7 hidden iOS 26 features iPhone users need to know about
iOS 26 is still a few months away. Once it's available to all iPhone users, we're sure to start finding many new features we didn't know Apple was adding. Since the focus will be the new Liquid Glass UI, it's only natural that users will start there.
However, it's the hidden iOS 26 features that will keep you coming back to explore the update in the weeks and months to come. With that said, here are seven hidden features in iOS 26 that you need to check out as soon as you update.
Today's Top Deals
XGIMI Prime Day deals feature the new MoGo 4 and up to 42% off smart projectors
Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales
Best Ring Video Doorbell deals
Custom snooze duration: One of the most interesting iOS 26 features lets users set a snooze duration between 1 and 15 minutes. That way, you can have a snooze timer that works for your schedule, and you don't have to use Apple's default 9-minute timer.
AirPods Camera Remote: Apple Watch users can already control their iPhone's Camera. However, iOS 26 will let users control the app using AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2. They just have to press and hold the stem to start recording video.
Multiple journals: With this fall's update, Apple is expanding the Journal app to the Mac and the iPad. Additionally, one new iOS 26 feature will be the ability to create multiple journals for different aspects of users' lives. Images can also be added inline with text, and a map view shows where the users created each journal entry.
AirPods auto-pause: Another interesting hidden iOS 26 feature is that AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 will be able to detect when you fell asleep and stop playing media.
Adaptive Power: iOS 26 has a new Adaptive Power mode when using your iPhone. Apple explains: 'When your battery usage is higher than usual, iPhone can make small performance adjustments to extend your battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to take a little longer.'
Pin favorite Apple Music tunes: If you're an Apple Music user, you can pin your favorite songs, artists, albums, and stations to the top of your library. You can also select an action, such as go to album, shuffle, or start playing automatically.
Manage credit cards in Wallet: This is one of the best iOS 26 features, as Apple now lets you manage your real life credit cards in the Wallet app. You can also manage autofill cards, which means you no longer need to carry your physical cards around, even when Apple Pay isn't available.
Don't Miss: Today's deals: Nintendo Switch games, $5 smart plugs, $150 Vizio soundbar, $100 Beats Pill speaker, more
More Top Deals
Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98
See the
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Amazon Prime Day優惠2025｜Kindle Paperwhite 歷史新低，HK$980 享受電子閱讀新體驗
溫馨提示：想要享受 Amazon Prime Day 中的超值優惠，就必須先立即成為 Prime 會員，立即前往 Yahoo Tech 為大家推出的 Amazon 會籍教學，隨簡單步驟享受 30 天的會員試用期！ 溫提：Amazon已開通香港滿額免運費，可在購買頁面標價的位置見到「無進口手續費押金且免費送貨至香港」。見到「無進口費用押金且 HKD XXX 運費配送至香港」字眼的話，就代表官方會直送貨品至香港，不過就會收取運費。假如貨品不直送香港，都可以選用集運服務。在節奏繁忙的時代，能在咖啡廳享受閱讀時光也是一種簡單的放鬆方式。隨著數位閱讀日益普及， Kindle Paperwhite 系列一直是電子書愛好者的首選之一。輕薄便攜、護眼螢幕、超長續航等特點，讓它成為閱讀愛好者不可或缺的良伴。夏季 Prime Day 期間，Amazon 上 Kindle Paperwhite 更以破底價發售，僅 US$125（約 HK$980）就能入手。 立即免費試用 Prime 會員 👉 👉 👉 第十二代 Kindle Paperwhite 配有 7 吋防眩光黑白 e-ink 螢幕，畫素密度是 300 ppi，內建閱讀燈及優化字體技術，具有更高的對比度。無論在明亮的陽光下還是在黑暗中，都可以調整顯示器從白色到琥珀色，以便在任何光線下閱讀。相較上一代翻頁速度加快了 20%，有速度最快的 Kindle 之稱。其續航力可達到 12 週，滿足閱讀長篇小說的需求，同時內建有 16GB 儲存，機身具備 IPX8 防水機能。 Amazon 特價 US$125（約 HK$980，需代運）｜原價 US$160 立即購買 👉 AirPods Pro 2 創新低，HK$1,170 體驗 Apple 旗艦真無線降噪耳機 👉 Insta360 X4 舊款清貨，歷史新低 HK$2,750 暢拍 8K 全景 👉 Sony WF-1000XM5 六七折勁減，HK$1,570 入手旗艦真無線降噪耳機 👉 AirPods Max（USB-C）久違歷史低價，$3,530 購出街潮流耳機 👉 Kindle Colorsoft 皮套、底座套裝 58 折，歷史新低 HK$1,660 購彩漫閱讀利器 👉 AirPods 4 刷新歷史低價，HK$700 入手 iPhone 最實惠耳機搭檔 👉 Garmin Forerunner 255 五七折勁減，HK$1,569 破歷史新低！ 👉 Garmin Instinct 2 近對折創新低，HK$1,330 直送香港 👉 Amazon Prime Day 2025｜年度大型網購優惠 7 月回歸，七大熱門品牌值得留意！（Apple、Samsung、Marshall、Oral-B、Lexar、Crucial、WD） 👉 Amazon Prime Day 2025｜Apple 產品折扣合集（Mac、AirPods、Apple Watch、iPad、Pencil 和更多） 【即去 Yahoo Tech 網購優惠專頁，查看更多精選推介！】 緊貼最新科技資訊、網購優惠，追隨 Yahoo Tech 各大社交平台！ 🎉📱 Tech Facebook： 🎉📱 Tech Instagram： 🎉📱 Tech WhatsApp 社群： 🎉📱 Tech WhatsApp 頻道： 🎉📱 Tech Telegram 頻道：
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
I've been testing iOS 26 for a month — 5 tips you need to know before trying the public beta
The iOS 26 public beta arrives sometime this month, giving eager iPhone users the chance to see what new capabilities are coming to their phones ahead of a full release this fall. If you don't mind the hiccups and mishaps that can come from using any pre-release software, it's a great chance to get a sense of what's changing and maybe even give Apple some feedback on what features need fine-tuning. It's also a chance that Apple only started providing users fairly recently. Go back a decade or so, and the only way to try out iOS versions before their final release in the fall was to be an iPhone developer. Apple may have previewed its software releases during its annual developer conference, but the actual testing was kept out of the public view. That changed with iOS 9, where Apple rolled out a public beta for the very first time. I remember, because I downloaded that beta way back when... just like I've tested out every public beta for every iOS release since that time. As such, I've learned a few things about using beta software that could come in handy if you decide to give iOS 26 a try once Apple makes good on its promise to deliver a public beta this month. With beta 3 of the developer version of iOS 26 arriving just yesterday (July 7), it won't be long now until we get a public beta — probably as soon as next week. There's nothing stopping you now from downloading the iOS 26 developer beta, of course. But if you're waiting for the public beta to appear, keep these five tips in mind to make the testing experience go as smoothly as possible. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Apple's public betas are generally pretty stable, and they've already been in the hands of developers for a few weeks. So you're not exactly installing untried software on your iPhone when you download an iOS public beta. That said, the usual risks with beta software still apply. If you've got an app on your iPhone that you rely on for your everyday use, and it doesn't work smoothly with the beta software, you're not going to be terribly happy with the experience. Betas are also notorious for draining your battery faster than software that's been tried and tested. That's why I advise anyone who's trying out a beta to install it on a backup phone if they have one available. For instance, I've been running the iOS 26 developer beta since Apple released it amid WWDC 2025, and it's not installed on the iPhone I use as my daily device. Instead, I've got it on a few other iPhones I have around for testing purposes. I haven't run into any showstopping issues on those devices, but it's reduced my stress greatly not having to worry about a potential issue causing havoc on my regular phone. I'm fully aware that as a phone reviewer, I likely have more unused iPhones lying around than the typical person. In fact, given how the best phone deals encourage you to trade in your current device to get the best price on a handset, you may not have any old iPhone available at all to serve as your test device. That doesn't necessarily take you out of the running to test iOS 26 when the public beta rolls around, though. If the only phone you have available is the one currently in your pocket, my advice would be to wait until Apple releases a subsequent update to the first public beta. That way, you can make sure that other people aren't running into major issues that might trip up your iPhone use. But some of you may still decide to throw caution to the wind and install the public beta on your one and only iPhone. That's fine — just make sure you don't skip over my next piece of advice. Any time you upgrade your phone's software, you should first make an archived backup. But that's especially true when you're about to put a beta release on your device. Having a recent backup stored within easy reach buys you a bit of insurance, as you can revert to the older version of the iOS should the beta prove unstable. We've got instructions on how to back up your iPhone, but basically, if you're backing up to a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, simply plug in your iPhone to the computer, select your device from a Finder window and click Back Up Now. For iCloud backups, fire up the Settings app, tap on your name and select iCloud. From there, tap on iCloud Back Up and select Back Up Now on the subsequent screen. If you need to go back to the old version of iOS after installing a beta, you have to erase and restore your iPhone, using an archived backup. And since you want to go back to the currently shipping version of iOS and not the beta, you need to make sure that backup is from the last release — iOS 18 in the case of reverting from the iOS 26 beta. That's why I suggest backing up to a computer so that you can have some control over the backup process. All right, so you've made the backup, you've installed the beta and you're ready to explore what's new. What new feature should you try out first? In the case of iOS 26, I'd recommend setting aside time to familiarize yourself with the interface. Like the other Apple software releases this year, iOS 26 features a new Liquid Glass interface. And while it's not completely reinventing the look of the iPhone software, things will look different enough to the point where you'll want to poke around before trying any particular feature. Look at the icons and the toolbars. Notice how translucent menus are. Play around with icon shading to see which one works best for you. And above all, visit the Control Center by swiping down from the right-hand corner of your iPhone screen. The translucent panels tend to more legible with darker wallpapers, so you may find yourself wanting to follow the lead of my colleague John Velasco, who went into Settings and enabled a Reduce Transparency option in the Accessibility menu. Certain apps have more condensed toolbars, too. For example, iOS 26 Safari defaults to a new Compact tab design that features just a back button, menu and search bar and more button for accessing things like bookmarks, tabs and sharing options. If you want a more expanded look, the Bottom tab design gives you more immediate access to those options like you had in iOS 18. Safari isn't the only app with streamlined controls. You'll find them in apps like Phone, and if you have a Apple Intelligence-capable device, the screenshot controls are different to accommodate new Visual Intelligence features. Spending a little time looking around the Liquid Glass interface will help you acclimate to iOS's new look and may cut down on the frustation of getting used to a new look. After you've had a chance to look at the new interface, pick an app or two to explore in greater depth in the iOS 26 beta. I'd prioritize spending time with the apps you use the most ahead of anything else. For instance, if you're always using the Messages app, explore the changes Apple's introducing in the iOS 26 version from polls to new chat backgrounds to options for filtering out unknown senders. If it's Photos you turn to more often than not, you've got a new interface to explore there, too, not to mention the ability to turn photos into spatial photos with the tap of a button. And don't go into this exploration without a good guide. Apple has an iOS 26 preview page where you can get a list of the major new features in each app. And Tom's Guide has published some guides, too, based on our experience with the iOS 26 developer beta. Those guides include: Apple puts out these public beta not just to get people familiar with new features ahead of the software's final release. It's also looking for feedback. And that's something you can provide. There's a Feedback app specifically included in the beta. If you don't see its purple icon with an exclamation point inside a dialog balloon, just tap the search bar and start typing Feedback into the search field. Apple's already made design tweaks in iOS 26, thanks to feedback in the developer beta. And if you've got an iPhone capable of running Apple Intelligence, feedback can help train the AI tools as well. Here's an example: I was playing around with Visual Intelligence, using the new ability to pull dates from screenshots to create calendar entries. Apple Intelligence was creating an entry with the right time but wrong date, so I tapped the thumbs down feedback button that appears next to Apple Intelligence features in beta and selected Wrong Date from the list of menu options provided. Subsequent efforts to use that feature in Visual Intelligence worked much better. Not all the feedback you give will have that immediate an impact. But letting Apple know what's working and what's not in the iOS 26 beta will lead to a more polished experience — not just for you, but for everyone using the software.
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
Prime Day Apple sales are live from $19 — here are the 25 best deals to shop now
Prime Day is officially here — and if you're looking to stock up on Apple deals, consider this your opportunity. As one of the most coveted brands on the market, I've rounded up some of the best Apple products at the lowest prices I've seen in a while. Apple AirPods, iPads, MacBooks and more are seeing epic markdowns. For instance, the Apple Watch 10 is now down to $299 at Amazon. You can also grab the Apple AirPods 4 for just $99. If you're in the market for an iPad, I recommend the iPad Mini 7 that's now $100 off. So don't wait — shop all the best Apple Prime Day deals while you still have the chance. For more deals, check out our Prime Day deals live coverage. The Apple AirTag is an excellent key finder that is extremely easy to set up and does a great job of locating your valuables. What more could you ask for? Save $7 right now. The Apple AirTag is an excellent Bluetooth tracker that is extremely easy to set up and does a great job of locating your valuables. Each coin-sized tracker offers a replaceable battery lasting over a year, water resistance, and seamless integration with iPhones. This bundle includes four, so you can have one on multiple items. This is just $5 shy of the the lowest price we've ever seen for this 4-pack. The 2025 iPad features a larger 11-inch (2360 x 1640) screen, A16 CPU, 12MP rear/front cameras, USB-C connectivity, and Magic Keyboard Folio ($249) support. The base model features 128GB of storage, which double the capacity of its predecessor. It's available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities. The new iPad mini is already getting a discount, and any price cut to this small tablet is welcome. We're big fans of its incredibly portable design and long battery life (it lasted 10 hours in our battery life tests.) It comes with speedy performance thanks to Apple's A17 Pro chip, and has a gorgeous 8.3-inch (2,266 x 1,488) Liquid Retina display. You also get 12MP cameras on the front and back and Wi-Fi 6e support. In our iPad mini 7 review, we said it delivers the full iPad experience in a tiny size. The 2025 iPad Air packs Apple's M3 processor, an 11-inch LED (2360 x 1640) display, 128GB of storage, 12MP rear camera, and 12MP front camera. The tablet packs a more powerful 8-core CPU, which makes the M3 up to 35% faster for multithreaded CPU workflows than the iPad Air M1. There's also a 9-core GPU on board with 40% faster graphics performance than the M1. In our iPad Air M3 review we said its fun Apple Intelligence features, reliable battery life (9 hours w/ 41 minutes), and overall thin design make it a winning Apple slate. This larger size iPad Air sports the same M3 processor as its 11-inch counterpart, but it's coupled with a 13-inch LED (2732 x 2048) display. Otherwise, it packs the same 128GB of storage, 12MP rear camera, WiFi 6E support, and 12MP front camera. The new CPU and larger display should make this iPad a favorite for gamers. The AirPods 4 boast a new design, which Apple has refined with "50 million data points" to create the most comfortable AirPods ever. They also feature Apple's H2 chip, which delivers clearer calls with Voice Isolation, and a new, hands-free way to interact with Siri. The AirPods 4 also have USB-C charging and include up to 30 hours of listening time. In our AirPods 4 review, we said the Editor's Choice earbuds bring Apple's wireless earbuds lineup into the modern day with Pro-level features for less. These AirPods 4 have all the same great features as the base AirPods 4, except they also include Active Noise Cancellation. They also feature Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, and Voice Isolation. It's a modest, but welcome price cut. The AirPods Pro 2 pack Apple's new H2 chip to provide 2x more noice cancellation than their predecessors. They also offer Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking for a more immersive audio experience. In our AirPods Pro 2 review, we said they take everything we loved about the original AirPods Pro to the next level. This new model includes a USB-C charging case. The AirPods Max are Apple's premium, retro-style headphones. They feature large ear cushions, a digital crown, active noise cancellation, and Spatial Audio. The latter feature uses head tracking to offer a surround sound experience. In our AirPods Max review, we said the 'phones offer exceptional noise-cancelling, a luxurious design, and sophisticated soundstage. The cheapest Apple Watch to buy ahead of Prime Day is the Apple Watch SE GPS, which doesn't have all the same bells and whistles found on its pricier siblings, but it's still a mighty capable smartwatch. It comes in two sizes, and this deal is on the smaller 40mm version, with the midnight sport band. If you're after GPS and Cellular, which allows you to make calls and check your apps without your phone nearby, the best deal right now on the Apple Watch SE is in the 40mm version, with the midnight sport band. It's a great watch for less than $240, so grab it while you can. The Apple Watch Series 10 is the best Apple Watch for fitness and health tracking. It boasts Apple's latest holistic tech and features, including sleep apnea detection, and a gorgeous new display that's easy to read while working out. This deal is on the smaller, 42mm version, without cellular. It's a great price, and I'm not sure it'll get much cheaper on Prime Day. If you're looking for the Apple Watch 10 with GPS and Cellular (this allows you can make calls and use data or apps when you don't have your iPhone or Wi-Fi.) The best deal is on the 42mm with the sport loop, which is discounted from $499 to $399 right now on Amazon. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is Apple's most hardwearing smartwatch with double the water resistance of its siblings and an all-titanium design. This deal is on the version of the watch that comes with a blue alpine loop in small, but having tested them all, I'd say this is the most comfortable watch strap, so I'd recommend. It's a fantastic price for Apple's best watch for fitness fanatics. The new MacBook Air is powered by Apple's latest M4 chipset. The new Mac upgrades the camera from 1080p to 12MP with Center Stage support. The M4 chipset also supports dual external monitors, even when you have the laptop's lid open. It packs a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display (2560 x 1664), Apple's M4 CPU w/ 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. In our MacBook Air M4 review, we said the Editor's Choice laptop is irresistible thanks to its speedy performance, sharper camera, and lower starting price. Prefer a bigger screen? The 15-inch model is also on sale. It packs a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display (2880 x 1864), Apple's M4 CPU w/ 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. The M4-based MacBook Pro M4 is pretty close to being the perfect laptop. You get fantastic performance from the M4 chip, useful Apple Intelligence features, a better webcam and obscenely long battery life (18:31). In our MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 review, we said it's the best laptop for power users, now with more AI features. The base model features a 14.2-inch 3024 x 1964 Retina display, Apple M4 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. If you're looking for raw horsepower, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chip is for you. It offers blistering performance and will likely speed through most of your daily tasks without so much as a hiccup. The base model features a 14.2-inch 3024 x 1964 Retina display, Apple M4 Pro CPU, 24GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. No more running away from Apple's base model Mac mini. The M4 Mac mini packs that awesome M4 chip along with a doubling of RAM to 16GB and a 256GB SSD. Port array continues to be impressive with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, Ethernet and more. In our Apple Mac mini M4 review we said the Editor's Choice machine is as close to perfect as it gets. Note: Click the on-page digital coupon to get this price at checkout. The iMac M4 delivers all the strengths of the iMac with the added juice provided by Apple's M4 chip, delivering better performance than any iMac to date. In our iMac M4 review, we said the Editor's Choice all-in-one delivers great performance. It features a 24-inch 4480 x 2520 display, 16GB of RAM, M4 chipset, 256GB SSD, and 12MP webcam. While they aren't technically true wireless, on account of the wire that connects the buds, the Flex are a great pair of fitness earbuds. They're super comfortable thanks to their lightweight, and this $30 saving is a solid discount. This deal brings a long-awaited discount to the Beats Pill. We had a Beats Pill hands-on, and found a speaker that has (as you might expect) some massive bass and a slick look. Battery life is respectable at 24 hours, and its waterproofing makes it perfect for pool parties and outdoor use. The Powerbeats Pro are a solid pair of Apple wireless fitness earbuds. They have a seamless setup, just like AirPods, and good battery life. The earbuds themselves can play music for 9 hours, and the charging case adds an additional 18 hours. If you have an iPhone and need earbuds for your workout, these are a great pick — not that they aren't great for Android, too. The Beats Studio Pro are specifically designed to bring back that thumping bass Beats is known for. They offer improved active noise cancelation and boosted battery life (up to 40 hours with ANC turned off). There's also Spatial Audio support and Beats' signature strong brand look. However, our Beats Studio Pro review found the clamping force high, which may affect comfort levels for some wearers.
