iOS 26 Public Beta is Here: Top 5 New Features to Try

Apple has officially released the first public beta for iOS 26, allowing all interested users with a compatible iPhone to download and experience the next generation of its mobile operating system. The update introduces a radical new “Liquid Glass” design language and brings major upgrades to core apps like the Camera and Phone.

While the public beta is generally more stable than the developer versions, it is still pre-release software. Users should expect to encounter bugs and are advised to install it on a secondary device rather than their primary iPhone to be safe.

If you’ve taken the plunge, here are the five best new features you should explore first.

1. The New “Liquid Glass” Interface

The most immediate and dramatic change in iOS 26 is the Liquid Glass redesign. This new user experience overhauls the look and feel of the entire operating system, replacing the familiar design of previous years. You’ll notice translucent, glass-like elements, sophisticated background blurring, and buttons that appear to reflect and refract light. This new aesthetic is present across the system, from the Control Center and notifications to native apps. It’s a bold step forward for Apple’s design, and while it’s still being tweaked, it offers a fresh and modern feel to the iPhone.

2. A Simplified and More Powerful Camera App

Apple has finally given the Camera app a much-needed redesign, making it simpler for casual users while providing quicker access to advanced settings for photographers. The main interface has been decluttered, now prominently showing only Photo and Video modes. Other options are neatly tucked away but can be revealed with a single tap, giving users full control without a cluttered screen. This streamlined approach makes snapping the perfect shot faster and more intuitive.

3. “Circle to Search” Comes to the iPhone

Visual Intelligence, Apple’s on-device image recognition feature, gets a significant upgrade in iOS 26 with the introduction of Circle to Search. Similar to Google’s popular feature, you can now take a screenshot of anything on your screen, circle an object or text, and instantly get relevant search results from the web. The feature is also integrated with ChatGPT via an “Ask” button, allowing you to ask more complex questions related to what’s in your screenshot.

4. “Call Screen” Revamps the Phone App

The Phone app is borrowing two of the best features from Google’s playbook. With iOS 26, you can now enable Call Screening, which allows you to see a real-time transcription of what an unknown caller is saying before you decide to answer. This is a powerful tool for filtering out spam calls. Additionally, the new Hold For Me feature will monitor a call when you’re placed on hold and notify you with an alert the moment a human comes back on the line, saving you from having to listen to hold music.

5. Create 3D Memories with “Spatial Scene”

Building on the technology developed for the Vision Pro, the Photos app in iOS 26 introduces Spatial Scene. This incredible feature uses Apple Intelligence to analyze a standard 2D photo and convert it into a 3D image with a realistic sense of depth. It intelligently highlights the subject and fills in the background to create the 3D effect. You can even set these dynamic, three-dimensional images as your wallpaper. The results are impressive and showcase the power of Apple’s on-device AI.