iOS 26 did not impress me, however this Apple Musi...

Apple lastly refreshed the design language of all its working techniques, 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 set of recent 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 needed a design refresh on my iPhone, iOS 26 has didn’t wow me up to now. 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 stated, one characteristic that is stored 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 through the keynote, however I didn’t pay a lot consideration to it on the time. After attempting it on my iPhone, although, I might say it is most likely the very best iOS 26 characteristic up to now.

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 neglected features of music apps. Most apps like YouTube Music and Spotify provide primary options like gapless playback, the place songs instantly change with out pause, and crossfade, which fades out one monitor 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 software referred to as AutoMix, which makes use of AI to match the beat of the upcoming monitor and blends it with the at present taking part in tune on the good second, very like a DJ would. Whereas it might sound easy, experiencing it firsthand is one thing else.

As seen within the video above, AutoMix works fairly in a different way in comparison with crossfade. Sure, you’ll sacrifice the final 15–20 seconds of the present tune, however the clean transition to the subsequent monitor 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 offers me chills.

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How are you going to strive AutoMix in Apple Music proper now?

You may want iOS 26 and a appropriate 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 could be by putting in the Developer Beta. Nonetheless, the beta remains to be fairly buggy, and I would not suggest putting in it in your major machine. Apple is anticipated to launch a public beta of iOS 26 quickly, which ought to be extra steady, so you could wish to strive it then.

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

In case you’re working a beta proper now and wish to strive AutoMix, right here’s easy methods to 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 monitor is queued, your iPhone will seamlessly combine into the subsequent one, identical 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 kind of underrated options that would really entice extra subscribers to Apple Music. There isn’t any phrase but on whether or not it is going to come to Android units, for the reason that Apple Music app is accessible on Google’s OS, however I doubt it.

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