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Should you upgrade to iOS 26? Some iPhones owners are already regretting it – here’s why

AnyFans 2025-09-17

By Alex Blake

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This has been common knowledge among some iOS users for years – the new operating system needs to index your files, download assets, and more, after all. It’s worth bearing in mind that this is usually a temporary problem, and battery life and performance should return to normal after a while. But it can nonetheless be frustrating when you experience it.

On a similar theme, the size of iOS 26 itself has caused some dismay – with the update demanding anywhere between 6GB-12GB of space before you can install it, depending on your model. This is down to a combination of new visual assets, security patches and feature updates, but you naturally get some of that back once the temporary update package has been installed.
Elsewhere, some users have voiced their displeasure with Apple’s Liquid Glass design, especially when it comes to text legibility. This is something that Apple seems to be keenly aware of, as it tweaked Liquid Glass several times while iOS 26 was in beta. Still, it appears that not everyone is happy with the end result, although Apple will likely continue to make adjustments as time goes on.
Should you upgrade?

(Image credit: Apple)
If you’re uncertain about upgrading to iOS 26, there’s no need to rush. Apple’s iOS 18 operating system will continue to get security updates for the time being, so your device is not at risk at the moment. If you don’t like iOS 26, Apple is not forcing you to install it.

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Your mileage can also vary depending on which model you have and its current condition. For example, some iPhone 11 owners have reported on Reddit that performance is “smooth and fast”, while others with the same model claim that “performance is terrible”.
That said, iOS 26 comes with a lot of useful new features, including Call Screening that blocks spam calls, Live Translation for when you need a quick way to translate messages and voices, improvements to apps like Maps, Wallet and Music, and more. These new features are not available in iOS 18.
While the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26 seems to be a pain point, it can be adjusted, while its transparency effects can be greatly reduced by opening the Settings app and going to Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Reduce Transparency. And as has been mentioned, any negative impacts on battery life and performance are likely to be temporary and should be smoothed out over time.
Still, iOS 26 won’t be for everyone, and you can stick with iOS 18 if that’s what you prefer. Just be aware that you’ll have to update eventually, as Apple doesn’t provide security patches forever.
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Freelance Contributor

Alex Blake has been fooling around with computers since the early 1990s, and since that time he’s learned a thing or two about tech. No more than two things, though. That’s all his brain can hold. As well as TechRadar, Alex writes for iMore, Digital Trends and Creative Bloq, among others. He was previously commissioning editor at MacFormat magazine. That means he mostly covers the world of Apple and its latest products, but also Windows, computer peripherals, mobile apps, and much more beyond. When not writing, you can find him hiking the English countryside and gaming on his PC.

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