Before you install iOS 26, make a backup of your phone just in case something goes wrong during the installation. Go to Settings, iCloud, iCloud Backup and then select Back Up Now. Despite what you may have heard, once you’ve updated to iOS 26, there’s no practical way to roll it back to iOS 18. And if you’re confused by the naming jump from 18 to 26, that decision was made to indicate the year of use, which makes sense.

Three of the most useful new features are found in the Phone app, though they’re limited to iPhone 15 and later, and may be enough to tempt you into buying a new iPhone 17. Call Screening answers unknown calls in the background, asks for the caller’s name and reason, and shows you a short summary so you can decide whether to answer. Hold Assist automatically takes over when you’ve been put on hold, listens for the end of the music, and then calls you when someone comes back on the line. Live Translations works in real time with conversations in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish across Phone, Messages and FaceTime.

Visual Intelligence is another Apple Intelligence tool that starts when you take a screenshot or photo. Tap the thumbnail and you’ll see options to send it to ChatGPT with a typed question or to Google for a visual search. You can highlight just part of the screenshot with your finger. It’s similar to Google Lens but lets you do more, like adding concert dates from a poster directly to your calendar.

For older phones, there are still meaningful improvements. The Passwords app now lets you see changes you’ve made to accounts, review older passwords and check when they were updated. Battery Intelligence shows how long it will take to charge to 80 percent and then 100 percent. Maps adds a Visited Places feature that keeps a record of where you’ve been, complete with dates. Only you can see the list, and it can come in handy if you want to remember a restaurant you tried.

The Camera app also sees a group of upgrades. It will alert you if it detects smudges or glare on the lens before you take a picture. A new Photographic Style joins the existing options and can be found in the six-dot array in the upper right corner of the screen. Photos gets a Spatial Scenes feature that adds depth and motion to an image, creating a 3D-like effect when you tilt your iPhone. Some may find it fun, others not so much, but it works on all models running iOS 26.

Apple has also added Preview, a longtime Mac app for editing PDFs, to iPhone. You can now highlight, autofill, sign or rearrange pages in a PDF directly in Mail or Files. Messages gains the ability to copy just part of a text instead of the whole thing, though this one may not appear on every older device.

Apple continues to expand satellite features as well. You’ll now be able to check the weather when you’re out of cell service range, such as on a hike. This joins the set of existing satellite tools–Emergency SOS, Messages, Find My and Roadside Assistance. Owners of iPhone 14 and 15 will get another year of free access to these services.

Finally, iOS 26 includes design tweaks such as the new Liquid Glass effect, which gives the interface a translucent look. Some users like the appearance while others have found it makes text harder to read, so your reaction may vary.

Not every feature will matter to every user, but there’s enough here to make the update worthwhile. Older devices may miss out on the Apple Intelligence tools, but they still gain practical improvements in security, power management, maps and camera performance. And even if you never use Preview or Spatial Scenes, keeping your iPhone up to date ensures you’re protected and ready for whatever Apple adds next.

Leslie Meredith has been writing about technology for more than a decade. As a mom of four, value, usefulness and online safety take priority. Have a question? Email Leslie at asklesliemeredith@gmail.com.