With iOS 26, Apple adds several useful features to its native messaging application, messages. Later this year, iPhone users will be able to translate texts from the Messages application, filter messages from unknown sources, add personalized backgrounds to the messaging interface and see when someone hits a group cat.
Communicate in languages with a live translation
The biggest update to come on Apple’s messages is live translation, Apple Intelligence functionality activated by disc language models (assurance that conversations remain entirely private). Functionality is also available on Approitime applications (via live) and telephone applications (speaking translation).
In the messages, the live translation allows you to type a message in your language and to have it delivered to the recipient in their favorite language, eliminating the need to leave the application and to use other translation tools. With its transparent integration into the native messaging application, the functionality breaks the linguistic barrier by facilitating communication in real time.
According to Apple, the application translates a message by typing it and when you receive an answer in another language, you can translate it instantly in your language. The original and translated messages are displayed in the same message bubble (with a horizontal line separating the original and the translated text) so that there is no confusion.
For the moment, the functionality takes care of 10 languages, notably English (United States), English (United Kingdom), simplified Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. Since the functionality works offline, you will need to download the required language packs.
To come later this year as part of the update of iOS 26, live translation should help you communicate with friends or family members who live abroad and speak a different language, to speak to residents while traveling abroad or to facilitate commercial communication with colleagues or international customers, all from the familiar user interface of the Apple Message application.
Filter messages from unknown shippers
iOS 26 will also include a new screening tool that filters messages from unknown sender (people who are not in your contact list) and automatically direct them to the folder of an unknown sender. This will help unclog the main reception box while only keeping important messages in sight.
In addition, iOS 26 will not inform you of receiving messages from unknown shipowners, eliminating unnecessary interruptions from advertisements, computer generated messages (such as punctual passwords and subscription reminders) and other spam messages.
If you have the impression that a number has been moved to the folder of unknown sender, you can mark it as well known (or add it to your contacts), after which you will also start to receive notifications. The file also allows you to request more information on a message or delete it entirely, giving you complete control over what you want to do with it.
Personalized backgrounds add personality to messages
Borrowing a page from the Play-Book book on online messaging applications, Apple messages will finally allow users to define backprokes for cats. Although it was not something that Apple found entirely alone, the company added a unique touch by infusing Apple Intelligence in functionality.
Although the functionality offers predefined backgrounds, you can also generate them using the Playground Image API, the internal image generator of Apple. In addition, you can also use a photo of your gallery as a cat background.
To define a personalized background in the messages, open the required cat, press the profile photo of the receiver at the top, then select the background tab. There you will find all the functionality options. In addition, the functionality brings liveliness to the otherwise simple (and boring) interface of the Apple native messaging application.
Make decisions or organize plans with surveys
In addition to chat backgrounds, you can also create surveys, another feature that already exists on third-party messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram.
As its name suggests, the functionality allows you to bring together everyone’s opinion for a group plan. When the functionality unrolls with iOS 26, you can add the names of the films, the dates for a vacation, the destination options and much more as a survey.
To start a survey, press the Plus icon in the lower left corner (in the group chat interface) and select the surveys. Then add the title of the survey in the “Add a comment or send” field and the survey options in the form of choice. Once you have added all the options, press the En send button.
This will instantly create a survey and make it float on the group cat. While participants choose their favorite option, you will see the updates in real time. In addition, Apple Intelligence will detect and suggest when a survey could be useful.
I see that it is also a welcome addition. The functionality of the surveys, like the other, fills the gap between the functionalities provided by third -party applications and the native messaging application of Apple.
Adjust invoices with Apple cash integration
Although you can use the surveys to create group plans, Apple cash integration now allows you to adjust them. The functionality allows you to send, request and receive Apple money from other group participants (and vice versa).
When someone creates a request in a group of messages, it appears as a black tile with the Apple money at the top left, the amount you need in the center and a button to pay it down. You can just press it to adjust the bill.
As a person who often pays the group’s invoices, I can see how Apple’s cash integration in messages could be an instant success. The functionality will help not only to divide restaurant invoices, but will also allow users to collect funds for a group event (such as a film or a concert), to share cleaning bills or to organize travel expenses.
See who type with cat indicators
Finally and above all, Apple brings striking indicators, a popular functionality in the cat one by one, with group cats. Although a minor addition, the functionality will help reduce overlap and confusion in active groups by making participants know and improves the expectations of response time.
In addition to Apple messages, iOS 26 will also transform Carplay this fall. Curious to know why Apple went to years, not to figures, with iOS 26? Discover the reasons here.
