The iPhone 17 introduces numerous new features and changes with iOS 26. As a new iPhone user, I would like to share my thoughts on the most noteworthy updates compared to other devices I’ve seen, and how they might influence anyone deciding whether to upgrade now or wait. In this review, I’ll cover the new glass effect for app icons, camera improvements and controls, color options, and the customizable action button.
One popular new feature that people, including me, like is the glass effect (also known as liquid glass design) in iOS 26. This new feature offers translucent-looking apps and widgets on the home screen. The system also includes tinted-translucent and dark modes. You can adjust the opacity of the app icons. When you change the look of the icons, the background automatically switches to light or dark mode based on the contrast with the apps. You can adjust the mode manually if you don’t like their suggestion. I use this a lot since I generally don’t prefer the default color of the apps because they look too vibrant, so I use this feature all the time.
The upgraded camera quality is almost immediately noticeable. Compared to other iPhones, this camera so far has amazing quality. You can zoom in up to 10x and zoom out to 0.5x. All iOS 26 phones feature a dual camera that uses both the front and rear cameras simultaneously, mainly for vlogging or reaction videos. Both the iPhone 16 and 17 include the camera control button, which was first introduced in the iPhone 16. By clicking it once (or twice if you’ve changed it in the settings), you can open up the camera app. People see others using the button to perform controls and customizations when taking photos, such as depth, exposure, tone, styles, and zoom, by swiping their finger on the button to switch from each control. I thought this did work, and it does, but when I first got the phone and hadn’t adjusted the settings for camera controls, I was unable to use the controls with the button. You have to manually turn it on to access those functions.
They also added the action button feature. It’s the same button as the silent mode button, but now you can customize it in settings to perform functions like recording, translation, silencing notifications, and more. I use it to record and put all other controls in the Control Center (also known as the ‘quick settings’ panel on Android). Whenever I find myself using a particular control more often, I switch that to the action button.
These are the general updates I like the most, especially the glass effect feature I personally think makes the phone look visually more appealing. Some people may say it makes the apps look harder to read or too translucent. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference, and there are other phones that may already offer similar features. Despite that, this review is based on comparison to past iPhones, not all devices. Overall, this update is a noticeable step forward from the iPhone 16, with new features beyond just longer-lasting battery life and improved camera quality.
