The pros and cons of updating your iPhone with iOS 26
Apple unveiled its new iOS update at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this week – but it has already divided users.
The new iOS 26 will be available in developer beta this month, and showcases a new 'liquid glass' look for the operating system.
The update is known as iOS 26 thanks to next year being 2026, and Apple will also rebrand Mac OS and WatchOS in the same way.
Apple's Tim Cook described it as, "Expressive. Delightful. But still instantly familiar."
Expressive. Delightful. But still instantly familiar.Introducing our new software design with Liquid Glass. pic.twitter.com/8hA0q2aCTf
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 9, 2025
Users on social media were quick to criticise the new look, which Apple described in a release as being "crafted with liquid glass — a new translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings, bringing greater focus to content, and delivering a new level of vitality across controls, navigation, app icons, widgets, and more.
'The new design extends to the home screen and lock screen, making them more personal and expressive than ever.
Alan Dye, Apple's vice president of Human Interface Design, has described the update as 'the broadest software design update ever' from the company, saying: 'It combines the optical qualities of glass with a fluidity only Apple can achieve, as it transforms depending on your content or context.'
The new liquid glass interface streamlines and simplifies apps like safari, camera and photos, helping users to focus.
It adds transparent overlays and animation effects, including transparent app icons.
Apple Intelligence is also more tightly integrated into the OS with functions like live translation built into apps.
The new look is inspired by the visionOS software inside Apple's expensive vision pro headset.
The look is translucent, with the option for translucent icons and windows that Apple says, 'behave like glass in the real world.'
But despite the flashy new look, Apple claims it will not impact battery life.
Apple has significantly revamped the phone experience, with call screening, showing users details of the caller on screen, and the option to screen messages in messages.
A new layout in the phone app gathers favourites, recents and voicemails into one screen.
A new hold assist alerts on-hold users when a live agent is available.
The look represents a radical departure for the OS, and many users are not happy about it.
One user complained on X that the new liquid glass "looks abysmal and is a perfect example of focusing on form/prettiness/design over of functionality/readability/practicality".
Another wrote: "Steve Jobs would never have approved of this. Liquid glass seemed cool when I first saw it, but in reality it's just annoying to my eyes in most cases."
the new liquid glass looks abysmal and is a perfect example of focusing on form/prettiness/design over of functionality/readability/practicality like, what are we doing here pic.twitter.com/4UH2ZmQzGG
— puddi (@puddi) June 9, 2025
Steve Jobs would of never approved this.Liquid glass seemed cool when I first saw it, but in reality it's just annoying to my eyes in most cases. pic.twitter.com/u8ksIPwJnm
— Joey 👟 (@SolanaJoeyy) June 10, 2025
It remains possible that Apple will tone down the liquid glass effects before the software leaves beta testing, but as it stands it looks like an extremely radical reinvention.
Users have already expressed fears that the software may not run well on older devices, or devices with weak batteries.
My 85% battery health iPhone 13 trying to run Liquid Glass on iOS 26 pic.twitter.com/zbupWb1X17
— GSX (@GigaSyntax) June 9, 2025
Other users have voiced concerns over the widespread use of AI in the device.
Apple AI was widely criticised at launch, and will now be integrated into almost every part of the operating system, with users able to search and take action using AI inside any app.
AI is now baked into many functions of the operating system, with users able to ask ChatGPT questions about what they are looking at on screen.
Live translation will be built into messages, facetime and phone, and is able to translate in real-time between different languages.
Visual intelligence also recognises when users are looking at events, and offers a suggestion to instantly add it to the calendar.
Users can now also send Apple cash within chats.
Apple Intelligence is now baked into maps, so that, for instance, the app can warn of delays on a user's usual route home.
There are also updates to child accounts, making it easier for parents to limit screen time and block sensitive content.
The new software will be available to developers this month, and a public beta test will be available in July.
Different beta releases will continue on both developer and public beta tests through summer.
Apple usually releases new versions of iOS to the public in September, alongside the new crop of iPhones.
This new iOS is a radical reinvention, so there is a possibility of delay, but the third week of September seems the likeliest time for launch.
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