iOS 26’s Hidden Features: Top 5 You Shouldn’t Miss
Apple’s iOS 26, announced at WWDC 2025 on June 9 and currently available in developer beta, brings a sweeping design update with its “Liquid Glass” interface. But beyond the visual overhaul, the update hides a series of smart and practical features that haven’t received the spotlight — yet.
Here are five of the most noteworthy hidden features in iOS 26:
1. Customizable Snooze Duration for Alarms
For the first time, iOS lets users control how long their alarm snooze lasts. The Clock app in iOS 26 allows snooze durations between 1 and 15 minutes, giving users far more flexibility to wake up on their own terms. The interface also includes larger, easier-to-tap Stop and Snooze buttons.
2. Smudge Detection for Camera Lenses
iOS 26 can now detect when the camera lens is dirty — whether from fingerprints, dust, or smudges — and alert the user to clean it. This small but handy feature helps ensure your photos aren’t ruined by a cloudy or blurry lens.
3. Smarter Call Handling: Call Screening & Hold Assist
Taking cues from Pixel’s call features, Apple has introduced:
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Call Screening: iOS 26 can automatically answer unknown callers, ask them to state their name and reason for calling, and present a real-time transcript to the user.
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Hold Assist: If you’re on hold with customer service, your iPhone can now monitor the call and alert you as soon as a real person joins the line.
These features are privacy-respecting and fully on-device, thanks to Apple Intelligence.
4. Satellite-Based Weather Access
While not enabled by default in the current beta, iOS 26 includes a new feature in its code that will allow the Weather app to pull data via satellite — even when the iPhone has no cellular or Wi-Fi connection. Ideal for travelers and hikers off the grid, this feature is expected to roll out later in the iOS 26 cycle.
5. Wi-Fi Aware & Captive Assist
iOS 26 boosts wireless convenience in two subtle ways:
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Wi-Fi Aware: iPhones can now communicate directly with nearby devices without needing a Wi-Fi network, paving the way for peer-to-peer sharing and local discovery.
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Captive Assist: When logging into public Wi-Fi networks (like hotels or cafés), your login credentials are now shared securely across your other Apple devices — so you don’t need to log in twice.
Compatibility and Availability
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iOS 26 supports iPhone 11 and newer.
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Apple Intelligence features like Call Screening require an A17 Pro chip or later (iPhone 15 Pro or newer).
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The public beta launches in July 2025, with the official release expected in mid-September alongside the iPhone 17 lineup.
Final Thoughts
While the headline features of iOS 26 may grab the attention, it’s these hidden tools that will make a daily difference. From smarter alarms and clearer photos to more helpful calls and seamless Wi-Fi, Apple’s latest update delivers meaningful improvements — even in the smallest details.
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