Image Playground is Apple’s image generation application that made its debut last year. Though many users might find the cartoonish images it produces in iOS 18 to be of limited value, it’s worth revisiting in iOS 26, as Apple has enhanced its algorithms significantly.
One of the most noticeable improvements in iOS 26 is the way it creates more realistic features in generated images. People depicted in these images now have more natural-looking eyes and varied hair that better resembles real-life samples.
The app allows users to input phrases to generate images in three non-realistic styles. It also offers pre-suggested scenes and props, making it easy to create images featuring friends and family.
The improvements are particularly evident in these personalized images. In the Animation style, for example, iOS 26 has softened facial features, introduced more varied hairstyles, and created better clothing designs.
The backgrounds and poses also reflect a greater degree of creativity, enhancing the overall realism. This trend continues in the Sketch and Illustration styles, which now better capture facial expressions and colors while providing more engaging backgrounds.
Moreover, Image Playground has enhanced its ability to convey emotions. Though the modifier “sobbing” does not directly generate tears, the overall emotional expression is clearer than in previous versions.
A new “Expressions” menu offers various emotional options such as happy, mad, and shocked. The integration of ChatGPT capabilities further elevates Image Playground in iOS 26.
Users now have access to styles like anime and watercolor, allowing for a broader range of image generation. The app can also mimic various artistic styles and create realistic images based on user requests.
Finally, iOS 26 introduces the ability to create Genmoji directly within Image Playground. This feature allows users to customize emojis using a combination of existing emojis or text descriptions, with the end result seamlessly integrated into Messages.
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