Every year, Apple's keynote events dazzle us with groundbreaking innovations and headline-grabbing features for the latest iOS. But beneath the spotlight of the major announcements, a treasure trove of smaller, yet incredibly impactful, enhancements often goes unnoticed. While Apple ensures these additions are part of the new experience, it's easy to overlook the subtle tweaks that can profoundly improve your daily iPhone interactions. In this article, we're diving deep into iOS 26 to uncover 36 such features you might have missed – but are definitely worth knowing.

Productivity & Organization

  • Notes App:
    • Rich entry layout
    • Export notes to Markdown
  • Reminders App:
    • Suggested reminders
    • Create reminders from Action button
  • Journal App:
    • Create multiple journals
  • Files & System:
    • Auto-Categorize (for better organization)

Communication

  • Phone & FaceTime:
    • Enhance Dialogue (for clearer calls)
    • Screen sharing and SharePlay on a phone call
  • Messages & Contacts:
    • Communication requests
    • Add Contact button in groups
    • Block list in Settings (for managing unwanted contacts)

Media & Entertainment

  • Photos App:
    • Events in Photos (for better photo organization)
    • Photo previews
  • Camera App:
    • Lens cleaning hint
  • General Media Playback:
    • More playback speeds (for audio/video)

System & Settings

  • General System Enhancements:
    • Natural language search (system-wide)
    • Select partial text in a bubble
    • Custom snooze length for alarms (Clock app)
    • Relevant video thumbnails in search results
  • Security & Privacy:
    • Safety Check while blocking a contact
    • Password history
  • Battery Management:
    • Adaptive power
    • Estimated time to charge
  • Focus Modes:
    • Use Focus to silence SIM
  • Keyboard:
    • Specify spelling with Dictation
    • Multiscript keyboard for Arabic/English
  • Action Button:
    • Create reminders from Action button (likely applicable to iPhone 15 Pro models)
  • Personalization:
    • New Monogram styles

Accessibility

  • General Accessibility:
    • Accessibility Reader
    • Braille Access

Maps & Navigation

  • Maps App:
    • See your entries on a map
    • New incident report types in Maps

AirPods Features

  • AirPods Integration:
    • AirPods Automatic Switching with CarPlay
    • AirPods pause media when asleep

Wallet

  • Wallet App:
    • Manage AutoFill credit cards in Wallet

Utilities

  • Calculator App:
    • Arabic Calculator\

There you have it – 36 new iOS 26 features that, while not always front and center, collectively elevate your iPhone experience. These thoughtful additions showcase Apple's commitment to detail and continuous improvement, making your device even more intuitive and powerful. We encourage you to explore these enhancements on your own iPhone and discover how they can streamline your digital life. Stay curious, as even the smallest updates can make the biggest difference!