📲 Apple, OpenAI & WhatsApp: The Biggest Tech Updates This Week

Friday, 9 January 2026 | Join Free

In this issue, you'll find:

iOS 26 Adoption Lags Well Behind Apple’s Expectations
Apple’s Multispectral Camera Could Redefine iPhone Photography
OpenAI Introduces ChatGPT Health With Apple Health Integration
WhatsApp Rolls Out New Tools for Better Group Chat Control
Download Winter iPhone Wallpapers

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iOS 26 Adoption Lags Well Behind Apple’s Expectations 📉

Despite months on the market, iOS 26 adoption remains surprisingly low, with most iPhone users choosing not to update. Data shows only around 15–16% of active iPhones are running iOS 26 versions, while over 60% still stick with iOS 18, a stark contrast to earlier iOS rollout trends.

Sluggish Upgrade Numbers: Analytics reveal that iOS 26.1 and 26.2 combined barely crack double digits, and the original 26.0 version is almost negligible - A big dip compared to past version adoption curves.

Design Backlash & Stability Preference: A major reason many users aren’t upgrading is Liquid Glass, Apple’s bold visual overhaul. While intended to modernize the interface, it’s drawn criticism for clutter and readability issues. At the same time, iOS 18 continues to receive security updates, making users less eager to switch.

User Frustration & Downgrade Lock-outs: Critiques on social platforms point to frustrations like battery drain, UI changes in core apps, and Apple’s refusal to allow downgrades, discouraging even adventurous upgraders.

Bottom Line: iOS 26 hasn’t failed, Nut it hasn’t inspired confidence. Until Apple addresses design concerns and perceived instability, many users will likely remain on the familiar iOS 18.

Visit iGeeksBlog for the full story

Apple’s Multispectral Camera Could Redefine iPhone Photography 📸

Apple is reportedly exploring multispectral camera sensors that could significantly upgrade how future iPhone models capture images. The technology goes beyond standard RGB sensors, potentially unlocking new levels of detail, color accuracy, and environmental awareness.

What Are Multispectral Sensors?: Unlike current smartphone cameras that capture visible light only, multispectral sensors can detect additional wavelengths such as infrared and ultraviolet. This allows the camera to gather richer data that isn’t visible to the human eye.

Smarter Photos, Better Accuracy: According to the report, this tech could dramatically improve skin tone accuracy, texture detail, and object separation, especially in challenging lighting conditions. It may also enhance computational photography and AR experiences.

More Than Just Photography: Beyond photos, Apple’s multispectral ambitions could benefit health tracking, spatial computing, and machine vision, aligning closely with the company’s long-term AI and mixed-reality goals.

Bottom Line: If Apple brings multispectral sensors to iPhone, it wouldn’t just be a camera upgrade it could redefine how iPhones see and understand the world, pushing mobile photography and sensing well beyond today’s limits.

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OpenAI Introduces ChatGPT Health With Apple Health Integration 🩺

Apple may be exploring ways to integrate ChatGPT with Apple Health, hinting at a future where users can better understand their health data through AI-powered insights. The idea centers on turning complex metrics into simple, conversational guidance.

How ChatGPT Fits In: The report suggests ChatGPT could analyze data already stored in Apple Health such as activity, sleep, and vitals and explain trends in plain language. Instead of scrolling through charts, users could simply ask questions and get context-aware answers.

Smarter Health Insights: This integration could help users spot patterns, understand lifestyle impacts, and receive personalized suggestions based on long-term data. It’s positioned as an informational assistant, not a replacement for medical professionals.

Privacy Still Comes First: Apple’s strict privacy stance remains central. Any AI-powered health features would likely rely on on-device processing and user consent, ensuring sensitive health data stays protected.

Bottom Line: ChatGPT inside Apple Health could make health tracking far more approachable, transforming raw data into meaningful insights, while still keeping privacy at the core of the experience.

Visit iGeeksBlog for the full story

WhatsApp Rolls Out New Tools for Better Group Chat Control 💬

WhatsApp has rolled out a new set of group chat features designed to reduce clutter and improve coordination in large conversations. The updates focus on clarity, expression, and keeping everyone on schedule.

Member Tags Add Role Clarity: With Member Tags, users can now assign custom roles to participants within each group. These labels help identify who’s who making it easier to understand each member’s role in fast-moving or crowded chats.

Text Stickers Make Messages Stand Out: Text Stickers let users instantly turn messages into stylized sticker graphics. These can be saved into personal sticker packs, adding personality and emphasis without digging through existing sticker libraries.

Event Reminders Keep Groups on Track: Event Reminders allow users to set alerts for shared events in group chats. Whether it’s joining a call or arriving on time, reminders help ensure important moments aren’t missed.

Bottom Line: With Member Tags, Text Stickers, and Event Reminders, WhatsApp is making group chats clearer, more expressive, and easier to manage especially for large and active groups.

Visit iGeeksBlog for the full story

Wallpapers of the Week

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