Apple’s latest update to iOS brings a feature that has long been requested by users, significantly changing how you can interact in group chats. But, there’s a catch.
Polling Is Here, But Only for iMessage Users
Apple’s recent release of iOS 26 introduces a much-anticipated feature for its Messages app—poll creation. This new functionality allows users to create and participate in polls directly within their group chats, making it easier to get quick feedback without needing to leave the app. It’s a feature many WhatsApp users are familiar with, and now it’s finally available to iPhone users.
However, there’s a big limitation: you can only create polls in iMessage conversations, meaning if your friends are on Android, they won’t be able to join in the fun. This could be a bit of a drawback for those who regularly chat with Android users, but for iPhone-to-iPhone groups, this is a game-changer.
A Native iOS Feature for Group Chats
Before iOS 26, creating polls in iMessage wasn’t impossible, but it was cumbersome. You had to rely on third-party apps to create polls and share them within chats. Now, Apple has made this feature native to iOS, which means it’s built right into the system and available to everyone using iMessage. This move is aimed at closing the gap between Apple’s messaging services and apps like WhatsApp, which has been offering this feature for a while.
Apple has long been known for its seamless user experience, but with the launch of iOS 26, it’s clear the company is looking to catch up in some areas where its competitors have led. WhatsApp and other messaging apps have been ahead in certain features, and now, with polling, Apple is making a strong push to improve the way users interact in group chats.
Additional Features Coming to iMessage
Along with polling, iOS 26 introduces several other exciting features for iMessage. The most notable addition is automatic translation, which will allow users to translate messages on the fly, making it easier for people who speak different languages to communicate. You’ll also be able to set custom wallpapers in your chats, a fun, personal touch to make your conversations feel more unique.
These additions point to a broader effort by Apple to enhance iMessage’s functionality and bring it closer to the experience found on WhatsApp and other popular messaging platforms. It’s clear that Apple is slowly but surely opening up to a more flexible, cross-platform experience while still keeping the exclusive iMessage features that keep loyal users coming back.
Looking to the Future: Will Apple Open Up More?
Apple’s approach to messaging is slowly shifting. The integration of RCS support in recent months has shown that the company is open to offering more flexibility and compatibility with other devices. While this gesture is small, it’s still a step in the right direction for a company that’s traditionally been very protective of its ecosystem.
Incorporating more features that users enjoy on other platforms, like WhatsApp, could be Apple’s strategy to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive messaging landscape. As much as Apple wants to maintain its unique appeal, the reality is that many users are looking for more universal features that allow them to communicate with everyone, regardless of the device they’re using.
With iOS 26, Apple is giving us a glimpse of how the future of messaging might look—more interactive, more personalized, and, hopefully, more connected across different platforms. If Apple continues to add these much-needed features, it could change how people communicate through their devices on a global scale.
In the meantime, polling is just the start of what’s to come. Let’s hope future updates bring even more exciting features to iMessage, making it a more competitive player in the world of messaging.
