These are usually the most attractive software characteristics that are in the headlines, but for my money, it is functional that is most noticeable. Case in point: iOS 26, where liquid glass is on everyone’s lips, but fewer people are discussing Apple’s decision to take the iPhone’s search bar and other control buttons under the screen. With that a minor twice, the Settings app, phone app and message are now much more comfortable to use, and therefore there are call controls on facetime video calls. This may look like a small change, but I love that I do not need to spread my fingers or hold my phone with both hands for everyday tasks on my iPhone.
This change has been a long time
Since my first iPhone, iPhone 5s, I have tried to make my most important app easier for my thumb. This used to be difficult in earlier recurrents of iOS, as you could not pass the home screen anywhere as you can do today. I would still try my best to arrange my favorite apps in an inverted L shape near the lower-right corner of the screen, so I could easily tap them with one hand, but my ability to do so was limited. Nowadays, you can place an app icon anywhere on the home screen, and even the control center can be customized, but still had space for improvement.
For example, as soon as I opened an app, all my careful plans were always out of the window. Many apps follow what Apple is doing so far and keep your search bar towards the top of the phone screen, where it is difficult to reach them. Some third-party applications put their create/compos buttons near the lower-right corner of the iPhone, but Apple’s own apps were not really adapted to ergonomics, and it set a poor example. This was not such a big problem on my small iPhone 5s, but since I upgrade to a Pro Max model, it is more important to me. Fortunately, for me, in iOS 26, Apple has finally started addressing the issue.
Revival back gesture is great
Credit: Pranay Parab
As a right -handed person, I never enjoyed the rear gesture in iOS, allowing me to move my thumb to the left edge of the screen and swipe right. In iOS 26, many apps of Apple now let you go back from anywhere on the screen and go back. This is a welcome change.
Search is easy to reach bars
Credit: Pranay Parab
In iOS 26, you should notice a reception change when you open mail, messages, notes, podcasts, phones, or settings apps. Yes, the search bar/button is now near the bottom of the display. In all these apps, I use the search feature extensively, and now it requires very little effort to reach the button with your thumb. It is expected here that other developers will follow the suit.
The composition button is where it should be
Credit: Pranay Parab
Some apps include a button that helps you create a new file, writes an email, starts a new chat, etc. In iOS 26, many apps of Apple have transferred this button to the lower-right corner of the display, taking hints from the third-party apps that I mentioned earlier. Examples include Make reminders Button in the reminder, Email Button in mail, and new message Button in messages. Finally, Apple is holding the rest with the rest of the app store.
What do you think so far?
Safari’s new compact layout is beautiful ergonomic
Credit: Pranay Parab
While Safari moved its address bar to the bottom of the screen in the previous version of the iOS, the Browser version included in the iOS 26 has added a new compact layout that makes it even more ergonomic. Now you can catch the address bar and swipe to use the copy feature, which is an easy way to copy the URL compared to killing the share button and pressing the copy. You can also double-tap the three-dots button to bookmark the page quickly. After saying this, I hope that Apple gets a way to have a shares and tab buttons that appear in the future repetitions of the compact layout. Those two buttons are now buried under the three-dots button, which is not ideal.
To switch to a layout that is more familiar, you can go Settings> App> Safari In iOS 26, scroll down TabChoose more Bottom,
Festeime’s new video call control is a very big step
Credit: Pranay Parab
The facetime video used to use call control at the top of the video call screen, but it has changed to iOS 26. Now you will see those buttons near the lower-right corner of the screen. This makes it easier to mute yourself, close the camera, change your audio device, or eliminate the call.
