As sure as the seasons change, a new iOS version arrives every year to bring a fresh wave of features to our iPhones. With iOS 26 now well-established, it’s the perfect time to explore the smart, helpful, and fun updates it brought to our daily lives.
At Swappie, our mission is to make tech feel good. That means helping you get the most out of the powerful device you already own. Before the buzz for iOS 27 begins, let’s dive into the best features of iOS 26 that make your certified refurbished iPhone feel more personal and capable than ever.
Proactive intelligence: your iPhone gets a helping hand
Apple Intelligence took a big leap forward in iOS 26. Instead of just reacting to your commands, it now works more proactively in the background to make your day smoother.
Imagine this: you finish a long group chat about weekend plans. A little while later, a notification pops up with a neat summary of who’s bringing what and a suggestion to create a calendar event with the correct address and time. That’s proactive intelligence. It also learns your routines, suggesting you start your ‘Focus’ playlist when you connect to your gym’s Wi-Fi or reminding you to call home when you leave the office. It’s a small change that makes a huge difference, making you feel organised without the effort.
The dynamic home screen: a phone that changes with you
We’ve had widgets and custom icons for a while, but iOS 26 introduces the Dynamic Home Screen. This feature allows your phone’s layout to change based on your location, the time of day, or your active Focus mode.
Your ‘Work’ home screen can automatically feature your calendar, email, and to-do list widgets from nine to five. When you get home, it can seamlessly switch to your ‘Personal’ layout, bringing your music, news, and smart home controls to the front. It’s a refreshingly simple way to keep your digital space tidy and relevant to whatever you’re doing.
Cinematic memories: your photos come to life
The Photos app gets one of its most creative updates yet. Cinematic Memories uses on-device intelligence to analyse your photo and video library, creating short, movie-like stories from your holidays, family gatherings, or even just a fun weekend.
It goes beyond a simple slideshow, intelligently editing video clips together, choosing a fitting soundtrack, and even adding gentle transitions and colour grading. It’s a wonderful way to rediscover your favourite moments, all put together for you.
Seamless handover: moving between devices just works
Continuity has always been one of the iPhone’s strengths, and Seamless Handover in iOS 26 makes it feel like magic. You can now ‘flick’ what you’re doing from one Apple device to another.
Started watching a video on your iPhone on the train? As you walk up to your iPad at home, a simple upward swipe gesture on your iPhone screen sends the video, playing right where you left off, to the larger screen. The same works for FaceTime calls, notes, and web pages. It’s a straightforward feature that beautifully connects your tech.
Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 26?
With every new iOS, Apple provides support for an incredible range of older devices. However, to handle the advanced intelligence features, iOS 26 did require more recent processing power. The list of compatible devices includes:
- iPhone 21, iPhone 21 Pro
- iPhone 20, iPhone 20 Pro
- iPhone 19 series
- iPhone 18 series
This information is based on Apple’s typical software support cycles. Please refer to Apple’s official documentation for the most accurate details.
So, should you be thinking about iOS 27?
It’s natural to look ahead, but the truth is that iOS 26 is a powerful and stable operating system packed with features that improve your day. It makes your phone smarter, more personal, and more helpful.
There’s no rush to think about the next big thing. Our advice is to explore everything iOS 26 has to offer. Enjoy the confidence and reliability of your current setup, knowing you have a fantastic piece of technology in your hands.
When the time comes to upgrade, choosing a certified refurbished iPhone from Swappie is the smartest way to get a premium experience at a price that won’t break the bank. For now, enjoy the refreshingly real benefits of iOS 26.