The 5 Best iOS 26 Features to Try Now on Your iPhone

After updating to iOS 26, several features immediately made the change worthwhile. Here’s my personal
top five and how you can try them out on your own device:

1. Liquid Glass Design: The interface has been completely revamped with fluid, glass-like effects. Elements appear translucent, notifications animate smoothly, and app icons respond with subtle physics. The entire system feels more lively and visually pleasing. Try it: Update your iPhone to iOS 26 and you’ll see the new effects across your Home Screen, notification center, and menus.
2. Revamped Camera App: The Camera app now supports new functions especially for users of AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4. You can now trigger photos and videos using a press on your AirPods. High-fidelity audio recording is built-in, making content creation easier than ever. Try it: Once your AirPods are updated, open the Camera app and press your AirPods stem to snap photos or start video.
3. Photos App Overhaul: Navigation is streamlined: the new design brings just two main tabs Library and Collections making it easier to browse photos and find albums. You can animate favorite images into spatial scenes, adding a captivating 3D effect (on supported devices). Try it: Open the Photos app after updating, and explore the new interface and animation features.
4. Call Screening: Incoming calls from unknown numbers can be screened automatically. Your iPhone will answer on your behalf, asking callers to identify themselves and their intent, letting you decide whether to respond. Try it: Enable call screening under Settings > Phone. Calls from unknown numbers will now be handled automatically. Set Your Default Apps: With iOS 26, you can finally choose default apps for core actions such as email or web browsing. This means your favorite third-party apps can handle links, messages, and more by default. Try it: Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and assign your preferred app for each category. These upgrades delivered immediately noticeable improvements from visual aesthetics to productivity and privacy making the iOS 26 update a rewarding choice for iPhone users

Source: ZDNet outlines five standout iOS 26 features that make updating an iPhone worthwhile.
The article explains how each upgrade improves both functionality and user experience.