What’s New in iOS 26?
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Wait, what occurred to iOS 19? If you happen to’re confused as to how we bought to iOS 26 when the final model was iOS 18, don’t be concerned: You did not miss something. Apple decided to change the naming construction for all of its working programs to 26 this yr to replicate 2026. It is sort of like new automotive fashions. The spotlight in iOS 26 is the design: Liquid Glass. It is divisive, however there are methods to tone down the glassy look.
Probably the most sensible and helpful characteristic is the call screening instruments within the Telephone, Messages, and FaceTime apps. As soon as you decide in, your iPhone will display calls from unknown callers, dramatically lowering the variety of robocalls or scammers that dial your quantity. It really works equally in Messages by screening texts from unknown numbers and placing them in a separate tab. There’s additionally a Maintain Help operate throughout calls, in order quickly as you hear the maintain music, faucet Maintain Help, and your iPhone will ping you when there’s an actual human on the opposite finish.
For extra of the highest options in iOS 26 and tips on how to obtain it, verify out our roundup.
Your iPhone simply bought an replace. Liquid Glass, iPad multitasking, and name screening—check out Apple’s new options in iOS 26 and iPadOS 26.
Charging Adapters for Your iPhone
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{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Apple hasn’t supplied a charging brick in the box for the reason that iPhone 12, so if you do not have one, we have you coated with just a few suggestions. Most of those are 30-watt chargers that may fast-charge most iPhones. In order for you the quickest speeds on the iPhone 17 fashions, you will want a 40-watt charger, and we have now some picks for you.
Anker 511 Nano 3 30-Watt Charger for $16: This is likely one of the tiniest chargers we have examined, and the prongs fold up for much more area financial savings. It is available in enjoyable colours, and it is good and low cost.
Counterpart The Charger for $44: Why carry a charger and cable individually when you may get each in a single? Retractable chargers are well-liked, and I really like this engaging mannequin from Counterpart. You will get it in just a few colours, and the USB-C cable extends as much as 4 toes. The prongs fold so they will not scratch something in your bag, and the 35-watt output is sufficient to fast-charge most iPhones and iPads. It’s going to recharge a MacBook, although a MacBook Professional requires a extra highly effective charger.
Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter for $40: Apple’s new Dynamic Energy Adapter will get you the quickest charging speeds doable on the iPhone 17 fashions. That is 50 % in simply 20 minutes, and I used to be capable of replicate that in my assessments. It is a smaller charger than prior fashions, and it is one of many few chargers with SPR AVS help (Normal Energy Vary Adjustable Voltage Provide). It is a mouthful, however primarily, it may enhance energy output as much as 60 watts when wanted. Which means it is a extra versatile charger that you need to use to your MacBook Air and your iPhone.
Nomad Slim 65W Power Adapter for $55: That is my go-to charger at any time when I journey. It is extremely slim, has heaps of energy, and has two USB-C ports so I can cost a number of units concurrently. The adapter can get fairly scorching, however I’ve used this charger for years with no points.
The Proper USB-C Cable
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{Photograph}: Simon Hill
Cable Issues USB-C to USB-C Thunderbolt 4
The issue with USB-C is that its capabilities are so huge, however not each USB-C cable helps each single operate. That you must ensure that the cable you purchase helps video output, speedy information switch, and quick charging if that is what you need. The cable Apple contains within the field can carry as much as 60 watts of energy, and that is just about it. You should utilize this cable to recharge a MacBook, however possibly not a MacBook Professional underneath heavy load.
If you happen to get a cable like this one from Cable Issues, you will be coated for each state of affairs. It helps as much as 100 watts of energy so you need to use it for all of your devices, has DisplayPort to work with exterior screens, and helps as much as 40 gigabits per second of information switch. It additionally is available in a number of lengths.
Learn our Best USB-C Cables information for extra.
Get a MagSafe Transportable Battery
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{Photograph}: Simon Hill
Anker
MagGo Energy Financial institution (10K) (Qi2)
The fantastic thing about MagSafe is that you would be able to pop a battery on the again of your iPhone, and you do not have to fret about any wires. That is our high advice, and it helps the Qi2 standard, so it’s going to work with any system with Qi2. It has a ten,000-mAh capability that’s good to recharge an iPhone absolutely as soon as after which some, and there is a built-in kickstand so you’ll be able to proceed watching your favourite present because it costs. Better of all is the built-in LED show, useful for seeing how a lot juice the charger has left.
Learn our Best MagSafe Power Banks information for extra suggestions.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Apple
iPhone Air MagSafe Battery
Apple has a devoted slim MagSafe Battery for the iPhone Air. It takes benefit of the Air’s new design and matches completely on the again. (It’s going to work with different iPhones, however you must place the battery horizontally, making the entire thing awkward.) No, this $99 accent is not actually value it. You will discover higher-capacity batteries for much less cash. In my assessments, I used to be capable of get 68 % again on my iPhone Air earlier than the three,149-mAh MagSafe Battery died. Nevertheless, it is nonetheless fairly dang slim, labored reliably, and matches like a glove. Possibly catch it on sale.
Get a 3-in-1 Wi-fi Charger
{Photograph}: Simon Hill
Belkin
3-in-1 Qi2 Charging Stand
You probably have an iPhone, there’s an opportunity you have got one other Apple gadget, like AirPods or an Apple Watch. In that case, you actually ought to get a 3-in-1 charger to your residence. We’ve got tons of choices in our Best Apple 3-in-1 Chargers information, however this Belkin MagSafe mannequin is our favourite. It has a sublime design and costs the iPhone and Apple Watch at most speeds, and you’ll pop your earbuds on the bottom to high them up. It will not work with the iPhone 16e until you get a MagSafe case, and even then, you will not be aware about the quicker and extra environment friendly charging speeds.
Use a MagSafe Grip
{Photograph}: Brenda Stolyar
It is easy, low cost, and versatile. Anker’s MagGo 610 grip magnetically sticks to the again of your iPhone and has a metallic ring. Pop this out to make use of it as a kickstand in panorama orientation, or as a finger loop for enhanced grip when utilizing your iPhone. Learn our Best MagSafe Grips information for loads of different suggestions, together with flashy choices like this heart-shaped PopSockets grip.
Carry a MagSafe Pockets
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{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
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Courtesy of Nomad
Hate bringing a pockets with you in all places? Stick it to the again of your iPhone! This Nomad leather-based pockets is elegant and might maintain about 4 playing cards. What makes it distinctive is that it options Apple’s Discover My, that means you’ll be able to observe its location within the Discover My app should you lose it. That does imply the pockets must recharge each every now and then, however you’ll be able to conveniently recharge it with any MagSafe charger, no proprietary cable wanted. (It ought to final round 5 months on a single cost.) Learn our Best MagSafe Wallets information for extra choices.
The MagSafe world is fantastic and bizarre. We’ve got lots extra suggestions in our Best MagSafe Accessories guide, starting from MagSafe digital camera cages and tripods to notepads you’ll be able to magnetically follow the again of your iPhone.
The iPhone 13 and older iPhones are most likely obtainable someplace, however you should not take the bait. They do not have the processing energy to maintain up with the most recent software program, and even when they do, they’ll have a a lot shorter software program shelf life or lack trendy options like USB-C. The one older iPhones value contemplating for the time being are the iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 collection, even higher if it is the Professional fashions, if you could find them at low costs. Solely the latter has the USB-C charging port, although.
The iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR are minimize off from receiving the iOS 26 update, so that they’re particularly ones to keep away from. With out software program help, your system will slowly grow to be much less safe and will grow to be a gradual, buggy mess.
The iPhone’s Charging Port Is Now USB-C
The iPhone 15 vary ditched the long-standing Lightning port for USB-C, and it is now within the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 vary too. This is identical charging port on iPads, MacBooks, Android phones, Windows laptops, and plenty of extra private tech devices. USB-C is usually known as the “common port” as a result of it may technically deal with varied tasks. For instance, you’ll be able to plug in exterior shows and prolong the iPhone’s display or join the identical USB-C accessories you may be presently utilizing in your laptop computer, like SD card readers. Sadly, it does imply your Lightning equipment will not work until you get dongles.
You’ll be able to learn extra about what the port does here, however there are two essential issues to notice:
The iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17, and iPhone Air help the USB 2.0 commonplace similar to the iPhones earlier than, so you will max out at 480 megabits per second of information switch speeds.
The iPhone 15 Professional, iPhone 15 Professional Max, iPhone 16 Professional, iPhone 16 Professional Max, iPhone 17 Professional, and iPhone 17 Professional Max help the USB 3.0 commonplace and are able to as much as 10 gigabits per second of information switch speeds.
What’s the Deal With eSIMs?
All iPhone 14 and newer units utterly ditch the bodily SIM tray within the US, that means you’ll be able to now not simply pop your bodily SIM inside to activate mobile connectivity. As a substitute, you will must depend on an eSIM. You’ll be able to read more about them here. This tech has been obtainable in iPhones for the reason that iPhone XS and XR, however now you have to make use of it. Apple has additionally began switching extra world fashions to eSIM solely, just like the iPhone Air.) If you’re establishing your new iPhone, you will robotically be requested to switch your quantity out of your earlier iPhone, and the entire course of ought to take a couple of minutes with none problem. (eSIMs are more secure than bodily SIMs.) When you switch your quantity, your bodily SIM card will not work anymore.
There’s an opportunity you should still run into some points, particularly should you’re coming from an Android cellphone (or need to change again to an Android cellphone). You will must verify along with your provider to get your mobile connection in working order once more. It should not take lengthy, however it’s not so simple as popping in a bodily card.
Tips on how to Substitute Your iPhone’s Battery
What Is the Motion Button and Digital camera Management Button?
The Motion Button debuted on the iPhone 15 Professional fashions, they usually’re now commonplace on each iPhone within the lineup. It sits above the quantity rocker on the left fringe of the telephones. It successfully replaces the outdated Mute Swap, however consider it as only a configurable button. You’ll be able to have it nonetheless management the mute operate of the cellphone, or customise it (Settings > Motion Button) to set off the flashlight, a Voice Memo, and even launch an app or Shortcut.
Digital camera Management is one other newer addition that debuted on the iPhone 16 collection. On the precise fringe of the cellphone under the facility button, press it to launch the Digital camera app, and you’ll press it to seize a photograph or begin recording a video. A light-weight faucet and swipe can transfer via completely different digital camera lenses or modes, however I discovered this annoying. (You’ll be able to configure it by heading to Settings > Digital camera > Digital camera Management.) Press and maintain this button and you will set off Apple’s Visible Intelligence. It’s going to use the digital camera to determine topics in entrance of you, very very similar to Google Lens, so you’ll be able to ask questions through Google or ChatGPT about what you are taking a look at.
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