I don't think many people would dispute the idea that iOS 26 didn't introduce a lot of new Apple Intelligence features, especially when stacked up against the all-out focus on AI that marked 2024's iOS 18 rollout. Oh, there are some new capabilities, like on-the-fly translations in phone calls, FaceTime sessions, and texts, but for the most part, Apple Intelligence receives a few updates to existing features while taking a backseat to iOS 26's Liquid Glass overhaul.
Certainly, that's been one of the largest criticisms you can find from my colleagues in their iPhone 17 reviews. Apple already trails the likes of Google and Samsung when it comes to AI features, and shifting the attention to interface improvements in iOS 26 runs the risk of the iPhone falling further behind.
