iOS 26 did not impress me, however this Apple Music characteristic received me over

Apple lastly refreshed the design language of all its working programs, together with iOS, at WWDC 2025. The corporate unveiled its new Liquid Glass design, introducing a visible theme with transparency and glass-like shine results. However that wasn’t all — iOS 26 additionally comes packed with new features underneath the hood, together with upgrades to the Messages app, a redesigned Cellphone app, and a collection of latest Apple Intelligence options.

I have been utilizing the iOS 26 beta for fairly a while now, and whereas I anticipated the brand new design and flashy options to impress me, particularly since I’ve lengthy wished a design refresh on my iPhone, iOS 26 has did not wow me to date. The early construct is riddled with bugs and fairly unstable, which is to be anticipated from a beta, however I hope Apple improves issues in upcoming developer releases.

That mentioned, one characteristic that is saved me hooked on the brand new iOS model is surprisingly discovered within the Apple Music app, and it is referred to as AutoMix. Apple demoed the characteristic briefly throughout the keynote, however I didn’t pay a lot consideration to it on the time. After making an attempt it on my iPhone, although, I would say it is most likely the very best iOS 26 characteristic to date.

AutoMix in Apple Music is iOS 26’s standout characteristic

It is like having an AI DJ in your pocket

Tune transitions are one of the crucial ignored points of music apps. Most apps like YouTube Music and Spotify supply fundamental options like gapless playback, the place songs instantly swap with out pause, and crossfade, which fades out one observe whereas fading within the subsequent.

With iOS 26, Apple has launched a brand new characteristic within the Music app that modifications this. It is an AI-powered instrument referred to as AutoMix, which makes use of AI to match the beat of the upcoming observe and blends it with the at the moment enjoying music on the excellent second, very like a DJ would. Whereas it could sound easy, experiencing it firsthand is one thing else.

As seen within the video above, AutoMix works fairly in another way in comparison with crossfade. Sure, you’ll sacrifice the final 15–20 seconds of the present music, however the clean transition to the following observe creates a surprisingly immersive expertise.

I have been utilizing this characteristic on my iPhone ever since putting in iOS 26. Whereas there are some bugs, and AutoMix doesn’t kick in each single time, when it does, it genuinely provides me chills.

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How will you strive AutoMix in Apple Music proper now?

You may want iOS 26 and a suitable iPhone to strive it

Sadly, since AutoMix is a part of the brand new Apple Music options introduced with iOS 26, the one approach to strive it proper now’s by putting in the Developer Beta. Nonetheless, the beta continues to be fairly buggy, and I would not advocate putting in it in your main machine. Apple is predicted to launch a public beta of iOS 26 quickly, which ought to be extra secure, so chances are you’ll wish to strive it then.

The beauty of AutoMix, although, is that despite the fact that Apple advertises it as an “AI” characteristic, it is not restricted to solely iPhones that assist Apple Intelligence (iPhone 16 series and iPhone 15 Professional). AutoMix shall be out there on all iOS 26-compatible iPhones when the replace launches in its secure model later this 12 months.

For those who’re working a beta proper now and wish to strive AutoMix, right here’s how one can allow it in your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down, faucet Apps, then head to Music.

   

3. Faucet Tune Transitions and choose AutoMix.

   

Now, if you play music in your iPhone and a observe is queued, your iPhone will seamlessly combine into the following one, similar to a DJ.

With each iOS replace, Apple brings new options to its first-party apps, and despite the fact that AutoMix did not get a lot hype initially, it appears like a type of underrated options that might truly entice extra subscribers to Apple Music. There isn’t any phrase but on whether or not it is going to come to Android gadgets, for the reason that Apple Music app is accessible on Google’s OS, however I doubt it.

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