What’s New in iOS 26?
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Wait, what occurred to iOS 19? When you’re confused as to how we received to iOS 26 when the final model was iOS 18, don’t be concerned: You did not miss something. Apple determined to vary the naming construction for all of its working techniques to 26 this yr to mirror 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 decision screening instruments within the Cellphone, Messages, and FaceTime apps. As soon as you decide in, your iPhone will display screen 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 find out how to obtain it, try our roundup.
The High New Options in Apple’s iOS 26 and iPadOS 26
Your iPhone simply received 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
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Apple hasn’t provided a charging brick within the field because the iPhone 12, so if you do not have one, we have you coated with a couple of suggestions. Most of those are 30-watt chargers that may fast-charge most iPhones. If you need the quickest speeds on the iPhone 17 fashions, you will want a 40-watt charger, and we’ve some picks for you.
Anker 511 Nano 3 30-Watt Charger for $16: This is among the tiniest chargers we have examined, and the prongs fold up for much more house 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 standard, and I like this engaging mannequin from Counterpart. You will get it in a couple of colours, and the USB-C cable extends as much as 4 ft. 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 will recharge a MacBook, although a MacBook Professional requires a extra highly effective charger.
Apple 40W Dynamic Energy Adapter
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
Apple 40W Dynamic Energy Adapter for $40: Apple’s new Dynamic Energy Adapter will get you the quickest charging speeds potential on the iPhone 17 fashions. That is 50 % in simply 20 minutes, and I used to be in a position to replicate that in my exams. It is a smaller charger than prior fashions, and it is one of many few chargers with SPR AVS assist (Normal Energy Vary Adjustable Voltage Provide). It is a mouthful, however basically, it will probably increase energy output as much as 60 watts when wanted. Meaning it is a extra versatile charger that you need to use on your MacBook Air and your iPhone.
Nomad Slim 65W Energy 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.
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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. It’s essential make certain the cable you purchase helps video output, speedy information switch, and quick charging if that is what you need. The cable Apple consists of within the field can carry as much as 60 watts of energy, and that is just about it. You should use this cable to recharge a MacBook, however perhaps not a MacBook Professional beneath heavy load.
When you get a cable like this one from Cable Issues, you will be coated for each situation. 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 displays, and helps as much as 40 gigabits per second of knowledge switch. It additionally is available in a number of lengths.
Learn our Greatest USB-C Cables information for extra.
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{Photograph}: Simon Hill
Anker
MagGo Energy Financial institution (10K) (Qi2)
The fantastic thing about MagSafe is which you could pop a battery on the again of your iPhone, and you do not have to fret about any wires. That is our prime advice, and it helps the Qi2 customary, so it can work with any system with Qi2. It has a ten,000-mAh capability that’s good to recharge an iPhone totally as soon as after which some, and there is a built-in kickstand so you may 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 Greatest MagSafe Energy 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 suits completely on the again. (It can 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’ll find higher-capacity batteries for much less cash. In my exams, I used to be in a position to 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 suits 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
When you have an iPhone, there’s an opportunity you’ve one other Apple gadget, like AirPods or an Apple Watch. In that case, you actually ought to get a 3-in-1 charger on your dwelling. Now we have tons of choices in our Greatest 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 prime them up. It will not work with the iPhone 16e except you get a MagSafe case, and even then, you will not be aware about the sooner 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 steel 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 Greatest MagSafe Grips information for loads of different suggestions, together with flashy choices like this heart-shaped PopSockets grip.
Carry a MagSafe Pockets
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
Courtesy of Nomad
Hate bringing a pockets with you all over the place? Stick it to the again of your iPhone! This Nomad leather-based pockets is stylish and may maintain about 4 playing cards. What makes it distinctive is that it options Apple’s Discover My, which means you may observe its location within the Discover My app in case you lose it. That does imply the pockets must recharge each every now and then, however you may conveniently recharge it with any MagSafe charger, no proprietary cable wanted. (It ought to final round 5 months on a single cost.) Learn our Greatest MagSafe Wallets information for extra choices.
The MagSafe world is great and bizarre. Now we have lots extra suggestions in our Greatest MagSafe Equipment information, starting from MagSafe digicam cages and tripods to notepads you may magnetically stick with the again of your iPhone.
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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 newest 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 in the mean time are the iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 sequence, even higher if it is the Professional fashions, if you will discover them at low costs. Solely the latter has the USB-C charging port, although.
The iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR are reduce off from receiving the iOS 26 replace, so that they’re particularly ones to keep away from. With out software program assist, your system will slowly turn out to be much less safe and will turn out to be a sluggish, buggy mess.
The iPhone’s Charging Port Is Now USB-C
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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 telephones, Home windows laptops, and lots of extra private tech devices. USB-C is commonly known as the “universal port” as a result of it will probably technically deal with varied obligations. For instance, you may plug in exterior shows and prolong the iPhone’s display screen or join the identical USB-C equipment you is perhaps at present utilizing in your laptop computer, like SD card readers. Sadly, it does imply your Lightning equipment will not work except you get dongles.
The iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17, and iPhone Air assist the USB 2.0 customary identical to the iPhones earlier than, so you will max out at 480 megabits per second of knowledge 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 assist the USB 3.0 customary and are able to as much as 10 gigabits per second of knowledge switch speeds.
What’s the Deal With eSIMs?
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There’s an opportunity you should still run into some points, particularly in case you’re coming from an Android telephone (or need to change again to an Android telephone). You will need to examine along with your provider to get your mobile connection in working order once more. It should not take lengthy, but it surely’s not so simple as popping in a bodily card.
Find out how to Exchange Your iPhone’s Battery
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What Is the Motion Button and Digicam Management Button?
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The Motion Button debuted on the iPhone 15 Professional fashions, and so they’re now customary on each iPhone within the lineup. It sits above the quantity rocker on the left fringe of the telephones. It successfully replaces the previous Mute Change, however consider it as only a configurable button. You’ll be able to have it nonetheless management the mute operate of the telephone, or customise it (Settings > Motion Button) to set off the flashlight, a Voice Memo, and even launch an app or Shortcut.
Digicam Management is one other newer addition that debuted on the iPhone 16 sequence. On the correct fringe of the telephone beneath the ability button, press it to launch the Digicam app, and you’ll press it to seize a photograph or begin recording a video. A lightweight faucet and swipe can transfer via totally different digicam lenses or modes, however I discovered this annoying. (You’ll be able to configure it by heading to Settings > Digicam > Digicam Management.) Press and maintain this button and you may set off Apple’s Visible Intelligence. It will use the digicam to determine topics in entrance of you, very very like Google Lens, so you may ask questions by way of Google or ChatGPT about what you are .
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