6 Upcoming iOS 26 Features You Can Already Try on Your Galaxy

Apple just wrapped up its annual developer conference, WWDC 25, which also marked the debut of iOS 26, along with software updates for its entire device lineup. The spotlight shone brightest on iOS 26, the successor to iOS 18. Apple announced several new features coming to iOS 26, but you can already try some of these on your Galaxy phone.

Typing indicators in group chats

Apple announced that iOS 26 will finally introduce typing indicators in group conversations on Apple Messages. This might be Apple’s first step toward adding that feature. But hey, Google Messages has had this for a while, and you’ve been able to see typing indicators in group chats on your Galaxy phone for some time now.

Live Translation features

Apple also showcased the upcoming Live Translation feature built right into iOS 26. This might be Apple’s first attempt at something like this. However, Galaxy AI introduced Live Translate back in 2024, so it’s been available on Galaxy devices for some time now.

Highlight to Search

If you tuned into WWDC today, one upcoming iOS 26 feature might have pulled a nostalgia spell on you. Yes, it’s basically Circle to Search, but with some differences. Instead of Google’s approach, Apple’s version relies on ChatGPT for quick results. It gets even funnier when you realize Circle to Search debuted on the Galaxy S24 series about a year and a half ago and has since made its way to many other devices.

Game Mode

Apple’s upcoming iOS 26 introduces a dedicated Apple Games app and a Game Mode that optimizes performance and reduces latency during gameplay. Meanwhile, Galaxy phones have offered a Gaming Hub for quite some time now.

Apple Maps gains two new features in iOS 26

Apple’s new detailed visited places and route recommendations in Apple Maps closely mirror Google Maps’ Timeline feature, which has long provided full travel histories. Previously, Apple only offered a basic summary of “Significant Locations” without detailed timelines. One can say that Apple Maps is playing catch-up, dressing up old ideas in a glassy package.

Adaptive Power

Apple is catching up to a feature Samsung introduced earlier, like, very earlier. Apple’s new Adaptive Power feature in iOS 26 is very similar to Samsung’s AI-powered Adaptive Power Saving, which has been around for years. Both use AI to learn how you use your phone and save battery.

Bonus update: The split-screen feature is still nowhere to be found on iOS 26. Maybe next year. And same goes for the encryptions in RCS chats.