iOS 26: New Messages and Phone App Features Leaked Ahead of WWDC

Utsanjan Maity
June 07, 2025
iOS 26: Exciting Updates to Messages and Phone Apps

iOS 26: Major Upgrades Coming to Messages and Phone Apps

According to reliable sources like Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing to announce some exciting new features for the Messages and Phone apps within the upcoming iOS 26 update. These changes, slated for unveiling at WWDC 2025, promise a more streamlined and personalized user experience.

Conceptual image of updated Messages app

Revamped Messages App: Polls and Personalized Backgrounds

The Messages app is set for a significant upgrade with two key additions: the ability to create polls and the option to customize conversation backgrounds. This news follows earlier reports from 9to5Mac that hinted at the inclusion of polling features.

The introduction of polls in Messages finally brings this much-requested feature to the platform. Many competing messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram, already offer this functionality, allowing users to quickly and easily gather opinions on various topics. In iOS 26, you'll be able to create polls directly within your conversations, making it simpler to coordinate plans, gather feedback, or simply have a bit of fun with your friends and family.

Furthermore, users will now be able to add a personal touch to their conversations with customizable background images. This feature allows you to set unique background images for individual conversations, adding a layer of personalization and visual appeal. The best part? These personalized backgrounds will automatically sync across all your Apple devices – ensuring consistency across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

These improvements are expected to be available not only on iOS 26, but also on the upcoming iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 releases. This consistent experience across Apple’s operating systems enhances the seamless integration users have come to expect from the Apple ecosystem.

Redesigned Phone App: Streamlining Communication

The Phone app is also receiving a noteworthy update in iOS 26. Gurman's report indicates the arrival of a new, optional view that intelligently combines your favorite contacts, recent calls, and voicemails into a single, easily scrollable window. This consolidated view aims to provide quick access to your most important communication elements.

Apple recognizes the value of choice, so this new design will be entirely optional. Users who prefer the traditional interface of the Phone app can easily revert back to it, ensuring that the changes cater to a wide range of user preferences and workflows. This demonstrates Apple’s commitment to catering to its diverse user base and not forcing changes that might disrupt established habits.

WWDC 2025: The Unveiling

All of these exciting software updates, including the new features for Messages and Phone, will be officially unveiled during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 keynote address. The keynote is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 9th, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. This is a highly anticipated event for Apple enthusiasts, developers, and tech journalists alike, and promises to reveal a wealth of new information about the future of Apple's software.

You can watch the keynote live via the official Apple website or follow along with various technology news outlets providing live coverage and commentary. This will provide the official confirmation of the rumors and allow you to get a firsthand look at these highly anticipated features in action. The official release of iOS 26 and the subsequent rollout of these updated apps will follow the keynote, giving users the opportunity to experience these enhanced features firsthand.

Further Reading and Discussion

For more in-depth information and related news, be sure to check out these resources:

These updates promise a more intuitive and personalized communication experience for iOS users. The combination of polls, customizable backgrounds, and a streamlined phone interface suggests a move towards greater user control and visual appeal in Apple's core applications. The upcoming WWDC 2025 keynote will undoubtedly provide more details, so stay tuned!



from MacRumors
-via DynaSage