Report: Apple's new features for Messages and Phone apps revealed ahead of WWDC 2025

Piles of rumors and speculations about Apple's upcoming UI overhaul across its operating systems have been released, though only some of them have given us a sneak peek into Apple's next OS for iPhones, dubbed iOS 26. However, a new report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman gives us a clear idea of what to expect from the upcoming iOS 26 and its various applications.

As the report reads, the iOS UI overhaul also affects the Messages and Phone apps, two of Apple customers' most used applications. According to Gurman, the Messages app on iOS 26 allows users to create polls and set a background image for a specific conversation.

Interestingly, the background image set by one side of the conversation will be visible to the other side as well. With the recent changes to its Messages app, Gurman says Apple aims to compete with Meta's WhatsApp and other messaging platforms. He writes:

"The two main changes are the ability to create polls and set a background image. The backgrounds will sync between devices, including those of other users, meaning that you and the people you are chatting with have the same look."

However, the scope of changes on the Phone app is limited. Gurman says the Phone app in iOS 26 gets a new view that combines favorite contacts, recent calls, and voicemails into a single, scrollable window. Of course, the new design is optional for users, and they can still opt for the legacy interface.

Changes to the Messages and Phone apps on iOS 26 focus on providing a personalized experience to iPhone users and moving them away from rival messaging apps.

Apple's 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off on June 9. The Cupertino tech giant is gearing up to unveil its revamped operating systems with a glass-like UI and new names, representing 2025-2026 release cycle.

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