Summary
- iOS 26 introduces dynamic 3D photo mode for lock screen & camera app.
- Updated CarPlay for easier navigation, widgets, and driving map features.
- New Phone app features include reasons for incoming calls, mute on hold, and agent pickup notifications.
Well, it's that time of the year again. WWDC 2025 is underway, and everyone is watching the event for all the hot new features that are on the way. If you're interested in what your iPhone can do soon, the company has revealed what iOS 26 can do, and things look pretty amazing.
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iOS 26 includes a dynamic 3D photo mode, improved CarPlay, and more
First of all, the lock screen is a lot more dynamic than before. When you set a new lock screen, the system detects where the focus is and moves the time around it. You may see some foreground elements slightly overlap the clock as if they were layered in a 3D-like style, with zero effort from you. Plus, when notifications come in, the lock screen moves in accordance with them, so you can always see the time.
The camera app also gains the ability to take these pseudo-3D images. It also lets you quickly switch to taking 4K images in case you need something to look its best.
If you're a fan of using your phone in the car, the new CarPlay app will make things a lot easier. Now you can tap into the power of widgets while you're on the go, plus an improved driving map so you can see exactly where you're going.
The Phone app is also getting a cool update that lets you better see who's on the other end of the line. When someone wants to contact you, they can give you a reason as to why they're phoning so you know who's calling for what reason. There's also an amazing new "Hold Assist" feature that lets you mute the annoying music while you wait on hold and informs you when an agent picks up the phone.
If you're in a group chat with indecisive people, the Message app will now let you generate polls for people to answer. If people don't like the options you supplied, they can add their own options for everyone's consideration. And while people are typing their arguments over the newest poll, you can see a typing notification for each person.
Apple Music is getting an interesting update for people who love listening to songs that aren't sung in their native language. Not only can it now translate what the singer is singing about, but it can also give you a pronunciation guide so you can sing along better. No longer do you need to look up songs and see what kind of wild things your fave artists are singing about.
Meanwhile, the Wallet app is getting more features to aid with travel. You can now store your passport within Wallet, which, while Apple says is not a straight-up replacement for a physical one, allows you to travel domestically within the US and prove your age to people without bringing your actual passport with you.
Apple is also adding a new "Games" app with iOS 26. This lets you take a look at all of the games you've purchased and installed, and shows you all of the titles you've played recently so you can hop back into the action really quickly. The Games app will let you know what scores your friends got, and will let you challenge them to in-game battles to show them who's the best.
