Apple introduced a ton of latest options and adjustments throughout its merchandise during the company’s big WWDC 2025 event. iOS 26, particularly, is chock full of updates, with an extended record of iPhones that assist the most recent replace. Nonetheless, a few of these new options will solely run on newer iPhones. Even when your iPhone can replace to iOS 26, you may be lacking out on the complete expertise.
A lot of the options on this record are powered by Apple Intelligence, Apple’s suite of generative AI options. Because it occurs, Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Professional or newer to work. That features, after all, iPhone 15 Professional Max, but in addition iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Professional, and 16 Professional Max. If you do not have a type of six telephones, you may’t use any Apple Intelligence options—each the present ones launched all through the iOS 18 period, in addition to any of the brand new options in iOS 26. It is slightly complicated, since there are a lot of iPhones that can run iOS 26 that aren’t these iPhones—principally iPhone 11 and newer—however that is the best way Apple needs it, sadly.
This is what you are lacking out on if you do not have a more recent iPhone:
Reside Translation
Apple’s Reside Translation options for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe appear nice. Reside Translation makes use of AI to translate each textual content and audio in actual time throughout varied apps and providers. So, you would possibly see translations seem subsequent to messages despatched in a language you may’t learn, or hear translations when on a name with somebody who speaks a language you do not perceive.
Visible Intelligence
Visible Intelligence itself is not new this yr. The Apple Intelligence function debuted with iOS 18.2, and lets Apple’s AI analyze something in your digicam feed. The function began as an iPhone 16 unique, however Apple did convey it to 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max fashions as nicely.
With iOS 26, Visual Intelligence is now able to analyze the contents of your iPhone’s screen as nicely, by way of screenshots. Along with pointing your digicam at one thing for Visible Intelligence to investigate, you may take a screenshot, and the AI will be capable to course of its contents.
Lens cleansing alert
It is all the time a bummer whenever you spend the day taking images in your cellphone, solely to note whenever you’re residence that these images got here out smudgy—all as a result of your digicam was soiled.
iOS 26 has a (presumably AI-powered) function to repair that. Apple did not announce this one, however beta testers found that when the digicam is soiled, the new Camera app now warns you to clean the lens earlier than taking a photograph.
Genmoji and Picture Playground
Genmoji and Image Playground are getting updates with iOS 26—the AI options rolled out final yr, permitting you to generate emojis and pictures with text-based prompts.
This yr, Apple is including the flexibility to mix together different Genmoji and emoji to create model new icons, which introduces an Emoji Kitchen-like function to the iPhone. As well as, Picture Playground now allows you to add ChatGPT types, like anime, oil portray, and watercolor, to your generations.
AI-integrated Shortcuts
Shortcuts has been accessible on all iPhones since iOS 12, however with iOS 26, Apple is integrating AI options to the automation device. These shortcuts will allow you to summarize textual content, generate photographs, or make the most of Apple Intelligence fashions to energy your shortcuts.
What do you assume thus far?
In case your iPhone cannot entry AI instruments in any respect, you in all probability will not really feel the absence of those upgrades a lot anyway.
Messages options
Messages is getting some helpful new options this yr. Two key options are polls and backgrounds: You can make polls in your family and friends to reply, and select from a set choice of backgrounds in your chats. Different chat apps have had these options for years, after all, nevertheless it’s cool they’re lastly within the Messages app—and each are appropriate with all iPhones working iOS 26.
That mentioned, every function has AI integrations that can solely work on iPhone 15 Professional and newer. First, polls: Along with selecting your personal ballot questions, newer iPhone house owners will even see AI-generated ballot strategies. (I am not solely positive why you’d need this, nevertheless it’s there.) In my view, Backgrounds’ AI function is extra helpful, since you need to use Apple Intelligence to generate a background in your chats. I would choose to decide on my very own picture to set as a background, however this a minimum of opens up the background potentialities.
Reminders
You probably have certainly one of these iPhones appropriate with Apple Intelligence, you will discover iOS 26 suggests new reminders primarily based on the contents of your messages and emails. In the event you’re chatting along with your roommate about needing to purchase extra espresso, for instance, you would possibly see a advised reminder so as to add it to your grocery record.
Plus, iOS 26 will categorize activity lists for you utilizing Apple Intelligence. There is a new “Auto-Categorize” setting, full with an Apple Intelligence emblem, if you wish to outsource that activity to Apple’s AI.
Apple Pockets
On iPhone 15 Professional and newer, iOS 26 will use AI to mechanically pull knowledge out of your emails to point out you recent order monitoring in Pockets. The app already has non-AI assist for order monitoring, nevertheless it’s not notably utilized by shops and retailers.
Lock Display screen
iOS 26 has precisely one non-AI function that is not supported on all appropriate gadgets: The Lock Display screen has a brand new 3D impact that mechanically adjusts the scale and place of the time relying on the the photograph you select, prioritizing the topic of the photograph. It is neat, and solely works on iPhone 12 or newer. You probably have an iPhone 11, you are out of luck.
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