Although iOS 26 arrived several weeks ago with a long list of new features, some of them have gone somewhat unnoticed or simply haven’t received the attention they deserve. There are several very useful features that can change the way we use our devices, yet we don’t always pay them enough attention. Small details that allow us to be faster, more organised, and enjoy our iPhone more.
Small features that improve our day-to-day lives without us noticing
If we use our iPhone while studying or working, we might already know about background sounds. Now, with iOS 26, we can choose from eight additional options, such as Babble, Rain on Roof or Quiet Night. If we haven’t done so yet, we just need to add the Background Sounds control to the Control Centre, or we can go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds to activate them.
Continuing with audio, we find the “Reduce Loud Sounds” option, available in Settings ➝ Sounds & Haptics. When enabled, the iPhone adjusts the speaker’s dynamic range so that louder sounds are softened and lower ones come through more clearly.
In Messages, we can now copy just part of a message by tapping and holding the bubble until the “Select” option appears.
When sending photos, iOS 26 lets us send low-quality previews that are delivered immediately to the recipient, while the high-resolution image follows shortly after. To activate this option, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Send Low-Quality Photo Preview.
In the calls section, we now have automatic reminders to return missed calls. If we swipe left on a call in Recents, we can tap the blue clock icon and choose when to receive a reminder: in one hour, tonight or tomorrow.
The Camera app also gets a couple of new features. In iOS 26, we’re notified if the lens needs cleaning to improve photo quality, and if we have a pair of AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 2, we can use them as a wireless microphone when recording video.
It’s clear that iOS 26 is full of these small features that integrate seamlessly into our daily use. Features that may have gone unnoticed among the long list of system updates but that, once we discover them, we appreciate and enjoy. Little details so the devices can do more, and we can do more with them.
On Hanaringo | Nonsense on the iPhone: some of the most absurd apps we can have