The Camera app got a fresh look in iOS 26, adopting the same translucent liquid glass aesthetic seen throughout the system. But it’s not just a visual update – Apple also simplified the layout to reduce clutter and give more space to your viewfinder, making room for a taller, less obstructed preview window. It’s cleaner, but you might find certain features harder to reach. Let’s see why.
At first glance, it might look like many of the classic camera modes have vanished. Only Video and Photo are visible in the carousel, which could cause a moment of panic if you regularly switch to other modes like Portrait or Slow Motion. But don’t worry – swipe left or right and the full range of modes will reveal themselves.
As for all those extra options like flash, timer, and exposure – they haven’t been removed, just tucked away in liquid glass pop-out menus. To access them, tap the menu button in the top-right corner or tap the name of the active mode at the bottom of the screen. For example, if you’re in Photo mode, tapping the Photo label brings up settings specific to that mode. In Cinematic, you’ll get a different, contextual menu tailored to that mode.
There are still a few quick toggles visible at the top of the screen. From left to right, you’ll find buttons for switching between shared and personal photo libraries, adjusting format and resolution, toggling night mode, and controlling the flash.
One last detail that’s easy to miss: there’s a button nestled in the top-right corner of the status bar for adjusting Photographic Styles. Tap it and you’ll get access to sliders for tone and warmth, giving you more control over the look of your images before you even press the shutter.