It’s no secret that Apple has a lot in the pipeline right now. On the hardware front, the company is rumored to launch new Macs and iPads, along with a new Apple TV, early next year. Looking further ahead, Apple’s first foldable iPhone and the iPhone 18 Pro might arrive in fall 2026.
But, of course, it’s not just hardware that Apple is busy with. On the software front, the company recently introduced one of its most significant iOS updates in years with iOS 26, bringing a host of new features alongside a substantial design overhaul in the form of Liquid Glass.
While Apple’s upcoming hardware often steals the spotlight, its software updates can be just as exciting. Thanks to a leaked iOS 26 build reported by MacRumors and MacWorld, we now have a clearer idea of what Apple might be planning for next year. With that in mind, here are the leaked iOS 26 features I’m most excited about.
Health+
Apple might be overhauling its Health app in 2026
First up is Health+. It’s been mentioned in this leaked iOS 26 build, and, based on Bloomberg’s reporting earlier this year, Health+ could be a total overhaul of Apple’s Health app, including a new AI-powered health coach.
While the Health app will remain free to use, Health+ might reportedly be a paid subscription, with its AI health coach able to analyze your health data to provide “tailor-made recommendations to improve your health.” So if you’re into Apple’s fitness initiatives, Health+ is an iOS 26 feature to look out for. According to MacRumors, it’s listed in the leaked build with a spring 2026 date.
Siri’s Apple Intelligence upgrade
Apple is set to finally overhaul Siri with AI features next year
Of course, one of the most discussed features for iOS 26 next year is Siri. Apple famously unveiled its revamped Siri, powered by Apple Intelligence, at WWDC 2024. Earlier this year, Apple delayed it until 2026, with an Apple spokesperson saying it’s “going to take us longer than we thought to deliver” on Siri’s AI features, which include the assistant being more conversational and having more “awareness of your personal context.”
In the leaked iOS 26 build, the updated version of Siri is reportedly marked as spring 2026, indicating Siri could be ready to launch with iOS 26.4. This aligns with what Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported earlier this year, stating that Apple has an “internal target date” of spring 2026 for its revamped Siri and its iOS 26.4 update. Siri is also rumored to be powered by a custom large language model (LLM) based on Google Gemini.
New credit card autofill
Making purchases in third-party apps will soon be easier
The leaked iOS 26 build also points to a new autofill system in development that would let you save your credit card information and automatically fill it in across third-party apps — similar to how iCloud Keychain already saves and autofills account credentials when you log into websites and apps (via MacWorld).
While some third-party apps support Apple Pay or let you scan your card to enter details manually, iOS currently has no credit card autofill feature, so adding one would be genuinely helpful. MacRumors says the feature could arrive in fall 2026, while MacWorld says it was referenced as part of iOS 26.4 in the spring, making its exact release timing unclear.
Live captions expansion
More accessibility updates are also possibly coming
Live Captions is an accessibility feature on iOS that transcribes audio from apps or in-person spoken conversations in real time, helping people with hearing impairments. In the leaked iOS 26 build there are reportedly references to the feature being expanded to more languages, and it might be announced at WWDC 2026.
In addition to live captions, there’s also reportedly mention of a new tilt-to-scroll feature, a new version of Background Sounds (which plays ambient noises to help people focus), and new Apple Watch controls for Live Listen, including a “Rewind 30 seconds” feature.
Apple Wallet payment notifications
A friendly reminder
I’m a big fan of Apple Wallet, so naturally my eyes were drawn to these two references to it in the leaked iOS 26 build, which point to “BankConnectUpcomingPaymentNotification” and “AppleCardUpcomingPaymentNotification” (via MacRumors).
Based on the names of these code strings, Apple Wallet may soon be able to send notifications for upcoming payments on your bank card or Apple Card, making it easier to stay on top of bills. These changes are reportedly tagged as part of WWDC 2026, suggesting we could hear about them in June for either iOS 26 or iOS 27.
App updates
Apple could be updating Freeform, Journal, and the Photos app
Besides Apple Wallet, several other apps in the leaked iOS 26 build are set to receive updates. Freeform, for example, will reportedly gain folders to make organizing boards easier and possibly sync with iCloud (via MacWorld). The Journal app is also mentioned, with a new feature called “follow-up prompts” in the works.
The Photos app could see new features in 2026, including “Connections” and “Shared Collections,” possibly arriving later in the year. Podcasts may also get updates, such as a button to translate transcripts and the ability to tap a translated paragraph to have it read aloud.
Sports tier for Apple TV
More sports content could be on the way
Finally, turning to Apple TV, the leaked iOS 26 build references a new “Sports Tier.” It’s unclear what this will ultimately include, but it suggests Apple may be looking to further expand its sports offerings on the platform.
Apple’s sports ambitions are well-known, with its ongoing Friday Night Baseball partnership with MLB and its deal to bring Major League Soccer (MLS) games to Apple TV in 2026. A new “Sports Tier” or additional paid sports service would fit into that strategy.
The feature is reportedly set to launch in spring 2026 as part of iOS 26.4, so we’ll have to wait a bit longer for more details.
