iOS 26 gives the camera app of the iPhone an upgrade that I have waited for years
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- Apple has just announced a new iOS 26 software update for iPhones
- One of the big changes is a redesign of the camera app from Apple
- New streamlined photo and video modes to make it easier to use
The camera app of the iPhone has been treated to a generous portion of new functions in recent years Photographic Unpleasant Apple Proraw. But one thing Apple Is not possible, organizing all these functions in a way that really makes sense – so far, thanks iOS 26.
Now, instead of a confusing row of eight functions above the shutter button, which I often accidentally scroll by accident, Apple cuts that first menu into two things – photo and video.
Apple says it did this, because they are of course the two most used cameramodi and that has happened for a long time. As soon as you are in one of those two modes, simply wipe to the left or right to reveal the related modes.
In the video mode, for example, Swiping brings up both the SLO-MO and the film mode-that is useful, because ‘Cinematic’ can be interpreted as a video or still-mode, but actually refers to Apple’s computational bokeh during video.
Perhaps even better, wipes up, reveals a menu in ‘liquid glass’ (above) that is much clearer than the current confusing mess of mysterious icons. Now you get names in addition to those modes, such as styles (for photographic styles) and aspect for the aspect ratio. It all looks like a small but very welcome improvement.
Finally, Apple has also connected the Video frame and resolution menu. On iOS 18 they are in the right corner of the app and you will not get a drop -down menu to view the options for cycling. But in iOS 26 a new frosted glass window shows you all frame rate options for each resolution.
It is an improvement, but where is the Pro mode?
This iOS 26 renewal for the camera app means that some functions are a little more out of sight than before, but I think that’s fine. It felt more and more messy and messy, where Apple slowly adds functions to an interface that is not designed to accommodate so many options.
But there is still one thing missing for me. I hoped that iPhones might get a professional photo mode now a few years, But unfortunately there is still no sign of an in iOS 26. Apple has shown signs to move in that direction with video, but only with Separate apps such as Final Cut Pro for iPad.
To be honest, Apple has added many pro-friendly photo functions to iOS, many of which are hidden in the menu settings. I have gathered a lot of those tweaks in my guide to do Set your iPhone 16 to take great photos in 2025.
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But another simple solution for hiding the mess of the camera app would be to have another switch that claps it between ‘point-and-shoot’ and ‘Pro’ modes. The iOS 26 re-design looks like a solid point-and-shoot experience, but a pro mode (perhaps assigned to the action button) can quickly change into something like a Fujifilm X100VI By filling extra controls, such as manual focus or focus spikes.
That would be my ideal setting of the camera app, making the iPhone two cameras in one in one. But it is possible that Apple is worried about ‘Sherlocking’ Best Camera -Apps Such as ProCamera, Halide or Camera Obscura, which can be seen as a faux pass, given that many of these have played in its annual App Store Awards.
(Sherlocking is the word of the Apple community for when a popular app is killed by Apple that offers the same functionality built into his software, named after a tool called Sherlock that was overshadowed by the spotlight function of the Mac.)
Still, although Apple does not have a pro -mode in its camera app this time, the iOS 26 makeover is still a welcome makeover -over that it should take photos on iPhones that are compatible with the new operating system A more fun (and less stressful) experience.
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