilizing Apple Intelligence, the app can translate messages as you kind, enabling conversations between individuals who communicate completely different languages.
The characteristic helps English, French, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Simplified Chinese language.
Apple
Enhancements to group chats
Group chats are getting two doubtlessly helpful new options. Identical to in 1:1 chat, it’ll now present indicators of who’s writing, matching what’s already out there on WhatsApp.
Elsewhere, it’s additionally potential to rapidly add unknown individuals to your Contacts.
Smarter copying
Choose and duplicate particular person components of a message, comparable to an tackle subject or monitoring quantity, just by long-pressing and choosing “Choose”.
New filters for messages
Messages from unknown senders and suspected spam can now be sorted into completely different classes: unknown, transactions, promoting, spam, and lately deleted. It’s additionally potential to cover notifications from sure classes, except for time-sensitive messages.
Pure textual content search
The search perform has been improved and now understands pure language, so you possibly can kind searches in on a regular basis language slightly than actual phrases.
Picture dealing with when knowledge is low
A brand new setting sends low-quality picture previews when the iPhone is utilizing restricted knowledge. The complete model is routinely despatched anytime the cellphone is related to Wi-Fi.
New Genmoji options
Genmoji lets you mix two or extra emoji symbols into a brand new, customised image. The end result can be customised with textual content descriptions.
Once more, that is an Apple Intelligence characteristic, but it surely works equally to the stacked emojis that went viral in 2024, proven beneath.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Enhancements to CarPlay
Messages in CarPlay now assist Tapbacks, plus the flexibility to pin conversations for fast entry.
EU alignment and future encryption
Within the EU, a brand new API is being launched that enables third-party apps to ship and obtain SMS, MMS and RCS. Apple additionally plans to introduce end-to-end encryption for RCS conversations between iPhone and Android customers in future updates.
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This text initially appeared on our sister publication Macworld Sweden and was translated and tailored from Swedish.