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I started getting questions from friends, family members, and strangers about iPhone 17, iOS 26 And even new AirPods Pro 3. Maybe I look like a very knowledgeable guy, or they see me as Bright orange iPhone 17 Pro And they are forced to ask. And now I’m fielding inquiries like, “How do you do that thing with AirPods that you saw on TikTok?” and “What’s a good iPhone feature I should try?” After testing Apple’s new phone and accessories over the past couple of months, I’ve had my share of it Hidden tips And tricks.
These tips may not be new to everyone or exclusive to the iPhone 17 line (most require iOS 26), but they’re the less obvious tips I use the most.
1. Photos app wallpaper suggestions
Your iPhone’s lock screen has become more customizable since iOS 16.
Over the years, Apple has given the lock screen and home screen a major visual overhaul. There are endless options to customize the look of your apps, lock screen clock, and add triple spatial effects to bring your wallpaper to life.
However, one of my favorite recent discoveries is the wallpaper suggestions in the Photos app, which identifies wallpaper-worthy images from your library and crops them to fit your screen. There is also a 3D animation effect that can be added to add some pizzazz to your wallpaper. Above is a picture of my phone with one of my cats in the background (from the suggestions), for example. I’m pretty pleased that her head seems to be popping out of the corner of the screen as if to say, “Are you unlocking your phone?!”
If you don’t see Background Suggestions in the Photos app, go to SettingsThen to photoAnd check it out View featured content It is enabled. Then, if you don’t want to see background suggestions, you can turn them off here. But why?
2. Use elemental images to make the moon pop
Below are three images of the Moon taken within seconds of each other. The left and middle images are JPEG images, with the left image exposed to the moon and the middle image exposed to buildings. The photo on the right was taken as a raw photo and later edited to balance the exposure of both.
This tip is for you, iPhone Pro owners and is an easy way to ensure you get a great photo of a high-contrast scene. Consider a bright subject in a dark environment, like the Mineral Point Opera House’s lit-up marquee at night, or a dark subject in a bright environment, like the black cat wallpaper captured from my previous tip.
Here the bright lights of the Mineral Point Opera House contrast with the dark night.
Last week, there was a full moon over San Francisco, and I loved the way Karl’s mist—yes, San Francisco’s marine layer has a name—rolled through the moonlight. However, when I tried to take a photo of it, my phone exposed the image to the bright moon, making everything else appear dark. When I tried to expose the image to the buildings in the background, the entire moon turned white.
Instead, I turned on the raw photo setting in the camera app and got a great shot of the moon. After that, I was able to then adjust it within the default Photos app to improve shadow details in the dark background and highlights in the moon. The result: both the moon and the buildings looked exactly the way I wanted. You can also use a third-party app to edit raw images.
Raw files contain more image data than JPEG or HEIC files, allowing you to make more extensive adjustments after the photo is taken. I don’t take raw images all the time because the file sizes are large: the raw image of the moon is 13.6MB compared to the JPEG I took which was 1.5MB.
To try this, you first need to turn on the primary switch for raw files. Go to Settingsthen camera Menu. He chooses Formats And run ProRAW and resolution control. I use JPEG Lossless to ProRAW format.
Once enabled, open the Camera app. If you’re on iOS 26, you should see a button that says JPEG, here or Raw On the upper left side. Tap it to see the formatting and resolution controls. Raw images can be captured at 48MP on the iPhone 17 Pro.
3. The AirPods Pro 3 case is the button
The AirPods Pro 3 case is the button.
Apple recently launched AirPods Pro 3. They come with many neat features, including the ability to check your heart rate and Translate conversations in real time. But when I first went to pair them with my phone, I was confused: Where is the pairing button?
Only me? Maybe not.
To pair your AirPods Pro 3, simply keep them in the case and open the lid. It should automatically pair with any Apple device you have. But if you’re trying to pair it with an Apple device that doesn’t have the same iCloud account or a non-Apple device, you’ll need to open the cover and double-click the case to enter pairing mode.
And this isn’t the only AirPods tip I have for you (pun not intended).
4. AirPods automatically stop playing music when you sleep
AirPods Pro 3 in their natural habitat: Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park, the company’s headquarters.
If you’re someone who listens to music, podcasts, or white noise to help you sleep, you can set up your AirPods to automatically pause whatever you’re listening to once you fall asleep. To turn this on, place your AirPods in their case, then place the case next to your iPhone and open the lid. Now go to Settings And press The name of your AirPods. Next, scroll down to Pause media when you sleep And turn on this setting. Now relax, put your AirPods on and enjoy these 80 minutes Podcast About Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol while you relax in a deep slumber.
This feature is part of iOS 26 and works with:
- AirPods Pro 3
- AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C
- AirPods Pro 2 with Lightning
- AirPods 4 headphones with ANC
- AirPods Max with USB-C
Also, if you haven’t explored your AirPods settings menu before, you can access many cool features like Head movements, Live translation and Camera remote.
5. The invisible button of the iPhone
Here’s the back of the iPhone 17 Pro. You may not see one, but the back can be turned into an “invisible” button to initiate different actions.
Press return It’s not a new feature, but it’s one that a lot of people don’t know about. Your iPhone has an “invisible” button that you can activate by tapping on the back of the phone. It’s customizable and can do things like open apps, turn on the flashlight, or show/hide the Control Center while you’re using it.
To set it up, open SettingsGo to accessibilityHe chooses touches Then scroll down and click Press return. You can set up multiple actions, one action is triggered by double-tapping and the other by triple-tapping (I wish I could do this with the iPhone’s action button). As you can see from the Actions menu, Back Tap can perform dozens of different actions and shortcuts.
When I want to open Control Center — especially if I’m holding the phone in one hand — I can double-tap the back of the phone, and it will appear. If you double click again, it disappears. Additionally, when you use Back Tap, a small Dynamic Island logo appears to explain what’s happening. You can turn this off in the Back Tap settings menu if you don’t want to see it.
6. Use the iPhone Crossbody Strap for cameras and cards
Apple is selling a Crossbody strap for the iPhone 17 and Air series. It costs $60 and does not come with a case.
We’ve seen phone straps from other phone manufacturers, like Motorola for the Razr, and there are many third-party options available. However, this year Apple launched its own strap for the iPhone. The belt costs $60, which seems expensive for a thin piece of fabric, but there’s actually more “tech” than meets the eye. Apple crossbody strap Lined with magnets to keep the two “pieces” of the belt (where they fold over themselves) from separating or accidentally adjusting the length while wearing it.
It also has use cases beyond just plugging it into a phone. On TikTok, many videos Like him Show people using a body strap as a camera strap. But why stop there? Use them to hold passes or ID cards for parks or conventions.
The strap is long, which is great if you’re a larger person like me and still have enough length to go across your body and keep your phone or camera on your hip. Apple has created another accessory that is having its moment: the iPhone pocket. Like the crossbody strap, you can wear it on your torso, but I’m not sure it would hold anything but an iPhone well.