has released iOS 26, the most AI-integrated iPhone update to date, introducing a redesigned interface and new tools powered by Apple’s proprietary Apple Intelligence. But there’s a catch: most of the flagship features are only available on the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and the newly released iPhone 16 lineup.While the update offers design enhancements across the board, the intelligence-powered tools are limited to devices with Apple’s A17 Pro chip or newer.


First introduced as an exclusive for the iPhone 16 camera system, Apple’s Visual Intelligence has expanded to screenshots in iOS 26. Users can now capture a screenshot and allow the system to analyze it using Apple Intelligence, identifying content that can trigger actions like shopping links, calendar events, and more
One of iOS 26’s most useful features is Live Translation, built into Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app. This breakthrough allows users to:

This system-wide translation feature aims to dissolve language barriers.

Lock screen 3D effect

The 3D Lock Screen effect, part of iOS 26’s visual overhaul, is available starting with the iPhone 12. The feature brings dynamic depth to lock screen photos, allowing the time and subject to move as you tilt your device, creating a striking layered look.

AI-powered shortcuts automation

The Shortcuts app becomes significantly more powerful in iOS 26 with access to Apple Intelligence. Users can create workflows that generate images, summarize text, or query the AI model directly to perform complex tasks. For example, a user could build a shortcut that pulls weather data, crafts a summary, and sends it via message, all in one tap. This opens the door to highly customized automations that feel more like personal assistants than static tools.

Smart Reminders with AI Suggestions and Auto-Organization

Apple has infused the Reminders app with AI capabilities to make task management smarter. The app now scans content from iMessages, emails, and other text sources to suggest creating new reminders, such as groceries, appointments, or to-dos. It also automatically organizes lists into logical categories (like “Work,” “Shopping,” or “Urgent”) without manual input. These features are designed to reduce cognitive load and improve productivity, but they require the neural processing available only on newer iPhones

Apple wallet order tracking via email intelligence

Apple Wallet’s order tracking feature has received a major boost in iOS 26. Previously reliant on merchant participation, the updated system now uses on-device intelligence to parse shipping and tracking information from emails. This allows order updates to appear in Wallet even if the vendor doesn’t support Apple’s system directly.

Genmoji and image playground upgrades

Creativity tools are evolving in iOS 26 with enhanced versions of Genmoji and Image Playground. Users can now blend two emojis, add descriptions, and generate unique Genmoji with customizable features like hairstyle, clothing, and accessories. The Image Playground integrates OpenAI’s image generation model (ChatGPT), introducing new styles such as anime, watercolor, oil painting, vector, and even an “Any Style” mode based on user prompts.

With iOS 26, Apple is signaling that the future of iPhone innovation is tightly bound to hardware capability. Many of the update’s most powerful features rely on Apple Intelligence, an on-device AI system that requires advanced neural engines available only in the A17 Pro chip and newer.

This growing split means that users with older devices will continue to receive basic updates and visual enhancements, but not the AI-driven experiences that Apple is betting its future on.