Every autumn, the tech world buzzes with dazzling new smartphone releases. But what if a brand-new device isn’t in your immediate future?
The good news is, your existing smartphone can still receive a remarkable internal upgrade. Apple’s latest iOS 26 software, for instance, is compatible with the iPhone 11 and newer models. While some advanced artificial intelligence functionalities are reserved for the very latest phones, a wealth of other exciting features are available across older devices.
Similarly, Google’s Android 16 update, released this summer, extends its reach to devices like the Google Pixel 6 and numerous other smartphones from various manufacturers over the last few years.
Whether you haven’t yet installed these updates or are still discovering their capabilities, here’s a handy guide to navigating the fresh software on your device.
Your Phone’s Fresh New Look: First Impressions
The immediate standout feature of iOS 26 is its striking visual design. The new “Liquid Glass” interface introduces a captivating translucent aesthetic to app icons, notifications, and other screen elements. If you find these transparent backgrounds make reading alerts or finding controls difficult, there’s an easy fix to boost legibility.
Simply navigate to Settings, then Accessibility, and open Display & Text Size. Here, you can tap ‘Reduce Transparency’ for solid notification backgrounds, or opt for ‘Increase Contrast’ to make text within transparent areas clearer and easier to read.
On the other hand, if you adore the transparency and crave even more of it, gently press your finger on any 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 choose the ‘Clear’ icon at the bottom of the screen, or any other style that suits your preference.
Android 16 introduces its own vibrant visual refresh, dubbed ‘Material 3 Expressive,’ now widely available on many Google Pixel phones. This update also brings customizable screen options, accessible in the ‘Wallpaper & Style’ section of your settings. For enhanced readability, the ‘Display & Touch’ settings allow you to make screen text larger, bolder, or even higher contrast by adding a solid white background.
Dive Deeper into iOS 26 Features
iOS 26 arrives packed with hundreds of refinements and new tools, including two fresh applications: ‘Games,’ designed to consolidate all your video game titles, and ‘Preview,’ perfect for handling PDF documents and images. Keep in mind that some of the more advanced capabilities, such as Live Translation and enhanced Visual Intelligence for image-based searching, are exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and newer models.
While many of these features have been extensively reviewed, the fundamental improvements are generally available across a wider range of older iPhones.
For instance, the update brings enhanced parental controls for managing Apple accounts for children, simplified navigation within the Photos app, richer flight details in Apple Wallet’s boarding passes, critical weather alerts for travelers, and more intuitive controls in the Camera app.
The Maps app now features an experimental ‘Visited Places’ section within its Places menu. Once activated, this tool automatically logs your movements, allowing you to easily review your past locations. Apple assures users this data remains private and encrypted.
iPhone users who regularly record content will appreciate the expanded options. While in an audio or video application such as FaceTime, simply swipe down to reveal the Control Center, tap the top bar, and then select your preferred audio input source (like an external microphone) or a specific filter setting from the menu.
The most effective way to uncover all the delightful additions in iOS 26 is to simply dive in and start exploring. As is common with major software releases, your phone might feel a bit slower or consume more battery power immediately after installation. Apple indicates that this effect can vary by device and is often temporary. For a visual walkthrough, an illustrated guide to iOS 26 is also available directly on Apple’s website.
Unpacking Android 16 Enhancements
Google initiated the rollout of Android 16 for its Pixel phones in June, with Samsung recently confirming its tailored version of Android 16 is coming to Galaxy devices. Other smartphone manufacturers will follow suit with their respective releases.
The new software significantly overhauls notifications, offering features like live-order-tracking from supported applications (such as Uber Eats) and intelligent grouping of alerts to reduce screen clutter. Furthermore, apps appearing on the Recents screen now come with a dedicated drop-down menu for various options. To access this in Android’s Gesture navigation mode, simply place your finger on the horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen and swipe upward gently.
Key security improvements are integrated, notably the Advanced Protection Program, which is engineered to defend against malicious applications and online threats. Additionally, Android’s Identity Check feature, initially launched to enforce extra face or fingerprint authentication for sensitive account modifications, is now more broadly accessible. You can find both of these features within your Settings under ‘Google Services.’ From there, tap ‘All Services,’ scroll to ‘Personal & Device Safety,’ and then select ‘Advanced Protection’ or ‘Theft Protection’ to manage your Identity Check settings.
True to tradition, no Android update is complete without a hidden Easter egg. To uncover it, head to Settings, then ‘About Phone,’ and finally ‘Android Version.’ On the subsequent screen, repeatedly tap ‘Android Version 16’ until a new display appears. Then, press and hold the Android 16 logo to launch a captivating space-exploration game.