Credit: Shutterstock
Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote packed in more than just shiny visuals and sleek transitions—it delivered real substance. With iOS 26 arriving this fall, Apple is rolling out a wave of thoughtful updates across nearly all of its built-in apps. Whether you’re managing travel plans, screening calls, or even singing karaoke, the new features are designed to make your iPhone feel more intelligent, more helpful, and more personalized.
Let’s take a friendly walkthrough of what’s coming to your favorite Apple apps.
Smarter Calls and Conversations
The Phone app is stepping into the AI age with Call Screening, a game-changer for anyone tired of spam and unknown numbers. When a stranger calls, your iPhone will answer quietly, ask who they are and why they’re calling, and then show you the response before you decide to pick up. No more mystery voicemails!
Got stuck on hold? Enter Hold Assist, which waits on the line with that lovely elevator music until a human finally answers. And if you’re calling someone who speaks another language, Live Translation will translate the conversation in real-time—both text and spoken—right during the call.
Messages is also getting some serious upgrades. Planning events just got easier with polls in group chats, plus AI will suggest polls when it senses indecision. Want more fun? You can now customize your chat backgrounds, view who’s typing in group threads, and even send and receive Apple Cash in chats.
And yes, Live Translation is in Messages too—text conversations are now automatically translated as you type and receive replies, making it easier to chat across languages.
Apple Music Turns Into a Party
Music lovers, rejoice! Apple Music is adding features that blend fun and functionality. The new Lyrics Translation helps you understand songs in different languages, while Lyrics Pronunciation lets you sing along—even in a language you don’t speak.
A new AudioMix feature uses time-stretching and beat-matching to give your playlist DJ-style transitions, perfect for workouts, parties, or commutes. If you love karaoke, your iPhone can now become a microphone for Apple TV, complete with real-time lyrics and vocal amplification.
And for convenience, you’ll be able to pin your favorite tracks or albums at the top of your Library.
Better Navigation and Travel Tools
Apple Maps is getting personal in the best way. It will start learning your daily commute and recommend your usual routes with updates on traffic or delays. A new Visited Places feature automatically logs where you’ve been—restaurants, shops, you name it—with your privacy fully protected.
Meanwhile, Apple Wallet is becoming your travel sidekick. The biggest addition? A Digital ID, including a digital version of your passport that works with select TSA checkpoints and identity-verifying apps like Uber Eats and Chime.
Planning a flight? The refreshed boarding pass experience shows real-time flight updates and lets you share live progress with friends. You’ll also be able to access airport directions, report lost luggage, and explore airline options, all from your boarding pass screen. Wallet even uses AI to automatically summarize order tracking from your emails.
FaceTime Gets a Translation Boost
FaceTime joins the translation club with real-time captions for calls in different languages. Whether chatting with international friends or taking global business meetings, FaceTime now helps both sides follow the conversation smoothly.
Photos and Camera Get a Makeover
Apple heard user feedback loud and clear—Photos is getting its tabs back. You’ll now see clear divisions between Collections, Library, and Albums, making it easier to browse and find memories. And for Vision Pro users, you can turn 2D photos into stunning 3D spatial photos.
The Camera app is also more user-friendly. Your two most-used modes—photo and video—are front and center, and you can swipe for others like Portrait or Cinematic. Swiping up reveals settings like flash, timer, or frame rate, while a simple tap lets you switch resolutions or formats.
Podcasts That Sound Better Than Ever
Apple Podcasts is finally catching up with customizable playback speeds, letting you choose anything from 0.5x to 3x. A new Enhance Dialogue option also uses AI to clarify speech when background noise gets in the way—a great addition for commuters or multitaskers.
Image Playground Gets Creative with ChatGPT
Creatives, take note: Image Playground is getting a serious upgrade thanks to ChatGPT. You can now choose from styles like vector art or oil painting, or describe your own vision using the “Any Style” option. ChatGPT will help you generate unique images directly within the app—perfect for personal projects or social media.
A Smarter, More Helpful iPhone
What’s exciting about iOS 26 isn’t just the big features—it’s the little quality-of-life updates that add up to a smoother, more intuitive iPhone experience. Apple is leaning into AI where it counts, but also bringing back familiar, user-requested elements that make everyday use easier.
As fall approaches, iOS 26 is shaping up to be one of Apple’s most user-friendly updates yet. Whether you’re chatting with friends, traveling across the country, or belting out your favorite tunes, your iPhone is ready to be more helpful, more intelligent, and more fun.
Stay tuned for even more features as the beta rolls out—because Apple’s not quite done yet.
