I went to Apple iPhone event today and I'm obsessed with 6 new tricks – ‘hold robot' for phone calls is best of the lot
The Live Translate feature is a close second though
TECH'S BEST THING I went to Apple iPhone event today and I'm obsessed with 6 new tricks – 'hold robot' for phone calls is best of the lot
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A FLURRY of new features are about to appear on the Apple gadgets you already own.
I sat for two hours as Apple doled out smartphone freebies on stage at its WWDC event in California – and there are six you'll want to look out for. iPhone owners, buckle up.
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iOS 26 is finally official – and it's coming to millions of iPhone models
Credit: Apple
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Messages is getting updated with a new 'poll' feature in iOS 26
Credit: Apple
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You'll be able to screen texts from unknown senders in Messages
Credit: Apple
NEW APPLE TRICK #1 – TEXT QUESTION PLEASE?
The Messages app is getting three upgrades – and they're very handy.
Apple is finally adding the ability to create and send polls to pals.
You'll be able to quiz them on a restaurant or holiday destination – or vote on who should win Strictly.
It's a feature that WhatsApp added back in 2023, and is very popular.
Now you can do it in Messages too.
Another added bonus for Messages users is the option to add custom backgrounds to each of your chats.
They'll sync with the contact too, so you both see the same wallpaper. Fun.
Third, you get the ability to screen messages from unknown senders.
"In Messages, users can now screen messages from unknown senders, giving them more control over who appears in their conversation list," Apple explained.
"Messages from unknown senders will appear in a dedicated folder where users can then mark the number as known, ask for more information, or delete.
iPhone 16e review – I've secretly tested Apple's cheapest mobile and I love the new button but that's not the best bit
"These messages will remain silenced until a user accepts them."
NEW APPLE TRICK #2 – GAME DAY
All the signs are there: Apple is getting very serious about gaming.
The company has shown early signs of wanting to boost its gaming offering with its increasingly powerful Mac chips.
And just a few years ago, Apple Arcade launched – serving up a subscription-only library of premium mobile games.
Now Apple has taken it one step further with a brand new and dedicated Games app.
This is a bit like the App Store but just for games (finally!), and also lets you locate Apple Arcade titles too.
There are ways to play with and challenge pals.
And it's a good sign of things to come: your iPhone is immensely powerful, and has a lot of potential as a gaming device.
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The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach was on-site at Apple HQ in California for WWDC 2025
Credit: Sean Keach
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Apple has created a dedicated Games app for the iPhone
Credit: Apple
Watch out, Nintendo.
NEW APPLE TRICK #3 – ALL SMILES
Emoji are effectively the world's shared language. Almost all of us use them – and we all know what they mean.
Last year, Apple created an AI feature called Genmoji to let you dream up your own custom emoji.
But that wasn't enough for the fiendish emoji lovers out there.
So now Apple has added the ability for users to mash up two emoji together.
Think 'smiling football' or 'zebra cat'. The possibilities are endless.
NEW APPLE TRICK #4 – AIR WE GO!
By far and away my favourite trick of the lot is a new perk for holidaymakers – though it's handy at home too.
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You can translate languages in real time using Live Translation
Credit: Apple
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Live Translation will even work on phone calls
Credit: Apple
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You can use Live Translate inside the Messages app too
Credit: Apple
There's a new feature that translates foreign languages in real-time.
So you can have a conversation with someone who doesn't speak English, and understand every word they say.
This is a game-changer for any of you that have been abroad in a country where you're not fluent in the native tongue.
Live Translation should make it much easier to order in restaurants, find your way around when you're lost, and potentially avoid being scammed too.
NEW APPLE TRICK #5 – HOLD ON A MINUTE
Another brainy new trick is Hold Assist.
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You can now get a virtual helper to "hold" for you on phone calls
Credit: Apple
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It'll wait on the line while that dreadful music plays
Credit: Apple
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Once the customer support agent is ready, you'll be alerted so you can pick up the phone
Credit: Apple
This is effectively a robot that holds on a phone call so you don't have to.
It'll wait for a human to pick up, and then alert you when the conversation is ready.
That way, you don't have to spend hours in call centre misery, listening to those awful tunes for a problem that might take just seconds to solve.
NEW APPLE TRICK #6 – HUNG UP!
Another clever spam-prevention feature is Call Screening.
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Call Screening can save you from spammers and scammers
Credit: Apple
This is similar to Apple's Live Voicemail feature that lets you read a transcription of voicemails in real-time.
Now Apple will gather info from callers, and then share that detail with you.
So your iPhone can ask the caller for their name and why they're calling – and then tell you the answer that they give.
Then you can decide if you want to pick up the call or totally ignore it.
CUT OFF!
Sadly, not everyone will be able to claim this bonanza of tech tricks.
Anyone with a very old iPhone will miss out on the whole lot.
The list of supported devices getting iOS 26 is as follows:
iPhone 16e
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE (3rd gen)
iPhone SE (2nd gen)
So if you've got anything older than the devices on that list, you're going without.
That includes the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max, which received last year's iOS 18 update – but has since been cut off from iOS 26.
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