Apple updates Photos app in iOS 26 with new tabbed interface and spatial photo features

In response to widespread criticism of the Photos app redesign in iOS 18, Apple is rolling out significant improvements in iOS 26, notably reintroducing a tabbed interface. The update was revealed during the WWDC 2025 keynote, where Apple’s Senior VP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, acknowledged user feedback, stating that many missed the old tab layout. The Photos app now includes separate tabs for ‘Library’ and ‘Collections’. The Library tab offers a more intuitive way to scroll through recent photos, while the Collections tab organizes favorites and albums, and enables broader search functionality.

This update addresses the backlash iOS 18 received for centralizing all photo functions into a single page, which led some developers to offer third-party alternatives. Additionally, iOS 26 introduces a new spatial photo feature, allowing 2D photos to be transformed into 3D, inspired by the Vision Pro headset. This can now be experienced from the iPhone’s Lock Screen.

The Camera app has also been redesigned, making commonly used modes — photo and video — more accessible, with swipe gestures allowing users to toggle between features like Portrait or Cinematic Mode. Key settings such as flash or resolution are now easier to access. These updates aim to improve usability and enhance the multimedia experience for iPhone users.