Since its debut in 2007, the iPhone has revolutionized the mobile telecommunications industry, establishing new benchmarks for design and functionality. With each iteration, Apple has introduced an array of groundbreaking features and innovative tweaks, earning the company a place at the forefront of mobile technology.
From the original iPhone’s intuitive interface and multi-touch screen to the powerful processors, advanced camera technology, and 5G capabilities of later models, the iPhone has continuously evolved to meet shifting consumer demand and needs. In this article, we look at some of the most sought-after iPhone features.
1. Visual Look Up
Available on iOS 15 and later versions, Visual Look Up enables users to learn about nature via their iPhone camera, allowing them to find out the names of animals or plants in a few swipes and taps. Simply snap a photo of the subject, open it in the Photos app, then swipe up. iPhone then presents the option of looking up the plant or animal, returning likely matches and similar images. Since its debut in 2022, the feature’s scope has been significantly expanded, offering iPhone owners the option to Look Up Artwork and Look Up Food by swiping up, while living creatures have gained their own categories, such as Look Up Mammal, etc.
2. Create Custom Ringtones
iPhone users no longer need a Mac or the GarageBand app to create their own ringtones. In Files, simply tap on an M4A or MP3 under 30 seconds, then hit Share, selecting Use as Ringtone. iOS 26 automatically drops the audio clip into Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtones, allowing you to either set it system-wide or assign it to a specific contact. The same option also appears in the share sheet for Voice Memos.
3. Turn Off Saving Photos Taken in iMessage
You are unlikely to need—or want—to save every single photo you take. This is particularly true for images captured within iMessage, since it is frequently used for exchanging images of mundane things like items needed from the grocery store. These unwanted images can clog up your photo library, taking up valuable space. To avoid this, you can simply go to Settings > Camera, scrolling all the way down to the bottom of the menu items, toggling off “Save Captures to Photo Library”, ensuring that your phone no longer saves photos taken inside of the messaging app.
4. Call Screening
If you receive a call from an unknown number, Call Screening asks the caller for their name and reason for calling, relaying that information to you and allowing you to decide whether to pick up or not. You can also request further details from the caller before you decide to pick up. There is also an option to silence all calls from unknown numbers if you prefer.
5. Song Recognition
For phones operating on iOS 14.2 and later, it is possible to identify earworms and discover new songs without downloading an app, since Shazam Music Recognition is now built into iOS, with a handy Shazam button integrated in the Control Center for easy access. You can simply open the Control Center by swiping down on the top-right corner of the iPhone screen. From here, tap the + in the top-left corner of the screen, tapping Add a Control, then hitting the Recognize Music button. The next time you want to identify a song, simply open the Control Center, tap Shazam, and your iPhone will identify the song in seconds.
6. Visited Places in Maps
Whether you want to remember the location of a great restaurant or retrace the route of a weekend getaway, the Visited Places feature in Apple Maps makes this simple, maintaining a record of all the places you have visited, complete with dates and other details. To view the list, go to Maps > Profile Icon > Places > Visited Places. iOS provides you with a private and locally stored list that only you can access.
7. Timer Control
Available on iOS 11 and later versions, Timer Control enables you to start a countdown and set a timer without hunting for the clock. To access this handy feature, swipe down from the top-right to open the Control Center and tap the Timer button, which appears as a clock face with one hand pointing at 11. If the Timer button is not there, you can add it by hitting the plus sign and selecting the Timer feature. Tapping and holding the Timer button prompts a slider to appear on the screen. You can simply move your finger up and down the slider to set the right duration, with increments varying from minutes to hours as you move up the scale. Even faster still, this feature can be enabled by simply saying “Hey Siri, set a timer for X minutes”. The Timer Control feature can be used to set timers for as little as a minute up to two hours.