As Apple continues its relentless pursuit of smartphone innovation, expectations for its upcoming iOS 26 release are steadily mounting. With each iteration, iOS has introduced enhancements that deepen integration, improve performance, and provide users with new tools to boost productivity and creativity. As we look to what iOS 26 might bring, both consumers and developers alike are hoping for both practical and futuristic upgrades that balance design elegance with extended functionality.
In this article, we examine the features we most want to see in iOS 26. These improvements reflect pressing consumer desires, gaps in current functionality, and areas where Apple could leap ahead technologically. While none of these are guaranteed, their inclusion would certainly strengthen Apple’s position in the OS space and sharpen the iPhone’s competitive edge.
1. Smarter Siri With On-Device Intelligence
Siri has made measurable progress over the years, but in many ways, it still lags behind AI-powered assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa. In iOS 26, we want to see a radically more capable and context-aware Siri. That includes improved voice recognition, offline command functionality, and deep contextual memory that doesn’t require sending user data to Apple’s servers.
In particular, an upgraded Siri should be able to:
- Understand and respond based on recent in-app activity
- Hold short-term conversations with context retention
- Process certain tasks entirely on-device for better privacy
- Seamlessly interact with third-party apps beyond basic commands
This evolution will likely draw heavily from Apple’s integration of generative AI technologies, and it could redefine what digital assistance looks like on mobile devices.
2. Always-On Display for All Devices
Always-on display (AOD) was a high-profile feature introduced with select iPhone 14 Pro models. Despite its appeal, it remains limited to premium models. With iOS 26, expanding this feature to more iPhones — especially the base and Mini models — would signal Apple’s commitment to parity across its device lineup.
Beyond making AOD more widely available, we’d like:
- Customizable AOD widgets that update in real-time
- Options to change color themes or display modes
- Smarter power-saving techniques so AOD doesn’t impact battery life
Phone personalization is becoming a new frontier, and extending these capabilities to all users would be a welcome enhancement.
3. Advanced Multitasking Capabilities
Multitasking on the iPhone has always been limited, especially when compared to that on the iPad and even some Android competitors. iOS 26 could change that by introducing true split-screen multitasking, floating windows, and better app pairing options.
Ideal multitasking improvements would include:
- Ability to run two apps side by side on larger iPhones
- Drag and drop functionality between apps in real time
- Quicker toggling between active windows using intuitive gestures
- Resumable sessions for app pairs
These are particularly important with increased productivity needs in the smartphone era. Bringing professional-grade features to iPhone would mark a significant leap forward.
4. More Proactive Privacy Tools
Apple prides itself on privacy, but as the digital world becomes even more invasive, users require stronger features that preemptively guard against data exposure. In iOS 26, we’re hoping for:
- Dynamic App Permissions: Let users grant temporary access for apps to use location, camera, or microphone access just once or on a schedule.
- Email and Phone Number Masking: Apple already offers Hide My Email, but expanding this to include masked phone numbers could offer extra control.
- Decentralized App Scanning: Apps could be AI-scanned locally to identify potential privacy violations using ML models trained by Apple.
As threats become subtler and more sophisticated, Apple needs to equip users not only with shields but also with proactive alerts that build trust before problems emerge.
5. Interactive Lock Screens
The introduction of new widgets and lock screen customization in iOS 16 was a major leap forward, but we want to see that momentum continue. In iOS 26, a more interactive and dynamic lock screen could fundamentally change how we interact with our phones.
Suggested improvements include:
- Interactive widgets that allow for toggling settings or replying to messages
- Contextual lock screens that change based on environment or time of day
- Animations and themes that interact with the user’s gestures
Instead of being just an information center, the lock screen could evolve into a functional extension of the Home Screen experience.
6. Upgrades to the Messages App
Despite iMessage’s dominance among Apple users, the Messages app still lacks several features offered in platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram. Updates to the way we message can deeply enhance user experience and platform stickiness.
In iOS 26, we’d like Apple to consider:
- Scheduled messaging so users can plan communication in advance
- Editable message themes per conversation, with backgrounds and icons
- Full RCS support for smoother cross-platform texting, including read receipts and typing indicators with Android devices
Improvements like these would keep iMessage secure from user churn in the growing landscape of messaging apps.
7. A Redesigned Control Center
The Control Center has remained mostly unchanged for years. With the introduction of new accessories, use-cases, and controls in the modern Apple ecosystem, a redesigned Control Center in iOS 26 is highly requested.
Features that users would benefit from include:
- Customizable shortcut tiles with app integrations
- More responsive widgets that reflect real-time settings
- System monitoring tools such as temperature, CPU load, and battery cycles
Allowing users to tailor the Control Center to their habits would represent Apple’s subtle but powerful design ethos in action.
8. Adaptive Battery Optimization
Battery life continues to be a key metric influencing smartphone satisfaction. While Apple has battery health management tools, they remain basic. An adaptive system in iOS 26 could improve longevity through learning patterns of use and network behavior.
This enhancement would ideally:
- Analyze charging behavior and usage frequency to optimize power distribution
- Automatically switch to low-power settings when non-critical apps are used
- Stop app background activity based on location, schedule, or detected inactivity
Such a framework would help users go longer between charges without sacrificing performance or connectivity.
Looking Ahead
While Apple is traditionally secretive about its roadmap, the community’s expectations for iOS 26 are both high and realistic. Consumers don’t just want flashy features; they seek improvements that feel natural, responsive to real behaviors, and protective of personal data. The emphasis is increasingly shifting toward intelligence, customization, privacy, and performance.
Apple has paved the way for others with its emphasis on seamless user experience, and iOS 26 represents a major opportunity to deepen that legacy. Whether it’s transforming Siri into a true assistant or giving users more control over their lock screens and data, these features have the ability to not only improve the iPhone experience — but to shape the future of mobile OS design.
