In iOS 26, the telephone app not only gets a completely renewed layout, but also some new functions. You can expect this!
Phone app receives update in iOS 26
We list all the changes that are coming in front of the arrival of iOS 26 this fall for you.
Design
All iOS 26 users get Liquid Glass-elements on their iPhone. You can choose whether you want to use the new ‘unified’ layout from Apple, or the ‘classic’ display. Whatever you choose, your choice is reversible. You can switch between the two layouts at any time. If you choose the new design, the ‘favorites’, ‘recent conversations’ and ‘voicemail’ tabs will be merged into one new ‘conversations’ tab.
Call screening
iOS 26 has the new option ‘displaying unknown callers’, which is very useful. The bottom line is that your iPhone answers incoming conversations of unknown numbers and automatically asks who is calling and why. This all happens before you hear the first ring signal.
So if your iPhone passes, you have more information to decide whether you record or not. In addition, the new function of the Message app to filter unknown numbers in a separate part of the app now also to the telephone app.
Hold Assist
Similar to screening conversations, the telephone app in iOS 26 also offers the ‘Hold Assist’ function. If you are put on hold during a conversation, you can end the conversation with Hold Assist and continue your daily activities. Your iPhone waits for someone to be available and then calls you to let you know that someone is ready to talk to you.
Apple Intelligence for translations and voicemail
With the help of Apple Intelligence, the telephone app can do two new things in iOS 26:
- Of Live translation You can have conversations with people who speak a different language. AI expresses the translations aloud.
- Voicemail Transcripts Thanks to AI summaries, give you an idea why someone called.
These functions are of course limited to the newer iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence.
Telephone app comes to the Mac and iPad
The above changes do not only apply to the iPhone. Apple also brings his telephone app to the iPad and Mac, with the appearance of iPados 26 and MacOS Tahoe. You will find the same functions there as on the iPhone, but also a new layout that makes better use of the larger screen surface of the Mac and the iPad.
In iOS 26 you are no longer limited to the telephone app
In iOS 26, developers can implement support for mobile phone calls and SMS/MMS/RCS messages in third-party apps. Only iPhone users in the EU will be able to use this functionality. Apple has probably extended the functions in response to the expected regulations under the EU Act on the digital markets. Apps from third parties could already call and send messages via WiFi.
The new functionality is only possible if you have selected one of the supported apps as a standard Bel app and/or standard Message app in iOS 26. Otherwise the functionality will not be switched on. iOS 26 is currently in beta. The update is expected to be released to the general public in September. If you don’t want to miss anything, sign up for our newsletter!
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