iPhone owners able to send new type of text after surprise Apple change – but lucky WhatsApp fans have it first
A SURPRISE texting upgrade for iPhone owners lets you send a brand new type of text message.
The clever chat tweak was unveiled by Apple today – but WhatsApp fans can already do it.
Apple hosted a special event in California today where it revealed all the new features coming to the iPhone later this year.
The iOS 26 update was unveiled during the company’s Worldwide Developer Conference, and will likely land on your phone in September.
One of the big upgrades was for the iPhone’s default Messages app, which is where you can send iMessages.
And in iOS 26, you’ll finally be able to create and send polls to other people.
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WhatsApp added the ability to send polls back in 2023.
And now Messages will offer the same feature as the chat apps race for texting dominance.
Polls allow you to quiz friends, family and colleagues about whatever you like.
You could ask about a meal choice, restaurant option, holiday destination, or who you think should be booted off the TV show you’re watching.
But that’s not the only WhatsApp feature that Messages is getting.
The Meta-owned app allows you to change the background on your chats – and Messages is following suit.
So in iOS 26, it’ll be possible for you to set custom wallpapers for each of your iMessage conversations.
And they’ll sync with your contacts in the chat so that they can see the backgrounds too.
WhatsApp is a major rival to iMessage, and is used by billions of people around the world.
It’s especially dominant outside of the US, and is particularly popular in Britain.
Apple has made a number of upgrades to its own default iPhone chat app in recent years.
They include the ability for users to both edit and unsend texts that have already been delivered.
You can directly reply to Messages inline, and react to texts with emoji – both recent additions to Messages.
It’s also possible to send “invisible” texts that can only be seen by rubbing on them – a feature that WhatsApp doesn’t yet have.
Sadly not all iPhone models are getting this upgrade.
If you’ve got a very old iPhone then you won’t be able to download and install the new iOS 26 update.
The full list of iOS 26 supported devices includes:
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (3rd gen)
- iPhone SE (2nd gen)
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Several devices have been cut off this year, despite being able to run last year’s iOS 18.
That includes the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max.
Those models – and anything older – won’t be able to get iOS 26, and will miss out on the new Messages upgrades.