Apple's iOS 26 introduces a dedicated Preview app for iPhone and iPad, bringing Mac-like PDF and image management to mobile devices. The new app offers a centralized hub for viewing, editing, and marking up documents with Apple Pencil or touch input. Users can now access all PDFs and images directly from the Files app, create sketches, and use AutoFill for forms.

Before Preview, PDFs and images opened directly within the Files app, while other documents launched in their respective apps. The standalone Preview app solves this fragmentation by providing a consistent interface across document types. The Files app's Quick Look feature still allows direct viewing, enabling users to have multiple documents open simultaneously through the app switcher.

On iPad, Preview pairs especially well with iPadOS 26's new windowing system. Users can arrange Preview in a large left-side window while keeping Files in a narrow right-side panel, creating an efficient workflow for document navigation. The app also offers expanded editing tools including page management, document signing, and form filling - features that bring mobile PDF handling closer to desktop capabilities.