iOS 26 Messages App Rumored to Get Polls and Automatic Translate Feature

[MacRumors]

The iOS 26 Messages app will include a new translate feature, according to 9to5Mac. Messages will apparently be able to automatically translate incoming and outgoing messages when you're conversing with someone who speaks another language.

You can already long press on an incoming message and choose the translate option to translate it to another language, but it seems the process could be sped up with automatic translation options.

Apple is also said to be planning to add an option for a polls in the Messages, which would allow people in group chats to vote. The polls option could be powered by Apple Intelligence, with Apple suggesting polling categories.

9to5Mac claims that Apple is also working on several other features:

• Music - Full screen animated art on the Lock Screen.
• Notes - Markdown export support.
• CarPlay - Updated user interface to match iOS 26.

All of the new features in iOS 26 will be unveiled at the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference, which is set to begin next week.

Article Link: iOS 26 Messages App Rumored to Get Polls and Automatic Translate Feature

 

[GlassFingers]

How about adding translation to emails??

 

[syklee26]

do you send iMessage to someone whom you cannot directly communicate with? this is an odd choice.

 

[ToothBlueth]

If markdown support is accompanied by it being accessible to external cloud services, that would make me use it again.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy52]

do you send iMessage to someone whom you cannot directly communicate with? this is an odd choice.

It happens more than you think (Source: Me (an ESL teacher)).

That said, I don’t usually message students or parents through Messages—it’s through WhatsApp—but if Apple does this in Messages, then maybe Meta will get off its rear and do it in WhatsApp.

 

[citysnaps]

Excellent. Looking forward to the translate feature.

 

[George Bailey]

do you send iMessage to someone whom you cannot directly communicate with? this is an odd choice.

It's not a question of simply can/cannot. I frequently exchange messages with people whose first or even second language is not English, and my command of their language is not strong enough to converse in it. Both of us being able to freely use the most comfortable language would be a nice benefit.

 

[4 bit 9d api]

do you send iMessage to someone whom you cannot directly communicate with? this is an odd choice.

Yeah I hate having choices!

 

[danny842003]

do you send iMessage to someone whom you cannot directly communicate with? this is an odd choice.

My in-laws speak broken English and my Vietnamese is worse. Because of my accent they struggle to understand me on the phone.
So yes I do and I don’t think it’s an odd choice to speak to family.

 

[EricLA2NYC]

I’m visiting Germany in a few weeks and have been conversing with my relatives there using the translate feature in mainly email, and it’s very hit-and-miss. Not with the translations themselves (to my knowledge), but the posting of them. I’ll select translate, the translation is generated (most of the time), but when I select for it to replace my original text, nothing happens. I have to repeat the steps, then select Copy instead of Replace, then Paste the text. I hope they fix that at the same time. But looking forward to this function, as well.

 

[iHorseHead]

Still no way to archive messages?

 

[klasma]

do you send iMessage to someone whom you cannot directly communicate with? this is an odd choice.

It’s not uncommon for scammers. This gives them an easier time.

 

[mansplains]

I would really like to see polls. It’s frustrating to plan events in group messages without them (what day works best? etc) and the members of such groups may not want to use a third-party message service for them alone.

Still no way to archive messages?

Tons of screenshots 😅

 

[yeah]

How about fixing the iMessage syncing issues and missing messages?

Maybe actually force iOS to reindex all iCloud messages and properly display the messages without missing text and photos?

 

[sgtaylor5]

Now, if they made a texting app that worked more like email, so that at least you could export them, categorize texts with folders or labels and possibly archive them that would be really helpful to people that don’t delete any texts.

 

[applefan8254]

Can we get a cross platform app that works across android web and iphone? thx

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Still missing the only feature that matters: cross-platform iMessage. Cue wanted that years ago, as revealed in court filings. Replace Cook with Cue and get sh** done.

 

[TheMountainLife]

do you send iMessage to someone whom you cannot directly communicate with? this is an odd choice.

*sigh* Short sighted thinking but I blame the brand.

For example last year I visited the Czech Republic and Denmark and made friends along the way. I have to copy/paste everything into the Google translate app where as the Pixel users I was messaging never had to leave their message app.

 

[Bustycat]

Hope that changing the default also works here as Apple Translate sucks.

 

[shapesinaframe]

Will it ask to download the languages every single time you want to translate something even though you already downloaded them multiple times already?

 

[Havoc035]

I would be happy with polls and translation. But I hope there’s going to be more to the update for iMessage.

 

[Rgill]

If this is true, it could make chatting across languages much easier. No more switching apps—just smooth, built-in translation right inside Messages.

 

[dkh587]

That would certainly be helpful. I hope they'll add more features to iMessage, like auto-delete for both parties, similar to how WhatsApp, Signal etc have auto-delete.

 

[Dr McKay]

do you send iMessage to someone whom you cannot directly communicate with? this is an odd choice.

Scammers lives just got easier

 

[Frantisekj]

do you send iMessage to someone whom you cannot directly communicate with? this is an odd choice.

With support of RCS you can message over internet moreover anyone if they have RCS on. And translation is not iMessage exclusive feature. it is Messages global feature.

But unless Apple add all languages of at least countries where they officially sell, then it is still just gimick.