Every fall, the tech world buzzes with exciting new gadgets. But what if a brand-new smartphone isn’t in your immediate future?
Good news! Your current phone can still get a significant upgrade. Apple’s latest iOS 26 software is compatible with iPhone 11 and newer models. While some advanced artificial intelligence features are exclusive to the very latest devices, older iPhones can still enjoy a host of fantastic new functionalities. Similarly, this summer’s Android 16 update supports devices like the Google Pixel 6 and many other smartphones from various manufacturers released in recent years.
If you haven’t yet updated your phone’s operating system or are still getting accustomed to the new software, here’s a handy guide to explore what’s new.
First Impressions
The first thing that will likely catch your eye in iOS 26 is its “Liquid Glass” visual design. This new interface introduces a translucent appearance to icons, notifications, and other screen elements. While beautiful, some users might find the see-through backgrounds challenging for readability. Fortunately, enhancing legibility is straightforward.
To make adjustments, head to your phone’s Settings, then choose Accessibility, and finally, Display & Text Size. Here, you can tap “Reduce Transparency” to get solid notification backgrounds. Alternatively, “Increase Contrast” can make text within those transparent boxes much clearer.
(Image: Apple’s new Liquid Glass software design offers a translucent aesthetic for iPhone icons and notifications. To improve readability, you can adjust settings to reduce transparency or increase contrast.)
On the other hand, if you’re a fan of the transparency and wish for even more of it, simply press and hold an empty spot on your Home screen until the icons start to jiggle. Then, tap the Edit button in the top-left corner and select Customize from the menu. From there, you can tap the Clear icon at the bottom of the screen, or experiment with other styles that suit your preference.
(Image: The iOS 26 home screen’s Customize menu provides various options for altering app icon appearance, including adding tints. Icon text labels can be removed by tapping the icon in the Customize menu’s right corner.)
Android 16 introduces a vibrant new aesthetic called Material 3 Expressive, which is rolling out to many Google Pixel phones. This update also brings extensive customization options for your screen. You can find these in the Wallpaper & Style section of your phone’s settings. For those looking to enhance text visibility, the Display & Touch settings allow you to make the screen font larger, bolder, or even higher contrast by adding a white background.
(Image: Android 16 allows home screen and text adjustments via the Wallpaper & Style settings and the Display & Touch controls for text.)
Exploring iOS 26
iOS 26 is packed with hundreds of refinements, new features, and tools. It even introduces two new apps: ‘Games’ to consolidate all your mobile gaming, and ‘Preview’ for seamless work with PDF documents and images. While some of the flashier new capabilities, such as Live Translation and advanced Visual Intelligence for image-based searching, are exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro models and newer, many core enhancements function perfectly on older phones.
For instance, the update brings enhanced parental controls for managing children’s Apple accounts, a more intuitive Photos app for easier navigation, expanded flight details in Apple Wallet boarding passes, critical weather alerts for travelers, and simplified controls within the Camera app.
(Image: Among the many iOS 26 features compatible with older phones like the iPhone 14 Pro Max are the new Visited Places section in Apple Maps and the option to select an audio input source for recordings.)
The Maps app now includes an experimental ‘Visited Places’ section within its Places menu. Once activated, this feature automatically logs your whereabouts, allowing you to easily review your past travels. Apple assures users that this data remains private and is fully encrypted.
iPhone users who record audio or video content will also appreciate new options. When using an app like FaceTime, simply swipe down to reveal the Control Center. From there, you can tap the top bar to choose an audio input source, such as an external microphone, or adjust filter settings directly from the menu.
The most effective way to uncover all the exciting additions in iOS 26 is to simply start exploring. As with any major software update, your phone might feel a bit slower or consume more battery initially. However, Apple confirms that this effect is often temporary and varies by device. For a comprehensive visual walkthrough, an illustrated guide to iOS 26 is also available on Apple’s official website.
Exploring Android 16
Google launched Android 16 for its Pixel phones in June, and Samsung has since confirmed that its custom One UI 8, based on Android 16, is coming soon to Galaxy devices. Other smartphone manufacturers will follow with their own tailored versions according to their respective timelines.
(Image: Android 16 on a Pixel 7 showcases enhancements like grouped notifications and a quick-access drop-down menu on the Recents screen for frequently used applications.)
Notifications receive a significant overhaul in the new Android software. Expect features like real-time order tracking from supported applications (such as Uber Eats) and intelligent grouping of alerts to reduce clutter on your screen. Furthermore, apps appearing on the Recents screen now offer a convenient drop-down menu of options. To access this in Android’s Gesture navigation mode, simply place your finger on the horizontal bar at the bottom of your screen and swipe up slowly.
(Image: Android 16 boasts major security upgrades, including the Advanced Protection program for online threat defense and an enhanced Identity Check feature requiring biometric authentication for sensitive actions like viewing saved passwords.)
The update brings substantial security improvements, such as the Advanced Protection Program, which is specifically designed to combat malicious applications and activities. Android’s Identity Check feature, initially launched earlier this year to demand additional facial or fingerprint authentication for account modifications, is now more broadly accessible. You can locate both these features in your phone’s Settings under Google Services. Navigate to All Services, then scroll down to Personal & Device Safety. Here, you can select Advanced Protection or tap Theft Protection to access the Identity Check settings.
(Image: A playful Android Easter egg, a hidden space exploration game, can be uncovered by navigating Android 16’s settings in a particular sequence.)
And, of course, no Android update would be complete without a hidden Easter egg! To discover this one, go to Settings, then About Phone, and select Android Version. On the subsequent screen, repeatedly tap “Android Version 16” until the display transforms. Finally, press and hold the Android 16 logo to launch a fun space-exploration game!