Joe Maring/ Android Authority
Well, Apple has actually done it. After launching iphone 18 in 2024, this year’s apple iphone upgrade raises by 8 to iphone 26. Not just is the brand-new name considerable, however many thanks to Apple’s new Liquid Glass redesign, it’s additionally among one of the most radical iphone updates we have actually seen in years.
While I really hope the entire Fluid Glass point remains much, far from Android, there are some components of iphone 26 that I really rather like. They aren’t radical functions, however they’re points I would certainly like to see concerned Android– as cursing as that might appear.
Which iphone 26 function do you desire contributed to Android?
292 ballots
Flexible lock display clock
Among my preferred updates in iphone 26 is unbelievably worthless, however I can not assist however like it. The lock display clock currently instantly modifications in dimension to occupy all the vacuum above/around the topic of your lock display picture, and it perfectly alters from image to image.
What I especially like is exactly how, as alerts show up, the clock reduces a bit with each brand-new alert card that appears, and after that increases once again as you swipe them away. It’s a lot a lot more responsive than anything on Android, and while it’s simply a visual touch, I assume it looks unbelievable– and I would certainly like to have it on my Android phone.
Revamped Phone application

For every one of the AI calling features Google has actually contributed to Pixel phones for many years, the Google Phone application itself looks quite antiquated. It’s not inadequately made or tough to utilize, however it simply really feels obsolete and seeking a fresh layer of paint.
If/when Google freshens the Phone application, I would certainly like to see the business take motivation from what Apple is finishing with its Phone application in iphone 26. Rather than separated web pages for your current telephone calls, voicemails, and so on, the brand-new Phone calls web page teams every little thing with each other in an actually smart means.
Your preferred get in touches with are pinned on top of the application for very easy gain access to, while the Recents timeline not just reveals current telephone calls you have actually made or obtained, however additionally any kind of voicemails you have. It places a lot even more info on the display simultaneously, and it’s definitely much better than Google’s Phone application– or any one of the various other supplier phone applications on Android today.
Bonus controls for boarding passes

As a person that got on an airplane in 2015 a lot more times than I can count, I understand the relevance of a great electronic boarding pass. Boarding come on Apple Pocketbook and Google Pocketbook are both strong nowadays, however iphone 26 is making Apple’s variations also much better.
Currently, boarding come on Apple Pocketbook consist of a couple of extra controls not formerly readily available. My preferred choice is the “Share Trip Tracker” switch, which enables you to promptly share your trip with a get in touch with, and if they have an apple iphone, it’ll stand for them as an Online Task. My mama regularly asks me to share my trip information with her whenever I take a trip, and having something such as this on Google Pocketbook boarding passes would certainly make my life 10 times less complicated.
I additionally value the brand-new alternatives for seeing an airport map or tracking your baggage straight from your boarding pass. They’re points you can currently carry out in various other applications, however having them appeared for you right by your boarding pass simply makes good sense.
Computer animated cd art work on the lock display

Returning to the lock display for a minute, I definitely like that iphone 26 currently allows you see computer animated cd art work from Apple Songs on the lock display. Apple Songs is full of beautiful computer animations for a lot of cds, and just having the ability to see them with the Apple Songs app open is a damn embarassment.
While not a needed function whatsoever, it would certainly make me so pleased to see Android do the same below, although I think of applying it would certainly be harder. Apple Songs, Spotify, and Tidal all have computer animated cd covers, and they all have Android applications, so there would certainly be resources to draw from if Android ever before included online cd art work to the lock display. And hi there, possibly it would certainly urge YouTube Songs to lastly jump on the computer animated cd art work train.
Making use of factors for in-person mobile repayments

I’m a huge bank card individual, with money back and aims spread throughout several various cards and accounts. However generally, I never ever believe to retrieve my bank card incentives, so they typically rest neglected for months (otherwise years) each time.
iphone 26 presents the capability to quickly retrieve your money back/points when making use of Apple Pay face to face, which I assume is wonderful. While I conserve my Chase and Amex factors for traveling redemptions, it would certainly be wonderful to spend for coffee or lunch utilizing my Discover or United States Financial institution money back. It’s a fairly tiny function and one I unquestionably would not utilize regularly, however it would certainly still be wonderful to see Google Pocketbook on Android use something comparable.
Great musicians duplicate …
Robert Triggs/ Android Authority
As Picasso as soon as stated in a quote Steve Jobs was notoriously motivated by, “Great musicians duplicate; wonderful musicians swipe.” Every person duplicates every person in the mobile technology globe, and it’s something we have actually seen time after time– whether it’s Apple duplicating something from Google or the other way around.
While I assume what we have actually seen of iphone 26 up until now greatly fades in contrast to Google’s Android 16 update (particularly, Android 16 QPR1), it is necessary to offer Apple credit rating of what it solved with this year’s apple iphone software program. I’m definitely not a follower of every little thing Apple finished with iphone 26 (seriously, what is happening with Fluid Glass), however I’m quite excited with the functions stated below– and I want to see them all make their means to Android faster instead of later on.