If you own an Android or iPhone, get ready — your device is about to look and feel very different.
Whether you’re rocking an iPhone 11 or later, or using a recent Galaxy or Pixel, you’re due for a major software upgrade.
So, are iOS 26 and Android 16 trailblazers or just swapping homework?
Let’s dive into it.
New Styles: A Visual Shake-Up
| Feature | iOS 26 | Android 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Style Name | Liquid Glass | Material 3 Expressive |
| Visual Theme | Transparent icons, layered UI | Natural, springy animations |
| Reactions Online | Mixed (Some say it’s like Vista) | Mostly positive for uniqueness |
Apple says: “Apps and system experiences are more expressive and delightful.”
Google says: “Material 3 Expressive is about making your device feel unique to you.”
Our Take: Both are going bold with their new aesthetics. Whether they delight or confuse depends on your taste.
Notifications: Smarter, Not Just Prettier
Live Activities and Real-Time Notifications
- iOS already has Live Activities — you can track food delivery, ride-sharing, etc., in real time from your lock screen.
- Android 16 is catching up with similar real-time updates built into notifications.
Grouped Notifications
- Android 16 will now group notifications from the same app (finally!).
- No more 15 separate Gmail pings — just one clean stack.
“Google copies Apple on this — and we’re all happy about that.”
Phone Calls: Smarter Screens & Call Helpers
Hold Assist (iOS 26)
- iPhone can now wait on hold for you
- It mutes hold music and notifies you when a human returns
- Sounds a lot like Google’s Hold for Me
Call Screening
| Feature | iOS 26 | Samsung/Google |
|---|---|---|
| Call Pickup | Automatic | Manual |
| Asks for Name | ✅ | ✅ |
| Asks Reason | ✅ | ✅ |
Verdict: If Apple’s version works like the demo, it’s a win.
AI Is Everywhere (Like It or Not)
Apple introduces Apple Intelligence in iOS 26:
- Live translation of text, audio, and video
- Captioning in FaceTime
- AI-generated summaries and responses
Google and Samsung offer:
- Galaxy AI with call translation
- Pixel’s Live Translate
Android 16 also features:
Expressive Captions:
- Yells are in CAPS
- Sounds like [cheering] are bracketed
- Emotion in words like GOAL! are preserved
Rapid-Fire Feature Comparison
| Feature | iOS 26 | Android 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Search | Visual Intelligence (like Circle to Search) | Circle to Search (existing) |
| Desktop Mode (Tablet) | New in iPadOS 26 | Available via Samsung/Google |
| Custom Emoji Mixing | Yes | Yes |
“Everyone is still copying Xerox. Go watch Pirates of Silicon Valley for more.”
Final Thoughts
So — are iOS 26 and Android 16 innovators or copycats?
Answer: Both.
They’re borrowing, remixing, and building on each other’s ideas — and that’s not a bad thing. The result? Better, smarter, and more expressive phones for all of us.
Let us know in the comments:
What do you think about the updates? And also, what’s your favorite smoothie? Drop a custom emoji and tell us.