It is normally the flashiest software program options that make headlines, however for my cash, it is the practical ones that deserve probably the most consideration. Living proof: iOS 26, the place Liquid Glass is on everybody’s lips, however fewer persons are discussing Apple’s choice to maneuver the iPhone’s search bars and different management buttons in the direction of the underside of the display. With that one minor tweak, the Settings app, the Telephone app, and Messages are actually way more snug to make use of, and so are the decision controls on FaceTime video calls. It might sound like a small change, however I like that I now not must stretch my fingers or maintain my telephone with each fingers for on a regular basis duties on my iPhone.
This modification has been a very long time coming
Since my first iPhone, the iPhone 5s, I’ve tried to make it simpler for my thumb to achieve my most necessary apps. This was tough in earlier iterations of iOS, since you could not customise the house display anyplace close to as a lot as you may at present. I might nonetheless do my finest to rearrange my favourite apps in an inverted L form close to the bottom-right nook of the display, so I might simply faucet them with one hand, however my potential to take action was restricted. These days, you may place an app icon just about anyplace on the house display, and even the Management Heart might be personalized, however there was nonetheless room for enchancment.
For instance, all my cautious planning all the time went out the window as quickly as I opened any app. Many apps comply with what Apple has been doing till now and place their search bars towards the highest of the telephone display, the place they’re laborious to achieve. Some third-party apps do put their Create/Compose buttons close to the iPhone’s bottom-right nook, however Apple’s personal apps weren’t actually optimized for ergonomics, and this set a foul precedent. This wasn’t such a giant downside on my tiny iPhone 5s, however ever since I upgraded to a Professional Max mannequin, it is gotten extra necessary to me. Fortuitously for me, in iOS 26, Apple has lastly began to deal with this difficulty.
The revamped again gesture is nice
Credit score: Pranay Parab
With no consideration-handed particular person, I’ve by no means loved the again gesture in iOS, which required me to maneuver my thumb all the best way to the left fringe of the display and swipe proper. In iOS 26, lots of Apple’s apps now allow you to return by swiping proper from anyplace on the display. This can be a welcome change.
Search bars are simpler to achieve
Credit score: Pranay Parab
Upon opening the Mail, Messages, Notes, Podcasts, Telephone, or Settings apps in iOS 26, it is best to discover one welcome change. Yep, the search bar/button is now close to the underside of the show. In all of those apps, I exploit the search function extensively, and it now requires so much much less effort to achieve the button with my thumb. Here is hoping different builders comply with swimsuit.
The compose button is the place it needs to be
Credit score: Pranay Parab
Some apps embrace a button that helps you create a brand new file, compose an e mail, begin a brand new chat, and so on. In iOS 26, lots of Apple’s personal apps have moved this button to the show’s bottom-right nook, taking cues from these third-party apps I discussed earlier. Examples embrace the Create Reminder button in Reminders, Compose E-mail button in Mail, and New Message button in Messages. Lastly, Apple is catching up with the remainder of the App Retailer.
What do you suppose thus far?
Safari’s new Compact structure is fairly ergonomic
Credit score: Pranay Parab
Whereas Safari moved its deal with bar to the underside of the display in a earlier model of iOS, the model of the browser included in iOS 26 has added a brand new Compact structure that makes it much more ergonomic. Now you can maintain the deal with bar and swipe up to make use of the Copy function, which is a far simpler technique to copy URLs than hitting the Share button and urgent Copy. You too can double-tap the three-dots button to bookmark pages shortly. Having mentioned that, I do hope that Apple finds a technique to preserve the Share and Tabs buttons seen in future iterations of the Compact structure. These two buttons are actually buried below the three-dots button, which is not best.
To change to a structure that is extra acquainted, you may go to Settings > Apps > Safari in iOS 26, scroll all the way down to Tabs, and select Backside.
FaceTime’s new video name controls are an enormous step ahead
Credit score: Pranay Parab
FaceTime video calls used to have name controls on the prime of the display, however that is modified in iOS 26. You will now see these buttons lined up close to the bottom-right nook of the display. This makes it simpler to mute your self, flip off the digicam, change your audio system, or simply finish the decision.
