5 iOS 26 options I am glad Apple copied, even when Android had them first

After greater than a decade, Apple lastly determined to revamp the design language of its working programs at WWDC 2025. The corporate kicked off the keynote by highlighting how iOS and different Apple platforms hadn’t shared a constant design language, and that iOS itself hadn’t seen a serious replace in over a decade. With that, Apple unveiled a brand-new design language known as Liquid Glass.

Liquid Glass marks Apple’s shift to a recent visible theme throughout its OS lineup, together with iOS 26, with transparency and glass-like shine results unfold all through the system. You will now see glass-inspired supplies throughout the interface, that includes blurred backgrounds that reply dynamically to no matter’s behind them.

Alongside this design overhaul, iOS 26 introduces a spread of latest options, equivalent to updates to the Messages app, a redesigned Phone app, and enhancements to core Apple apps like Pockets, Maps, and Music. Nonetheless, what stood out to me most had been among the new options that really feel closely impressed by Android. Listed here are a couple of iOS 26 additions I am genuinely excited for — even when they’re clearly borrowed from Android.

5

Name Screening lastly involves the iPhone

A protracted-overdue function that Google’s Pixel nailed years in the past

Supply: Apple

Apple and Google regularly copy options from one another’s working programs, however one function I am genuinely glad to see lastly arrive on iOS is Name Screening. Because the launch of the Google Pixel 3 in 2018, Pixel telephones have supplied a Call Screen feature that solutions cellphone calls from unknown numbers in your behalf.

Utilizing Google Assistant (and now Gemini), the Pixel responds to unknown calls, figuring out whether or not it is spam, a robocall, or an actual particular person — all whereas displaying a dwell transcription on-screen. If the caller is reputable, you get the choice to reply.

With iOS 26, Apple is now bringing an analogous function to the iPhone. Call Screening works alongside Stay Voicemail, prompting callers to clarify who they’re and why they’re calling. Much like Google’s implementation, it then helps you to resolve whether or not to reply or ignore. This function has been unique to Pixel telephones till now, but it surely’s lastly arriving on iPhones with iOS 26.

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4

Maintain Help: Makes ready on calls bearable

A better method to sit by means of maintain music

Supply: Apple

One other function Apple is borrowing from Pixel smartphones is the Maintain Help function. It is irritating whenever you name buyer care and get placed on maintain for 20 minutes, listening to annoying maintain music whereas ready for a buyer care agent to reply.

Pixel telephones supply a neat feature called “Hold For Me” that stays on the road by means of the music and notifies you when an actual human lastly picks up. It is a lifesaver when these minutes really feel countless, particularly when you possibly can put these minutes to some productive use.

Apple is now bringing an analogous function to the iPhone with Maintain Help. Identical to on Pixel telephones, it holds the decision for you and alerts you when an actual particular person is on the road.

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3

Stay translation throughout calls is right here

Samsung beat Apple to it — but it surely’s nonetheless a win

With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S24 sequence in 2024, Samsung went exhausting on Galaxy AI features. One of many standout additions was dwell translation throughout calls, permitting customers talking completely different languages to speak with real-time translation. With iOS 26, Apple will not be solely bringing this function to the iPhone but in addition taking it a step additional.

Whereas showcasing the brand new Apple Intelligence features in iOS 26, Apple revealed that it is usually bringing Stay Translation to the iPhone. Nonetheless, this function not solely works throughout cellphone calls, however may also work throughout different apps, together with FaceTime and Messages. So, at any time when your iPhone detects a message or name in a distinct language than your gadget’s language, it can immediately translate it for you.

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2

Apple Pockets lastly will get severe with digital IDs

It is catching up with Google Pockets’s finest options

Much like Google Pockets, Apple Pockets has lengthy supported storing bank cards, flight boarding passes, and even digital automobile keys. With iOS 26, nevertheless, Apple is lastly including a function lately introduced in Google Wallet — Digital IDs.

Like Google Pockets, Apple Pockets will now allow you to create a digital ID primarily based in your U.S. passport. Whereas it will not substitute your bodily passport, you’ll use it for home journey, TSA checkpoints, in apps, and in particular person for verification​​​​​​. This function has been out there on Android smartphones for over six months now, and can lastly be coming to iPhones within the fall.

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1

Visible Search now works like Circle to Search

A well-known thought, however nonetheless a welcome iOS addition

One in every of my favourite AI options has been Circle to Search. This function helps you to simply seek for what’s in your display screen by simply drawing a border across the object. For instance, whenever you’re scrolling Instagram, you possibly can merely maintain the navigation bar and draw a circle across the product you prefer to get shopping for hyperlinks to it. You may even seek for context concerning the object you’ve got chosen utilizing Google Search.

Apple can also be bringing an analogous function to the iPhone. On the iPhone, Picture Search is constructed into the screenshot workflow. So whenever you take a screenshot, you will get choices like share and markup on the high, however on the backside, you will see options like Spotlight to Search and Picture Search.

Highlighting part of the picture will work equally to Circle to Search, letting you study extra about merchandise, purchase them, and so forth., whereas a brand new function known as Ask, which isn’t out there on Android, helps you to ask concerning the screenshots’ content material straight by way of ChatGPT. iOS 26 may also extract related particulars, equivalent to calendar occasions and addresses, for varied call-to-actions.

Android led the best way, however I am glad iOS customers now get to take pleasure in these options

Total, regardless that flagship units from Google and Samsung had these options first, I am glad Apple is lastly bringing them to iOS. These are features I miss each time I swap again to my iPhone 16 Pro after testing an Android cellphone, however with iOS 26, I am going to get to take pleasure in them on my iPhone, too.

• 

  Model

  Apple

  SoC

  A18 Professional (3nm)

  Show

  6.3-inch 1,206 x 2,622 pixel decision 120Hz LTPO Tremendous Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, 1000 nits (typical), 2000 nits (peak)

  Storage

  128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

  Ports

  USB-C

  Entrance digital camera

  12-megapixel, f/1.9, 23mm (large), 1/3.6″, PDAF, OIS

  Apple’s iPhone 16 Professional line options a couple of notable upgrades over final 12 months’s iPhone 15 Professional, together with a devoted digital camera button, a brand new A18 Professional chip, an even bigger display screen, and a number of other AI-powered Apple Intelligence options.

  
  

• 

  Model

  Apple

  SoC

  A18 (3nm)

  Show

  6.1-inch 2556 x 1179 pixel decision Tremendous Retina XDR, 2000 nits, 60Hz

  RAM

  8GB

  Storage

  128GB, 256GB, 512GB

  Ports

  USB-C

  This 12 months’s iPhone 16 line blurs the road between the “Professional” and the base-level iPhone by providing a brand new digital camera button and the Motion Button, alongside the A18 chip.