I absolutely loathe iOS 26

[martint235]

My unpopular opinion: this is the best update and redesign in ages.

I’m not sure it’s the best but I do quite like it.

 

[tgwaste]

Alternatively we should continue to publicly lambast Apples dei turn of their UX that’s ushered in an “I can’t hear the smoke alarm chirp so you’re the idiot” cognitive regress arrogance as experience that seems to be pitted against their majority of their userbase and driving a legacy (competent) consumer revolt.

A M E N !

 

[nonns]

Well when it comes to UI design my first impression of it was and still is days later that it seems over busy. The visual cues cause my eyes to flick over the screen far more than previously and that's just for basic usage. In UI design typically distraction is bad. Simple beats complex and there's something about it I personally find complex. I'm happy to embrace change but I'm not sure what this has added in terms of usability. I don't think its been their best IOS update. I also think there are inconsistencies in various areas but I accept other people like it. I may go off and investigate new pastures. If it wasn't for the sheer accuracy of the AWU/AW in terms of fitness tracking I would be with Apple anymore.

 

[auxbuss]

Is 18.7 likely to get many if any security updates?

Yes. And if the threat is severe, Apple has, in the past, provided emergency updates. For example, iOS12, which was released in 2018, received an update in 2023. See here for more details: https://endoflife.date/ios

 

[Nik]

Slightly out of focus (Calculator in particular is driving me crazy) and also... slightly tilted and slightly crooked? I don't understand how this is even possible... how are my icons tilted like this?

Is it just me or do the app icons seem to be tilted a bit? Looks super strange.

 

[Sital]

It’s impossible for me to state just how much I HATE ios26. I hate absolutely every single last god forsaken thing about it. I hate using my brand new iPhone air now because every time I pick it up I have to have the HORRIBLE experience of this vomit inducing nightmare of an OS. This will absolutely be the thing that moves me to Android. I can NOT use this.

So are you returning your Air in the next 2 weeks and moving to Android? Or just venting?

 

[nonns]

View attachment 2554268

Is it just me or do the app icons seem to be tilted a bit? Looks super strange.

I think it may be to do with the top LHS edge highlighting which make them look like the tops are slightly brought forwards and the bottom is in shadow (recessed) - some of the icons notably the phoner message browser and mail icons have no highlighting on the right bottom whilst others do. Also due to the colouring of the icons, the bottom left rim highlighting is a bit less obvious on some plus as we tend to scan in a z from top left to right when you look at the icon the top left highlighting tends to dominate. Well it does for me.

 

[ibookemo]

Y’know, I disliked iOS 26 all summer long - with a passions really. Kept deleting the beta from my phone after a few hours of use.

Now that I’ve actually kept with it and given it a proper try on the new iPhone, I think I might actually like it. It’s definitely a bit more ‘fun’ in its presentation style, but since I’ve gotten used to that, it’s actually quite good.

 

[super chimp]

I saw some iPhone 17s in a mobile shop today running iOS 26 and I thought the text looked fuzzy and less legible. But obviously those screens have been setup for demos under shop lighting.

 

[AsherN]

Do you think this is a good customer experience?
View attachment 2551781

I like it, for now. You know you can change the look of the buttons in a couple of clicks, right?

 

[Pangalactic]

The problem with this redesign is that there is absolutely no reason for it. It makes a lot of things worse, and none of the things better.

Reminds me of the Jony Ive era of MacBooks with form over function.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Yes. And if the threat is severe, Apple has, in the past, provided emergency updates. For example, iOS12, which was released in 2018, received an update in 2023. See here for more details: https://endoflife.date/ios

To be completely clear though, that is only for devices that can no longer update.
For devices that can update to 26, by December Apple will stop signing all versions of 18, and if you want any security updates going forward, you will have to update to 26.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Plan B worked. No one that bought an iPhone 16 to get AI is talking about being misled by Apple.

What is "Plan B"? And FWIW, literally everyone who bought an iPhone 16 and got screwed on AI is talking about being misled by Apple.

 

[StuBFrost]

To be completely clear though, that is only for devices that can no longer update.
For devices that can update to 26, by December Apple will stop signing all versions of 18, and if you want any security updates going forward, you will have to update to 26.

Given that 17 is still receiving security updates, I don’t know why you would presume that.

 

[UliBaer]

Given that 17 is still receiving security updates, I don’t know why you would presume that.

...but ONLY on devices, that don't support iOS 18 or 26!
If your device is declared iOS-26-ready by Apple, you won't get ANY further update on iOS 18!

[edit] That's the Apple-way to get high adoption rates (only on paper and for shareholder value though)!

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Given that 17 is still receiving security updates, I don’t know why you would presume that.

17 is only receiving security updates for devices that can’t run 18.
That being the iPad sixth generation and the 2017 iPad pros.
But for all devices compatible with 18, they stopped receiving 17 security updates last December, and the only path forward is to 18.7 or 26.0.
Given that iOS 18 didn’t drop any iPhones, the last version of 17 was 17.7.2, released on November 19 of last year.
However, for the iPads that couldn’t update to 18, they have received security updates this entire time, going from 17.7.3 to 17.7.10 just three weeks ago.

 

[hovscorpion12]

First impression of using liquid glass in the Apple Store (haven’t opened my iPhone yet), I absolutely love it. Especially on the Air.

From my usage I did NOT notice any of the visual bugs and glitches everyone mentions. There were NO app redraws. No matter how many times I tried to make it show up.

The only gripe I will say is the setting icons on liquid glass is greyscale. I would have liked if the icons maintained their color.

 

[JerryIII]

It is blazing fast on my 15 pro. I like it.

 

[BigMcGuire]

It is blazing fast on my 15 pro. I like it.

Yeah it makes my 15 PM feel like a new phone. Typing is easier and everything feels significantly faster.

 

[Parowdy]

Don't we?

We don’t. We still lack a universal back swipe that works in all apps and on all pages.
OnePlus does it best with a normal swipe to go back a page and a swipe and hold to switch between apps, which is great, especially for folks with arthritis and other joint problems in their hands and fingers, which will be all of use if this Home Bar business on iPhones continues for much longer.

 

[I7guy]

Well that’s it I am done,
iOS 26 has tipped me over the edge.
I have been on and off with the beta testing and then I installed the final release last night and what a pile of crap !
Reduced transparency makes everything not work as they haven’t figured the concept of white text on a white background isn’t legible, reduce motion did not work too .
I am now back on iOS 18.6.2 but lost over 6000 photos because iCloud corrupted my phone backup:-(
So that’s it I am out I am just using my phone now as a basic phone just for news or whatever , I won’t be keeping an eye on tech news or anything anymore I will just become a basic person.
I recommend any one thinking of trying iOS 26 to stay away it will ruin your life !
I cannot believe the apple I loved has made me feel this way but here we are ….
I will still continue to use my iPhone as it does work now it’s back on iOS 18 but this whole situation has really changed me.

Sorry you lost your photos however your opinion of iOS 26 is imo mischaracterized. So far I’ve only come across some display oddities. Battery life has settled down and I like the functionality upgrades. In addition performance overall is good.

Good luck with your tech life in the future.

 

[I7guy]

Could be my words. I feel you.
Since two years my experience has gone from joy over a new iOS to finding workarounds (e.g. shortcuts for apps without a dark icon), anger about unnecessary extra clicks, submenus etc., anger about the missing bottom bar in photo app, absolute disbelief about the maps app on MacOS (mediathek floating on top of the map on the right side of your studio display!) and many other things.
What tipped me over the edge? Yesterday I installed 18.7 and after that I made a few appupdates.
Some apps - Firefox, Carrot - are now using the ios26 appicon with the outlines - even on 18.7!
I know have: 1. Apps without a dark icon 2. with the right dark ios18 icon and 3. apps with the outlines icon. Three different sort of icons in one iOS! Unbelievable!

In the last 10 years I bought in averadge 2 of the main Apple devices - iMac,iPhone,iPad,iPadPro,Watch.
In January I was sure to get the 17pro - coming from a 15pro. No way.
I change to this type of people who will use their devices as long as possible. No more yearly money from me.
And some word about LG: First I will never understand why Apple has decided to take the GUI from the less selled device to force millions of users to deal with it on their iPhones, iPads, Macs. They are different devices with a totally different approach.

And: think about all developers who have spend thousand of hours to create a trademark icon..form, color. It ends now up in a unreadable, colorless glass mess? What is wrong with them?

"but this whole situation has really changed me." - Me too.

PS: Forgot the removement of launchpad..another hit in the stomach.

It’s just my opinion but in the future this post won’t age well. We all know that Apple will tweak this design over time. I’m sure Apple is busy with iOS 36.

 

[I7guy]

We don’t. We still lack a universal back swipe that works in all apps and on all pages.
OnePlus does it best with a normal swipe to go back a page and a swipe and hold to switch between apps, which is great, especially for folks with arthritis and other joint problems in their hands and fingers, which will be all of use if this Home Bar business on iPhones continues for much longer.

Apple has and has had a very good set of accessibility options.

 

[Tubamajuba]

Alternatively we should continue to publicly lambast Apples dei turn of their UX that’s ushered in an “I can’t hear the smoke alarm chirp so you’re the idiot” cognitive regress arrogance as experience that seems to be pitted against their majority of their userbase and driving a legacy (competent) consumer revolt.

Did you... did you bring DEI into this? I'm going to assume that was a typo. Anyways, I think you're being a bit dramatic here. There are definitely some refinement and fixes that need to be made with Liquid Glass, but it's overall just fine.

 

[FeliApple]

I get that the apps used are too heavy, but a screenshot I found on iOS 26 of battery life on the iPhone 11.

No words required. Utterly destroyed. Utter garbage.

45 mins of the battery-draining garbage that is TikTok were enough to kill the 11 in 2.5 hours. A long shot from the amazing battery life the 11 had on iOS 13…

I tested an iPhone 11 on iOS 18 and it was actually fine. Seems like iOS 26 killed it. Apple still meeting expectations with that, I see…