Here Are 3 New iOS 26 Features You Might Have Missed

[MacRumors]

iOS 26 introduces a new Liquid Glass design, but the update also includes some other new features that have not received as much attention.

Below, we recap three smaller iOS 26 features that you might have missed.

iOS 26 should be released in September, but anyone can sign up to test the public beta for free. Make sure to back up your iPhone first.

Adaptive Power Mode

iOS 26 introduces an Adaptive Power Mode on the iPhone, alongside the existing Low Power Mode.

Apple says that Adaptive Power Mode can make "small performance adjustments" when necessary to extend an iPhone's battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to "take a little longer."

The full description of Adaptive Power Mode, from the iOS 26 beta:

When your battery usage is higher than usual, iPhone can make small performance adjustments to extend your battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to take a little longer. Low Power Mode may turn on at 20%.

Adaptive Power Mode is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro models and newer.

Adaptive Power Mode is turned off by default. The option can be turned on continuously in the Settings app under Battery → Power Mode.

Digital Passport

iOS 26 lets you create a digital version of your U.S. passport on your iPhone.

After creating a Digital ID in the Apple Wallet app, based on your U.S. passport, you can present it in person at select TSA checkpoints for identity verification purposes during domestic travel. However, Apple says it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing purposes.

Apple says the Digital ID feature is secure, private, and compliant with REAL ID.

The passport-based Digital ID can also be used for age and identity verification in apps, online, and in stores, according to Apple.

AirPlay for CarPlay

iOS 26 will let iPhone users wirelessly stream videos to the CarPlay screen using AirPlay, according to Apple. For safety reasons, video playback will only be available when the vehicle is parked, to prevent distracted driving. The connected iPhone will be able to detect when the vehicle is in motion and end playback.

Apple says that automakers need to add support for CarPlay with AirPlay video, so it will likely take some time to roll out. It is unclear if a new vehicle is required.

From the CarPlay page on Apple's developer website:

Video in the car

AirPlay video in the car enables people to watch their favorite videos from iPhone right on their CarPlay display when they aren't driving. Integrate support for CarPlay with AirPlay video to enable this feature in your car.

There were already some unapproved ways to watch videos through CarPlay, with various jailbreak tweaks and TestFlight beta apps promising to unlock such functionality. Now, it is something that Apple will officially allow.

Article Link: Here Are 3 New iOS 26 Features You Might Have Missed

 

[Justin Cymbal]

iOS 26 introduces an Adaptive Power Mode on the iPhone, alongside the existing Low Power Mode.

Apple says that Adaptive Power Mode can make "small performance adjustments" when necessary to extend an iPhone's battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to "take a little longer."

It would be nice if Apple added a feature like ‘extreme battery saver mode’ that is currently available on android phones:

Your Android phone has an Extreme Battery Saver mode you might have missed — how to find it

Learn how to use Extreme Battery Saver mode on Android devices

www.tomsguide.com

I’ve used that feature before when I had a Google pixel 7 Pro - it disabled every app (except for pre-selected apps) and you can temporarily re-enable those apps (on a need-based basis) thus enabling much longer battery life on the phone

 

[NerdNinja90]

Is the adaptive power mode available for iPhone 14 Pro? Is there a reason that iPhone 14 Pro hasn’t got the option to set charging at a specific battery percentage? I’m sure the SoC can handle this.

 

[mintbliss]

The passport feature isn't active yet 🫤

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Is the adaptive power mode available for iPhone 14 Pro? Is there a reason that iPhone 14 Pro hasn’t got the option to set charging at a specific battery percentage? I’m sure the SoC can handle this.

It's not available on iPhone 14 Pro, unfortunately.

 

[vegetassj4]

I already have adaptive power mode. Power gets low, I adapt.

 

[applefan8254]

nice ! Can we get multiple users too? Thank you

 

[Apple_Robert]

The app Sidecar: Automotive Assistant recently had CarPlay video support and Apple said it was too dangerous to allow, even though it required the car to be in park. Shortly after that, Apple announces the same feature and requirement. The problem is it will require automaker support. I don’t see that happening any time soon.

Even though I got my in app refund for the video play feature, it makes me mad Apple did what they did to the developers.

 

[bmark]

Adaptive Power Mode is more hogwash from Apple! Low power mode is the same feature.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

I already have adaptive power mode. Power gets low, I adapt.

View attachment 2536078

Battery dies and somehow the day still continues. Life mode.

 

[Taq'aix]

Adaptive Power Mode is more hogwash from Apple! Low power mode is the same feature.

Yeah definitely, I have the feature turned on, but it feels like it does next to nothing. Typical Apple, squeezing out an extra five minutes of battery life at best, lol.

It’s more of a flashy gimmick than a game-changer.

 

[Taq'aix]

It would be nice if Apple added a feature like ‘extreme battery saver mode’ that is currently available on android phones:

Your Android phone has an Extreme Battery Saver mode you might have missed — how to find it

Learn how to use Extreme Battery Saver mode on Android devices

www.tomsguide.com

I’ve used that feature before when I had a Google pixel 7 Pro - it disabled every app (except for pre-selected apps) and you can temporarily re-enable those apps (on a need-based basis) thus enabling much longer battery life on the phone

Absolutely, this is precisely what we need! But, true to form, Apple will probably make us wait 14 years for it, just like they dragged their feet with the iPad weather and calculator apps. SMH.

 

[Westside guy]

Honestly, I'd love it if we could just change the length of time "low power mode" waits before turning the screen off due to inactivity. If I could do that, I'd probably just leave it in low power mode all the bloody time.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

4. Swipe across Safari address bar in Safari (or from either side of the screen there) to switch tabs and even open a new tab. My only slight gripe is the keyboard doesn’t auto-show, or you cannot ask it to, when swiping for a new tab.

 

[stiligFox]

4. Swipe across Safari address bar in Safari (or from either side of the screen there) to switch tabs and even open a new tab. My only slight gripe is the keyboard doesn’t auto-show, or you cannot ask it to, when swiping for a new tab.

That’s actually not new! I’m not sure when it became a thing to make a new tab, but that was at least in iOS 18 and I know switch tabs was definitely there in at least iOS 17!

 

[svish]

Adaptive power mode will be good but too bad that it is limited to only the newer iPhones. AirPlay to car screen will take some time to rollout. All CarPlay related features take a long time to be available.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

That’s actually not new! I’m not sure when it became a thing to make a new tab, but that was at least in iOS 18 and I know switch tabs was definitely there in at least iOS 17!

I was wondering if it wasn’t new, actually.

 

[mhuggies]

Why would turning off apps increase battery on iOS? Apps already tend not to run in the background, and low power mode reduces background activity further. Maybe more extreme background activity suppression at 5% battery would help, but I don’t see the point in disabling apps

It would be nice if Apple added a feature like ‘extreme battery saver mode’ that is currently available on android phones:

Your Android phone has an Extreme Battery Saver mode you might have missed — how to find it

Learn how to use Extreme Battery Saver mode on Android devices

www.tomsguide.com

I’ve used that feature before when I had a Google pixel 7 Pro - it disabled every app (except for pre-selected apps) and you can temporarily re-enable those apps (on a need-based basis) thus enabling much longer battery life on the phon

 

[joecomo]

Really envious about that ID Card feature - will never happen in Germany.
They’ll wait 5 years - then spend 100 million EUR for a crappy App nobody will want to use …

 

[Donkey Man]

“Apple says that automakers need to add support for CarPlay with AirPlay video, so it will likely take some time to roll out.”

In other words, NEVER.

 

[Adelino]

Concerning "AirPlay for CarPlay", if the car is moving but you are not driving it, will it be GPS or Engine based?
A good example: putting your car in the train and you have to stay in.
Crossing the Alps:

Disclaimer: Not my video! Credit/Copyright to the owner of it.

 

[neuropsychguy]

Is the adaptive power mode available for iPhone 14 Pro? Is there a reason that iPhone 14 Pro hasn’t got the option to set charging at a specific battery percentage? I’m sure the SoC can handle this.

Why are you sure the iPhone 14 SoC can handle it? If it doesn’t work with older phones it suggests that there might be a some hardware it requires that the older iPhones don’t have. That seems like a possibility.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Honestly, I'd love it if we could just change the length of time "low power mode" waits before turning the screen off due to inactivity. If I could do that, I'd probably just leave it in low power mode all the bloody time.

The display is the #1 use of power, that’s why it goes inactive so quickly in low power mode.

 

[HouseLannister]

Waiting for just one beta tester to say X is my battery life with adaptive power vs Y is my battery life without.

 

[teknikal90]

Waiting for just one beta tester to say X is my battery life with adaptive power vs Y is my battery life without.

the reality is that it will probably just bring your battery life back to iOS 18 levels.