I took the leap and installed iOS 26 on my trusty iPhone, and here's what I discovered! A tale of two worlds: the pros and cons of updating your iPhone's operating system.
I'll admit, I was hesitant to update my iPhone to iOS 26, sticking with the familiar iOS 18.7 for months. But recently, I decided to embrace the latest Apple update and install it on my iPhone 15 Pro Max.
iOS 26: Strengths and Concerns
iOS 26 boasts many strengths, but I had my reservations, especially about the Liquid Glass interface. However, after some time with it on other iPhones and getting used to its features, I decided to give it a shot on my daily driver.
Liquid Glass: An Acquired Taste
While I had initial reservations about Liquid Glass, it turned out to be less of an issue in most apps I use. However, I still find the home screen layout with grouped apps a bit strange. When you group apps, they create a warped glass effect on the wallpaper, which is odd. Adjusting the transparency helps, but that's not the only issue I encountered.
A Convoluted Settings Journey
Changing the look of grouped apps requires a trip to the Accessibility section in Settings, specifically Display & Text, to enable Reduce Transparency and increase contrast. But if you want to adjust the overall Liquid Glass effect, you need to navigate to the Display & Brightness section. And if you want to change icon tints, you have to make those adjustments directly from the home screen. It's a confusing and scattered settings journey, to say the least.
Updated Apps: A Mixed Bag
I was worried iOS 26 would disrupt my favorite apps, but most changes are stylistic. Apps like Discord, Twitch, and Kindle work seamlessly as before. However, there are noticeable changes to built-in apps, particularly the Camera app and Apple Music.
I quite like the new layout of the iOS 26 Camera app, as it makes the various options more prominent and improves the user experience. But the changes to Apple Music are a bit confusing. The new navigation bar is fine, but the ability to swipe songs on the play bar is limited to within the app, which feels restrictive.
Apple Intelligence: Still Playing Catch-Up
I don't use Apple Intelligence much, and iOS 26 doesn't change that. The update primarily enhances existing capabilities like Visual Intelligence and Image Playground, but it doesn't bring any groundbreaking new AI features. Apple has even stated that a critical AI update for Siri won't arrive until next year.
Final Thoughts: A Complicated Upgrade
iOS 26 isn't terrible, but it's more complicated than necessary. Most apps function as before, but the changed ones feel more like a sidegrade than an upgrade. The visual changes are adaptable, but the overall experience could be smoother.
Have you upgraded your (relatively) older iPhone? Share your experiences in the comments! We'd love to hear your thoughts on this latest iOS update.
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- Josh, Staff Writer, Tom's Guide (UK)
