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PSA: iOS 26 Spatial Scenes will work on iPhones 12 and up [U]

Update: A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that the feature works with any iOS 26-compatible iPhone. It has been updated to clarify that the feature is only supported on iPhone 12 and later.

Today, Apple announced Spatial Scenes, a new iOS 26 feature that turns 2D photos into immersive 3D effects. And here’s the good news: even if you don’t have an iPhone compatible with Apple Intelligence, you’ll still get access to it. Here’s how it works.

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iOS 26 beta reveals there’s another Apple app that will work via satellite

iOS 26 beta reveals there's another Apple app that will work via satellite | Satellite weather image of a hurricane

Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite service has been slowly expanding from a major emergency role – essentially letting you call in an air ambulance when injured in a remote location – to a broader way of remaining in touch when outside mobile data coverage.

A new satellite-based service spotted in the iOS 26 developer beta will be useful in both extreme situations and more everyday scenarios in areas with poor mobile coverage …

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Designers speak out about Apple’s Liquid Glass design

Designers speak out about Apple's Liquid Glass design language

With such a significant update to the look and feel of Apple devices, it’s not surprising that design and UI professionals have things to say about the new Liquid Glass design language.

As you might expect, views are mixed, but it’s notable how willing people are to give Apple time to refine the look based on reactions to the early betas …

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iOS 26 tells you how long it will take for your iPhone battery to finish charging

iPhone battery settings get a nice update in iOS 26, including a new intelligent battery saver mode called Adaptive Power. The iPhone will also now track extra battery stats, like your average power consumption throughout the day.

But perhaps the most notable enhancement is that the iPhone can now tell you exactly how long it will take for your battery to charge. Right at the top of your lock screen, when plugged in to power, your phone will now show the estimated time to charge until it hits 80%.

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Here’s a closer look at the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26 on the iPhone

Here’s a closer look at the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26 on the iPhone | Screengrab with the Clear icons option selected

Apple said yesterday that iOS 26 was its biggest update to the look and feel of the iPhone since iOS 7, with the same visual design language used across all the company’s devices.

It’s certainly a pretty dramatic change, depending on how far you want to take the look. For example, in addition to the ‘tint’ options we got in iOS 18, there’s a new ‘Clear’ option to make all our app icons monochrome glass – which you can see above …

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iOS 26 adds light mode icon tinting and several new ways to customize the icons on your iPhone home screen

The iPhone home screen gets a brand new look with iOS 26, thanks to a visual overhaul featuring a brand new set of icons for all of Apple’s apps, as well as glass and reflection effects throughout.

There are also more ways than ever for you to customize your icons, with new tinting options and styles. Here’s everything new.

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iOS 26 developer beta 1 for iPhone now available

iOS 26 beta 1 for iPhone is now available for developers. Apple announced the next major software update for iPhone today as part of its WWDC 2025 keynote event. iOS 26 follows iOS 18 as each Apple operating system replaces the incremental version number with a reference to the year ahead.

The update is available as an over-the-air software update in the Settings app on devices with the developer beta software option enabled.

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Here’s when iOS 26 will be available in public beta

All of Apple’s operating systems got a major overhaul today, heralded by a new system theme featuring Liquid Glass elements. Apple also updated its naming scheme to a unified numbering system based on the calendar year, so rather than iOS 19, it’s now iOS 26. And macOS 26. And watchOS 26. And tvOS 26. And iPadOS 26. And visionOS 26.

If you aren’t developer, you’ll be able to try out all these new software updates for free by installing the public beta in July. The OS’s will be released for all users in the fall, probably in September.

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A new Apple Games web domain has just gone live, ahead of WWDC announcement

Apple Games app

One of the new features expected for iOS 19 (which we expect now to be named iOS 26) is a new Apple Games app. The Games app will curate games from the App Store and Apple Arcade, as well as blend in some social features like achievements and friends leaderboards from Game Center.

Ahead of its official unveiling at WWDC, Apple is seemingly preparing the way. A new games.apple.com domain has just gone live … although right now it just resolves to a blank page.

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