iOS 26 introduces Call Screening, a feature designed to reduce spam calls by silencing unknown numbers and asking callers to identify themselves. Users can then decide to accept calls based on transcriptions of the caller’s responses. This feature, currently glitchy, is compatible with iPhone 14 Pro and newer plus iOS 26.
RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2 November 18, 2025 – 3 minutes read time
Overview
Tired of getting spam calls? Well, the newest version of iOS has a feature that should alleviate the annoyance of spam: Call Screening. This useful tool will silence unknown callers and ask them to give their reason for calling, allowing you to decide whether you want to pick up the phone.
Call Screening on iPhone is an iOS 26 feature that silences incoming calls from unknown numbers and prompts the caller to provide their name and reason for calling. Then, your phone will ring and display a transcript of the caller’s answer, allowing you to easily decide whether or not you want to pick up the call. Let’s explore how to stop spam calls with Call Screening.
Key Takeaways
Never worry about spam again since you will always know who is calling.
Avoid picking up the phone without knowing the reason for the call.
System Requirements
This tip was performed on an iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 26.1. It does not work with earlier iOS versions.
Click here to learn how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
First, open the Settings app and select Apps.Refer to the image below:
Selecting the Apps option
Next, find the Phone app in the list or use the search bar. See the image below:
Selecting the Phone app
Now, scroll down to Screen Unknown Callers, and select Ask Reason for Calling. See the following image.
Selecting the Ask Reason for Calling option
Next, when you receive a call from an unknown number, you should see a transcription of the caller’s name and reason for calling. Refer to the image below:
Call Screening message
Note! This feature has been glitchy, so if you experience problems getting Call Screening to work, you are not alone. We expect the feature to become more stable with future iOS updates.
That’s how to turn on Call Screening on the iPhone! Whether you have phone anxiety or you are just tired of receiving spam calls, this feature is sure to come in handy.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.
Quote For the Day
“We’re entering a world where anyone can create, connect, and collaborate—and that’s changing everything.”
– Reid Hoffman, Co-founder of LinkedIn
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The author’s Vietnam eBook on the “Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath” can be accessed from a Kindle device or the Kindle App for a desktop or smartphone. The apps are free.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
The post discusses how to unsend emails on iPhones running iOS 16 or later, allowing users up to 30 seconds to retract a sent email. It outlines steps for using the Mail app and adjusting the “Undo Send Delay” setting for a longer timeframe. This feature helps prevent embarrassment and confusion.
RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2 November 11, 2025 –4 minutes read time
Overview
Have you ever tapped send and immediately realized something was wrong with your email? We have all been there. You can unsend an email on your iPhone if you recognize your mistake within a set time. This can save you a lot of embarrassment and the pain of having to write a follow-up correction email.
If you change your mind after tapping send on an email, iOS 16 and later has your back. If you wish to unsend an email that you sent via the Mail app, you have up to 30 seconds to do so.
Key Takeaways
Learn how to take back an email you wish you had not sent.
Avoid conflict, confusion, or embarrassment by unsending emails.
Change the timeframe you have to unsend emails, from 10, 20, pr 30 seconds.
System Requirements
This tip works on iPhones running iOS 16 or later. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 26.1.
Click here to learn how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
Unsend an Email
First, open the Mail app on your iPhone. Refer to the below image:
Selecting the Mail app
Next, draft an email and select a recipient; you can create a practice one to send to yourself. See the image below:
Drafting an email to myself
Now, tap Send. See the following image:
Sending the email
Next, depending on your iOS version, you will see an Undo Send button at the top or bottom of your phone. Tap it to stop the email from sending. Refer to the image below:
Unsending the email
Now, after you stop the email from sending, your Mail app will open the draft again, so you can edit it and resend if necessary.
Tip: While this feature is new to the Mail app, other email apps, such as Gmail, have a longer unsending period.
If you wait longer than 10 seconds, you will not be able to unsend the email unless you change the Mail Undo Send Delay in your settings. You can unsend an email regardless of whether the recipient has an iPhone or is running the latest software.
Chande Mail Undo Send Delay Time
If you would like to give yourself some more time to unsend an email, you can do so in the settings:
First, open Settings. See the below image:
Selecting Settings
Next, in iOS 18 or later, tap Apps. See the following image:
Selecting Apps
Now, tap Mail. Refer to the image below:
Selecting the Mail app
Next, scroll to the bottom and tap Undo Send Delay. See the image below:
Selecting Undo Send Delay option
Now, you can pick between Off, 10 Seconds, 20 Seconds, and 30 Seconds. Tap one to select it. See the following image:
Selecting a delay of 30 seconds
We like to do 30 seconds because it usually takes us a while to realize we made a mistake, so the more time we have, the better. We wish this could be even longer!
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.
Quote For the Day
“We don’t do things differently. We do different things.”
– Steve Jobs, Visionary Entrepreneur
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The author’s Vietnam eBook on the “Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath” can be accessed from a Kindle device or the Kindle App for a desktop or smartphone. The apps are free.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
Apple’s new Adaptive Power mode in iOS 26 optimizes battery life by dynamically adjusting performance and resource allocation based on usage, unlike the Low Power Mode. It’s easy to enable on iPhone 15 Pro or later, requiring seven days to learn charging habits. This feature balances battery preservation with device performance effectively.
RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2 November 4, 2025 – 4 minutes read time
Overview
One of the best practical uses of Apple Intelligence is the new Adaptive Power mode. Adaptive Power mode, new in iOS 26, allows your phone to adjust its resources and performance to optimize battery life during high-power use. It’s easy to turn on, and then you just let your iPhone do the rest.
Adaptive Power Mode enables your phone to adjust idoing things like automatically dimming your screen or slightly slowing down some apps. Unlike Low Power Mode, this mode does not go into power-saving measures 100% of the time. So, you can toggle this on and leave it running all the time, preserving performance when your phone is not working as hard and helping you prevent battery drain well before the little icon turns red. Let’s explore how to enable Adaptive Power Mode:
Key Takeaways
Find the perfect balance between performance and battery saving.
Allow your phone to adjust its settings based on your current usage.
System Requirements
This tip requires an iPhone 15 Pro or later running iOS 26. If you do not see the Power Mode option, you are using an older iPhone.
Click here to learn how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
Enable Adaptive Power Mode
First. Ipen your Settings app. Refer to the image below:
Selecting Settings
Next, tap Battery. See the image below:
Selecting the Battery option
Now, tap Power Mode. See the following image:
Selecting Power Mode option
Next toggle on Adaptive Power. Refer to the image below:
Selecting Adaptive Power option
Now, tap the back arrow to return to Settings. See the image below:
Saving your setting
Note! Adaptive Power needs at least seven days to learn your charging habits, so it will not engage before then.
Now your iPhone will adjust its performance to optimize your battery when needed. If you want to turn this feature off, just follow the above steps and toggle Adaptive Power off instead.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.
Quote For the Day
When you innovate, you’ve got to be prepared for everyone telling you you’re nuts.”
– Larry Ellison, Co-founder of Oracle
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The author’s Vietnam eBook on the “Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath” can be accessed from a Kindle device or the Kindle App for a desktop or smartphone. The apps are free.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
The Photos app on iPhone allows users to add searchable captions to photos, enhancing organization and retrieval. Captions sync with iCloud if enabled, aiding in finding important images. The process involves selecting a photo, swiping up, and entering a caption. This feature is beneficial for recalling specific details later.
InseRAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2 October 28, 2025 – 4 minutes read time
Overview
Did you know that your Photos app comes with a built-in feature that allows you to add captions to photos on your iPhone? You do not have to download an extra app to add captions, and any captions added to photos on your iPhone will sync to the cloud if iCloud Photo Library is enabled.
Picture captions are handy for searching your iPhone Photo Library and reminding you of certain details when you come across the photo later. For these reasons, it’s best to keep the captions simple but useful—we recommend including notes about a holiday or occasion, if applicable, and any other keywords you may think of later when wanting to search for that photo.
Let’s explore how to caption pictures on iPhone:
Key Takeaways
Captions added to photos on iPhone or iPad help keep track of picture details.
Photo captions are searchable and appear in search results, making important photos easy to find.
Photo captions are automatically applied to your synced iCloud photos.
System Requirements
This tip works on most iPhones, but the screenshots below were captured on an iPhone 14 Pro iOS 26.
Click here to learn how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
Add a Photo Caption
First, open the Photos app. Refer to the image below:
Selecting the Photos app
Next, tap a photo you would like to add a caption to. See the image below:
Selecting a photo
Now, when the photo opens, swipe up on the photo to reveal the Add a Caption area.
Tip:Make sure to place your finger on the photo itself before you swipe up; otherwise, you might accidentally start scrolling through recent photos instead of pulling up the photo information card.
See the following image:
Swipe up to reveal add a caption option
Next, tap Add a Caption. Refer to the image below:
Selecting Add a Caption
Now, type in your photo caption using the keyboard that appears, then tap the check mark in the blue circle to save the caption. See tjhe image below:
Entering y and saving our caption
Next, reopen your Photos app and find your picture. You will see your added caption. See the following image:
Your added caption for the photo
And that’s how you add a caption to an iPhone photo. We especially love being able to access these photo captions across our devices.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.
Quote for the Day
“When you innovate, you’ve got to be prepared for everyone telling you you’re nuts.”
– Larry Ellison, Co-founder of Oracle
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We value your feedback! Was this post helpful? Please share your comments with us. If you have a tech question related to your computer or smart device, feel free to reach out. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life, and be sure to include the device, app, and version you are using. To assist us further, you can also attach screenshots related to your inquiry.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the “Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath” can be accessed from a Kindle device or the Kindle App for a desktop or smartphone. The apps are free.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
This post discusses how to easily enable and disable the Portrait Orientation Lock on iPhones and iPads via the Control Center. It explains the significance of locking screen orientation to prevent unwanted rotations when switching device positions. Tips are provided for troubleshooting issues with screen orientation.
RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2 October 21, 2025 –3 minutes read time
Overview
It’s super convenient to be able to rotate your screen from portrait to landscape mode automatically, as well as lock it later when you need to. Luckily, both the iPhone’s and iPad’s screen rotation lock buttons are easily accessible via the Control Panel. With the Orientation Lock enabled, you can keep your screen from adjusting regardless of whether the device is rotated vertically or horizontally.
What does “portrait orientation lock” mean? The Portrait Orientation Lock button is located in the Control Center. When it is on, your iPhone or iPad will not automatically rotate. If you get annoyed when your iPhone or iPad screen flips and flops around every time you shift positions, this is the tip for you. Let’s explore how to rotate the screen on your iPhone and iPad.
Takeaways
Learn how to quickly access the Portrait Orientation lock to enable or disable automatic screen rotation.
Lock your screen’s orientation as horizontal or vertical so you can read or watch videos on your devices in any position.
System Requirements
This tip was performed on an iPhone 14Pro running iOS 26.
Click here to learn how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
How to Lock/Unlock Screen Orientation
First, from the Home Screen of your iPhone, swipe down from the top right to access the Control Panel.
Note! Your Control Center will likely look different from the one in the screenshots below. We have customized the Control Center and rearranged the icons.
Refer to the image below:
Scrolling down from the top right to access the Control Panel
Next, the Portrait Orientation Lock is the button with a round arrow containing a lock. It will be gray when disabled. This means your iPhone will automatically rotate according to how you are holding it. See the image below:
Selecting the Orientation Lock option
To lock your screen orientation, tap Portrait Orientation Lock. It will be white when enabled. See the following image:
Orientation Lock is enabled
With your iPhone rotation lock enabled, your screen will no longer rotate when you turn your phone sideways unless you use an app that only has landscape mode. Using the iPhone orientation lock will prevent apps that offer both modes from auto-rotating. However, apps that are only available in landscape mode will not switch to portrait mode.
But what does the rotation lock button look like on my iPad? Well, the steps are essentially the same on the iPad. Just open your iPad’s Control Center and look for the circular arrow icon.
If you find your iPhone stuck on landscape mode, try turning the lock on and off until it rotates again. If you keep experiencing problems, restarting your iPhone should help.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.
Quote For the day
“Cybersecurity is much more than an IT topic—it’s a business imperative.”
– Raj Samani, Chief Scientist at Rapid7
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We value your feedback! Was this post helpful? Please share your comments with us. If you have a tech question related to your computer or smart device, feel free to reach out. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life, and be sure to include the device, app, and version you are using. To assist us further, you can also attach screenshots related to your inquiry.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the “Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath” can be accessed from a Kindle device or the Kindle App for a desktop or smartphone. The apps are free.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
The iPhone Camera app includes a helpful Camera Level feature that ensures photos are straight by displaying a leveling indicator on the screen. It automatically adjusts for landscape or portrait orientations and disappears when intentionally off-level. To enable it, access the Camera settings and toggle the Level option on.
RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2 October 14, 2025 – 3 minutes read time
Overview
A cool feature in the Camera app is the Camera Level. What is the level on the iPhone camera? It appears on the iPhone screen as you are taking your photo. The level will help you ensure that the photos you take are as straight as possible without obstructing too much of the picture while you’re taking it.
The level feature is really helpful and simple to use. One of the cool things about it is that it understands whether you’re taking the image in landscape or portrait and will automatically adjust. It also disappears if the photo you are taking is intentionally off-level. Let’s explore how to enable the level on the iPhone camera:.
Takeaways
Always take level photos with the leveler right on the screen in the Camera app.
Instead of straightening your image in the editing process, take the photo straight the first time.
System Requirements
This tip was performed on an iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 18.7.
Click here to learn how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
Using the Camera Level
Durst, open your iPhone, open the Settings app, and tap Camera. Refer to the image below:
Accessing the Camera app
Next, under the Composition section, tap the Level toggle to the ON position.
Note! To experience the grid feature, you can enable the Grid toggle from this screen.
See the image below:
Enabling the Camera Level toggle
Now, open the Camera app. See the following image:
Selecting the Camera app
Next, the Camera Level will appear as a white line.
Note! The level will only appear if you are holding the camera upright; if you are taking a bird’s eye view picture, a cross will appear to help you hold your phone level.
Refer to the image below:
Align your photo
Now, when the corners turn yellow and do not shake, you will know the image is level. Additionally, a slight vibration may indicate that it is level. You can now take your shot. See the image below:
Take your photo
That’s how to adjust the iPhone Camera Level setting! Now you can make sure all your photos are perfectly level.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.
Quote For the Day
“Technology should improve your life, not become your life.”
“Technology should improve your life, not become your life.”
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We value your feedback! Was this post helpful? Please share your comments with us. If you have a tech question related to your computer or smart device, feel free to reach out. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life, and be sure to include the device, app, and version you are using. To assist us further, you can also attach screenshots related to your inquiry.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the “Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath” can be accessed from a Kindle device or the Kindle App for a desktop or smartphone. The apps are free.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
The article explains how to quickly access Apple Wallet from the iPhone Lock Screen using the double-click side button shortcut. This feature allows users to make contactless payments and retrieve passes without needing to pull out a physical wallet. It also requires setup of Apple Pay and verification through Face ID.
RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2 October 7, 2025 – 4 minutes read time
Overview
Did you know you can open Apple Wallet from the iPhone Lock Screen? With this Apple Pay shortcut, you can access your saved cards plus the passes and loyalty cards found in your Apple Wallet quickly, so you can get ready to make a payment or bring up your boarding pass while you wait in line.
Let’s explore how to pull up Apple Pay from your Lock Screen.
Before we learn how to set up and then how to access Apple Wallet from the Lock Screen, make sure you have gone over how to set up Apple Pay and how to change your Apple Pay Payment preferences. When you have this set up, you can pay at any establishment that accepts Apple Pay, without ever pulling out your wallet!
Why You Will Like Rhis Tip
Get quick access to your payment methods for no-contact payment.
Quickly pull up your boarding passes, concert tickets, discount cards, and more.
System Requirements
This tip was performed on an iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 18.6.
Click here to learn how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
Setup the Shortcut
First, open the Settings app. Refer to the image below:
Selecting the Settings app
Next, scroll down and tap Wallet & Apple Pay. See the image below:
Selecting Wallet & Apple Pay option
Now, ensure the toggle next to Double-Click Side Button is enabled. See the following image:
Enable Double-Click Side Button toggle
Next, when you want to access the Wallet app from the Lock Screen on an iPhone, all you need to do is double-click the side button. Refer to the image below:
Access the wallet by a double-click of the Side button
Now, you will need to verify with Face ID. See the image below:
Verify access with Face ID
Next, once unlocked, you will be prompted to hold your phone up to the card reader. See the following image:
Hold phone to card reader to pay
Pro Tip
You do not have to be on the Lock Screen to invoke Apple Pay. This double-click action works anywhere, whether you are scrolling Facebook, responding to a text, or snapping a photo.
Summary
That’s how to access your wallet on the iPhone’s Lock Screen. Your days of fumbling in your purse or physical wallet for your credit cards are over, and you should be ready to use this Apple Wallet shortcut from your Lock Screen at a moment’s notice. Keep in mind that if you do not have a credit or debit card set up for Apple Pay, this will not open the app.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.
Quote For the Day
“If you double the number of experiments you do per year, you’re going to double your inventiveness.”
” – Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon
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We value your feedback! Was this post helpful? Please share your comments with us. If you have a tech question related to your computer or smart device, feel free to reach out. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life, and be sure to include the device, app, and version you are using. To assist us further, you can also attach screenshots related to your inquiry.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the “Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath” can be accessed from a Kindle device or the Kindle App for a desktop or smartphone. The apps are free.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
This post discusses how to use Siri to add items to grocery and other specific lists in the Reminders app hands-free. By enabling voice commands, users can quickly create reminders without opening the app. The post also highlights the importance of keeping organized lists and adapting to technology changes.
RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2 September 30, 2025 –4 minutes read time
Overview
We usually only remember to add salt to our Grocery List when we are using the last of it at dinner. That means, by the time we are writing our shopping list, we have usually forgotten all about it! Fortunately, we can ask Siri to add items to our Grocery List in the Reminders app without interrupting what we are doing! If you want the reminder added to a different list, that’s possible too. You just have to phrase your request a little differently.
Using Siri to add items to specific lists is pretty handy, as it’s faster than manually opening the Reminders app and adding them yourself. We like to use Siri to quickly add items to our Grocery List when we notice we are running low on something. Let’s explore how to use Siri to add reminders to specific lists.
Why You Will Like This Tip
Quickly add items to your Grocery list in Reminders hands-free.
Build your list without having to open the app.
Add items to lists on the go, so you do not forget by the time you’re sitting down to write your shopping list.
System Requirements
This tip was run on an iPhone 14 Pro using iOS 18.6. Click here to learn how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
Using Siri to Add Items to Your Grocery List
First, to type in a response to Siri, you need to enable the feature. Head to:
Settings > Accessibility > Siri
and turn the toggle Type to Siri to the ON position. Refer to the image below:
Setting Type to Siri option
Next, lets enable the Side button to activate Siri. Head to:
Settings> Siri > Talk to Siri
and turn the toggle Press Side Button for Siri to the ON position. See the image below:
Setting Press Side Button for Siri option
Now, activate Siri by saying “Siri”/”Hey Siri,” or by pressing and holding the Side button. Then, simply say or type, “Add [item] to [list name].” For example, we told Siri, “Add eggs to grocery list.” Once the item has been added, a confirmation window will appear. You can tap the confirmation window to open the list and manually make any desired changes. See the following image:
Adding an item to the Grocery List
This also works with more than just grocery lists. If you want the reminder added to a specific Reminders list, instead of saying, “Hey Siri, remind me to grocery shop,” say something like,
“Siri add grocery shopping to my Personal Reminders list,” or
“Add Bass pro shop to my Monthly bills list,” instead.
Note! If the list does not exist, Siri will prompt you to create it. In our example, if the Monthly bills list does not exist, you can make it, and then the item will be added.
Refer to the image below:
Creating a new list and adding an item to it
Next, open your Reminders app to view your Grocery and Monthly bills lists. See the image below:
Viewing your lists
If you have multiple reminders list that you like to keep organized, quickly using Siri to add reminders to a list is a great way to do that.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.
Quote For the Day
“The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads.”
– Jeff Hammerbacher, Data Scientist and Co-founder of Cloudera
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We value your feedback! Was this post helpful? Please share your comments with us. If you have a tech question related to your computer or smart device, feel free to reach out. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life, and be sure to include the device, app, and version you are using. To assist us further, you can also attach screenshots related to your inquiry.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the “Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath” can be accessed from a Kindle device or the Kindle App for a desktop or smartphone. The apps are free.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
The post discusses the evolution and function of iPhone camera lenses since the iPhone 11 Pro, detailing the Wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto lenses. It emphasizes the significance of each lens type, particularly noting the advancements in the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Users can enhance photography with third-party lens options.
RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2 September 23, 2025 – 7 minutes read time
Overview
Since the release of the iPhone 11 Pro in September 2019, seeing three lenses on an iPhone has become the norm, at least for the Pro models. In this post we will explain why iPhones, iPads, and most Android phones have multiple lenses and what each iPhone 16 lens does. Let’s go over all the different iPhone camera lenses!
What to Know
The Wide lens is the main camera lens that every iPhone has.
Most models after the iPhone 11 have an Ultra Wide lens.
Only the Pro models have an iPhone telephoto lens.
Wide Lens Explained
The wide camera lens on the iPhone is the standard lens that has no optical zoom and shows the subject the way you see it with your eyes. Every iPhone that ever existed has had one, but that does not mean that they are all the same.
The Original 2007 iPhone’s wide lens had a resolution of 320×480 and 2 Megapixels with a pixel size of 163 pixels per inch. Today’s most powerful iPhone, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, has a resolution of 2796×1290 and 48 Megapixels with 460 pixels per inch. The iPhone 16e has a new type of camera lens that Apple calls a 2-in-1 48 MP Fusion camera. It’s a single lens that can functions both as a wide lens and a telephoto lens.
Typically, on an iPhone with three cameras (or an iPhone with two cameras), the bottom lens will be the Wide lens. If your device only has one lens, you can buy a third-party telephoto or macro lens for your iPhone, regardless of its model.
Ultra Wide Angle Lenses Explained
Ultra Wide Angle Lens: iPhone SE 2 & SE 3, & 11–16
The Ultra Wide lenscan be used to “zoom out” of the frame before taking the photo. It is sometimes called a fisheye lens. If you are backed against a wall and want the camera to show more of what’s ahead of you, switch to the Ultra Wide lens. The Ultra Wide lens is also the key to taking great macro mode photos.
Keep in mind that the image may appear distorted around the edges when you use this lens. This is sometimes called the fisheye effect. You can turn on Lens Correction in your Camera settings to make it look more natural. You can find an Ultra Wide Angle lens, sometimes simply called the wide-angle lens, on the iPhone SE 2, iPhone SE 3, and any model of iPhone 11 to 16.
When you see an iPhone with two lenses, one will be the regular Wide lens, and the other will be the Ultra Wide lens. On an iPhone with three cameras, the Ultra Wide lens is in the middle. What many people do not realize is that even though the Wide lens has a 0.5x zoom, you can pinch your fingers to zoom between the range of 0.5 and 1x.
Telephoto Lens Explained
Telephoto Lens: Pro Models of iPhone 11–16
What is a Telephoto lens? The iPhone zoom lens, officially known as the Telephoto lens, has a higher zoom and can take close-up photos of your subject; it is useful for Portrait mode photos. The Telephoto lens can help you see faraway objects closer without compromising quality. For example, if your subject is a wild animal and you cannot get physically closer, you might use the Telephoto lens on your iPhone to make it look closer than it actually is.
So which iPhone has a Telephoto lens? Only the Pro models of the iPhone 11 through the 16 have the Telephoto lens. The iPhone 16 Telephoto lens is the top one and has a 5x zoom with a focal length of 120 mm, ƒ/2.8 aperture, as well as a 2x zoom that has a focal length of 48 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, and a digital zoom of up to 25x. What’s confusing is that 5x zoom does not mean that the image will be magnified five times. The magnification depends on the focal length of the lens.
Every iPhone Telephoto lens happens to have a different zoom:
The iPhone 11 has a 2x zoom
The iPhone 12 has a 2.5x zoom
The iPhone 13 has a 3x zoom.
The iPhone 14 has a 2x and a 3x zoom
The iPhone 15 has a 2x and a 5x zoom
The iPhone 16 has a 2x and a 5x zoom
Note! The two telephoto zooms on the Pro models of iPhone 14, 15, and 16 are why Portrait mode on these phones has a different zoom amount, so if you upgrade to a newer model, you’ll notice that it has a different magnification.
iPhone is known for having one of the best phone cameras on the market, thanks to its powerful lenses. When shopping for a new iPhone, you may be wondering which iPhone has the best camera. Currently, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the best resolution and highest zoom, but every iPhone with ‘zoom lenses’ (Pro models with Telephoto lenses) is an excellent option. Plus, it has LiDAR sensors for better low-light photography. While the newest pro model tends to have the best camera, even older models and the SE take great photos, so it really depends on your individual photography and videography needs. Next, find out how to share your pictures with your non-iPhone friends!
FAQ
Can you buy third-party iPhone camera lenses?Yes! Many third-party companies create lenses and other iPhone camera attachments that can be clipped onto your existing lenses. I recommend checking out Sandmarc and Moment lenses in particular. Moment has a great telephoto lens for iPhone (also called a zoom lens for iPhone or a telescoping lens for iPhone).
What is LiDAR? LiDAR sensors accurately measure distances between objects.
How does the iPhone telephoto lens work? The iPhone telephoto lens lets you “zoom in” or take close-up photos of your subjects or a landscape. The slight protrusion of the lenses is what makes it possible for newer iPhones to have up to 5x digital (and 25x optical) zoom.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.
Quote For the Day
“When it comes to technology, curiosity is the new currency.”
– Susan Wojcicki, Former CEO of YouTube
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Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.
We value your feedback! Was this post helpful? Please share your comments with us. If you have a tech question related to your computer or smart device, feel free to reach out. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life, and be sure to include the device, app, and version you are using. To assist us further, you can also attach screenshots related to your inquiry.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the “Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath” can be accessed from a Kindle device or the Kindle App for a desktop or smartphone. The apps are free.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
The Photos app helps users efficiently manage storage by identifying and merging duplicate photos on iPhones. Users can choose to delete lower-quality versions while retaining higher-quality images. The process allows for manual or automatic merging, ensuring that storage is optimized and photos remain organized. If mistakes occur, deleted photos can be restored within 30 days.
RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2 September 16, 2025 – 5 minutes read time
Overview
Duplicate photos take up valuable storage space and make it harder to keep your photos organized. The Photos app has the perfect solution for putting an end to duplicates once and for all!
Understanding the algorithm used by the Photos app to delete duplicate photos can save you the headache of attempting to retrieve a version of a photo you wanted to keep.
Let’s explore how to automatically find duplicate photos on iPhones and merge them to delete the lower-quality image.
Why You Will Like This Tip
Save space and declutter your Photos app by automatically merging duplicate photos.
Keep the higher quality version of duplicated photos.
System Requirements
This tip was performed on an iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 18.6.1.
Click here to learn how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
How to Remove Duplicate Photos
First, open the Photos app . Refer to the image below:
Selecting the Photos app
Next, scroll down until you see Utilities and select Duplicates underneath. If you do not see Duplicates as an option, you can select the Customize & Reorder button by scrolling to the bottom to get this option. See the image below:
Selecting Duplications option
Now, you will see a list of duplicate photos, including the date you took or saved them, and the size of each image. See the following image:
Date and Size of the duplicate photo
Next, you can go through them individually and tap on the one you wish to delete, then tap the Trash icon. Refer to the image below:
Delete a photo via the Trash icon
Now, you can also tap Select in the top right corner. See the image below:
Accessing the Select option
Next, you can either go through and tap the individual photos that you wish to delete so that you have more control over what you are keeping, or you can tap Select All. See the following image:
Accessing the Select All option
Now, if you tap Merge and confirm that you wish to merge the duplicates, it will keep the highest-quality image and relevant metadata while moving the rest to Recently Deleted. Refer to the image below:
Selecting to merge all duplicates
Next, you can also go through individually and tap Merge to manually delete the duplicate. See the image below:
Selecting to merge one duplicate
Now you know how to delete duplicate pictures on iPhones automatically or one by one, if you are worried about deleting something you wanted to keep, you have 30 days to restore it from Recently Deleted folder.
Note! Please keep in mind that the Photos app will identify duplicate photos of various qualities. If you just want to keep the photos on your phone and do not plan on printing them or entering photo contests, a lower-quality image might not be a problem for you. In this case, you may want to delete the higher-quality one because it takes up more storage, but otherwise, you will probably want to keep the higher-quality photo. It is also possible that one of the photos will be a Live photo while the other is not. Finally, it is possible that you edited one by blurring out sensitive information, yet it still shows up next to the unblurred one as a duplicate. If you automatically select them all and merge them, your iPhone will pick the highest-quality image with the most data. So while it should pick the best quality image, which is generally also the unedited version, because doctoring a photo lowers image quality, we cannot be sure that it will always pick the one you prefer. So keep in mind that this process may require some manual editing if you do not do it manually on a case-by-case basis.
Now you know how to find duplicate photos on iPhones and then merge them automatically or manually, all via the Photos app. Merging is a quick way to delete them and doing this helps you quickly clean up your Photos app and enjoy more storage on your phone. Before the iOS16 update, you needed to use a duplicate picture finder app, but all subsequent software updates have included this handy feature.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.
Quote For the Day
“The advancement of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don’t really even notice it.”
– Mark Weiser, Chief Technologist at Xerox PARC
(X) Twitter Info
That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.
Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.
Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.
We value your feedback! Was this post helpful? Please share your comments with us. If you have a tech question related to your computer or smart device, feel free to reach out. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life, and be sure to include the device, app, and version you are using. To assist us further, you can also attach screenshots related to your inquiry.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the “Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath” can be accessed from a Kindle device or the Kindle App for a desktop or smartphone. The apps are free.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
Tech Savvy Life 