The Digital camera app acquired a number of the most noticeable design updates in iOS 26, with Apple simplifying the interface to make it simpler to get to numerous controls. Most of what is new focuses on design, however there are a pair different notable adjustments.
Liquid Glass Design
Like all the iOS 26 apps, the Digital camera app has adopted the Liquid Glass look. Buttons are extra rounded and “float” over the background of the app because of a brand new depth impact.
The realm behind the digital camera shutter and management buttons is a contact extra see-through than earlier than, so you’ll be able to see the areas exterior of your picture extra clearly. There’s additionally no bar behind the toggles to vary focal size, so the interface appears a bit cleaner.
Two-Tab Format
The navigation bar on the backside of the Digital camera app has been overhauled in iOS 26. Somewhat than the choice to swipe between all the picture and video modes, there at the moment are simply two primary choices that you just see: Photograph and Video.
Whereas it is solely the Photograph and Video buttons which are seen, you’ll be able to truly nonetheless swipe in the identical strategy to get to the opposite choices like Portrait, Panorama, Slo-Mo, Cinematic, and extra.
For multi-lens cameras, the small buttons to vary focal size are nonetheless in the identical place, and the buttons to view the picture you simply snapped or change to the entrance digital camera have not modified location. The button to view pictures is now spherical as a substitute of sq., in keeping with the Liquid Glass replace, and Apple has shifted the controls down on the show.
The Photograph and Video buttons are under the shutter button, once they was once above. The shutter button itself not has a vibrant white ring round it, with Apple as a substitute choosing a extra refined Liquid Glass ring. Bezel measurement for the highest and backside bars hasn’t modified.
A number of the controls that was once positioned on the high of the Digital camera app at the moment are tucked inside come out menus. When you choose a mode like Photograph, you’ll be able to then faucet on the Photograph button to get extra choices.
The menu has a Liquid Glass design and it gives giant buttons for accessing Flash, Reside Photograph settings, Timer, Publicity, Kinds, Facet, and Night Mode. Tapping one offers you additional choices for that setting. So in the event you faucet Publicity, you may get a slider the place you’ll be able to rapidly alter the publicity setting earlier than you are taking a photograph.
In Video mode, you’ll be able to faucet to entry Flash, Publicity, and Motion. A lot of the different modes even have a minimum of one possibility that is accessed by this new menu. These menu choices are additionally accessible by tapping on the menu icon on the high proper of the show.
There are nonetheless some fast entry buttons on the high of the Photos app, so you’ll be able to swap to RAW mode, faucet into Kinds, or alter flash and Night time Mode settings with out having to open the menu. Context-specific settings just like the Macro mode toggle additionally nonetheless pop up in the identical manner as earlier than when relevant.
There are toggles to see the Flash, Reside Photograph and Motion Mode indicators within the Digital camera part of the Settings app.
Distant AirPods Shutter
The AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 can be utilized as a digital camera shutter in iOS 26, so you’ll be able to take a photograph by urgent on the stem of the AirPods. To get this to work, join your AirPods to your iPhone, open the Digital camera app, after which press and maintain on the AirPods stem.
You may take a photograph utilizing this methodology, or proceed to carry to begin a video. Once you’re completed recording, press and maintain once more to cease the video.
Utilizing this function requires iOS 26 and the brand new AirPods firmware that accompanies iOS 26. Utilizing the AirPods as a distant shutter button works with the Digital camera app and with third-party picture apps.
Cleansing Warning
In case your digital camera lens is soiled, your iPhone can detect that it must be cleaned and can ship you a notification letting you already know it’s best to clear it.
Developer APIs
Builders have entry to a brand new Cinematic mode API in iOS 26 that permits third-party apps to seize Cinematic mode video, identical to the built-in Digital camera app.
Cinematic mode helps recording video with a shallow depth of discipline and automated focus adjustments between topics. Apple makes use of rack focus to rapidly swap the main target from one topic to a different, for a movie-like recording expertise.
Apple can also be offering builders with an Audio Combine API for adjusting sound after a video is captured. Third-party video recording apps can supply the identical Audio Combine controls which are out there within the Digital camera app. Choices embrace In-Body for lowering sounds and voices from sources exterior of the body, Studio for lowering background sounds and reverb, and Cinematic for placing voices right into a front-facing observe whereas leaving environmental noises in encompass, just like film audio.
Mac Accessibility
With macOS 26 and iOS 26, your Mac can connect with your iPhone to make use of your iPhone’s Digital camera app as a magnifying glass. A Magnifier on Mac function makes use of the iPhone’s zoom capabilities, with the iPhone’s video feed displaying up on a related Mac by Continuity Digital camera.
Apple confirmed a scholar with imaginative and prescient points utilizing an iPhone to zoom in on a blackboard in a university class, with the feed coming by to her Mac so she might view what was happening whereas additionally taking notes.
Learn Extra
We’ve a complete iOS 26 roundup that covers all the new options which are out there within the replace.