iOS 26 Adds “Send Photo Previews” in Messages for Low Data Mode

A subtle yet smart change has landed with iOS 26: Apple is making photo sharing more data-friendly with a new “Send Photo Previews” toggle in Messages.

Spotted in iOS 26 Developer Beta 1, the new feature lives under Settings > Messages and introduces two toggles: Send Photo Previews and Low Quality Image Mode. When enabled, Messages will send a lightweight preview before the full-quality photo, especially useful when Low Data Mode is on.

According to u/Rainy-Sundae, only the preview gets transmitted in low data mode—not the full image—helping cut down bandwidth usage. It’s a subtle quality-of-life upgrade for those who frequently send photos but don’t want to burn through data.

Outro:
Small additions like these prove iOS 26 is thinking about real-world use. Whether you're on a metered plan or just want things to load faster, this one’s a quiet win.