Apple iOS 26 Transformational New iPhone Software: Should You Upgrade?
Right on cue, Apple’s latest OS, iOS 26, has arrived. Is it worth downloading or should you hold off for now? Another version, iOS 18.7, is also available for those who want to hold off iOS 26 for now.
This post has the initial thoughts on the new release and I’ll be updating this post over the coming week and will make a final assessment on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Who Is It For And How Do You Get It?
Apple iOS 26 works for all iPhones from 2019 on. That’s the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 1 Pro Max models and every phone since. That means the iPhone 12 series, iPhone 13 and so on right up to the iPhone 16 series, plus the second- and third-generation iPhone SE models as well as the iPhone 16e. And, of course, the iPhone 17 series that launches on Sept. 19.
To update, go to the iPhone’s Settings app, select General, then Software Update. Then, choose Download and Install, and the software will download from there. This is a large download, over 14GB, so it take a little time.
What It’s About
Apple has turned the page to the next OS, with a brand-new design called Liquid Glass, new Apple Intelligence features and more. Read full details here.
Apple iOS 26 Security
There are, as Apple says in its notes, “important security fixes,” and has listed 26 issues in a security content note. These range from Apple Neural Engine, through Kernel, Notes, Safari, Siri and Spell Check (yes, really) through to WebKit. There are four WebKit issues.
Initial Reactions
The new software has been controversial, for sure, but so far it seems to be on aesthetic grounds, not that it’s destroying your iPhone. There’s much discussion in the ether about Liquid Glass, the signature design update, with loud voices pro and con. Some slow download times put several Redditors off, with complaints that things seemed to slow down, not speed up, the longer they waited. Since the first release, this seems to have settled down.
Apple iOS 26 Initial Verdict: Update
Since most of the complaints are about design or download, and less about issues with installation, the first reaction is that this is a safe update to install.
Final verdict next week.