iOS 26 Review: New Features, Performance, and Real-World Experience
Apple’s iOS 26 has finally arrived, and it’s making waves as one of the most significant updates to the iPhone operating system since iOS 7. Released on September 15, 2025, this update brings a fresh design language called Liquid Glass, enhanced Apple Intelligence features, and a host of quality-of-life improvements that aim to make your iPhone experience smoother, smarter, and more intuitive. In this comprehensive iOS 26 review, I’ll dive deep into the new features, performance enhancements, and real-world experience of using this update on an iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 17 over two weeks. Whether you’re wondering if it’s worth upgrading or curious about what’s new, this post has you covered.
What’s New in iOS 26?
iOS 26 is a bold step forward for Apple, blending a visually stunning redesign with practical features that enhance daily use. Let’s break down the key highlights, starting with the star of the show: Liquid Glass.
Liquid Glass: A Visual Overhaul
The Liquid Glass design is the most noticeable change in iOS 26, and it’s hard not to love the fresh aesthetic. Apple describes it as a translucent, fluid interface that behaves like real-world glass, reflecting light and adapting to your device’s surroundings. Think of it as a sleek, almost futuristic layer that adds depth and interactivity to your iPhone’s interface. From the Lock Screen to the Control Center, app icons, and system apps, Liquid Glass is everywhere, and it’s a game-changer.
In practice, Liquid Glass makes your iPhone feel more alive. App icons now have a layered, almost 3D look, with subtle reflections that shift as you tilt your phone. The Lock Screen’s time display dynamically adjusts to fit your wallpaper, ensuring it doesn’t obscure your photo’s subject. You can even enable a 3D spatial effect for wallpapers, which adds depth and motion when you move your device. It’s a small touch, but it makes your iPhone feel more immersive.
For those who like customization, iOS 26 offers new options for app icons, including updated light and dark modes, color-tinted icons, and a “clear” look that enhances the translucent effect. I spent an afternoon tweaking my Home Screen, and the clear icon option gave my iPhone 15 Pro a sleek, almost sci-fi vibe. However, not everyone is a fan. Some users on Reddit have called the animations “bubbly” and distracting, wishing for a “Professional Adult” toggle to tone it down. If you’re in that camp, you can reduce transparency and animations in the Accessibility settings, but it takes some digging.
Apple Intelligence: Smarter Than Ever
Apple Intelligence is at the heart of iOS 26’s functionality, making your iPhone more proactive and context-aware. This update builds on the AI foundation laid by iOS 18, integrating advanced features powered by on-device processing and, for heavier tasks, Apple’s Private Cloud Compute. Here’s what stands out:
- Live Translation: One of the coolest features is Live Translation, available in Messages, Phone, and FaceTime. It translates audio and text in real-time, making it easier to communicate with someone who speaks a different language. For example, during a FaceTime call with a Spanish-speaking friend, I saw real-time subtitles and heard translated audio, all processed on-device for privacy. It supports languages like English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified), with more languages promised by year-end. While it works best in one-on-one calls, it’s a lifesaver for travelers or multilingual conversations.
- Smart Recaps & Priority Notifications: iOS 26 triages notifications intelligently, showing you what matters most with one-line summaries for long threads or group chats. I found this incredibly useful in busy group chats where I could quickly catch up without scrolling through dozens of messages. Notifications now feel less overwhelming, and the system learns your habits to prioritize what you care about.
- Contextual Actions: Apple Intelligence makes your iPhone more intuitive. For example, if someone texts you an address, you can tap it to add it to Contacts, open it in Maps, or share your ETA with one tap. I used this feature to quickly save a restaurant address from a friend’s message, and it felt seamless. Siri also understands context better—saying “Text her the photos from brunch” worked flawlessly, pulling the right images from my Photos app.
- Genmoji and Image Playground: For creative types, iOS 26 enhances Genmoji, letting you create custom emoji by mixing existing ones or adding descriptions. You can tweak expressions or add personal attributes like hairstyles. Image Playground, another Apple Intelligence feature, lets you generate images within apps like Notes or Messages. I had fun creating a Genmoji of my dog with a goofy grin, but these features are more playful than essential.
Some Apple Intelligence features, like Live Translation, require newer devices (iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 series) due to their neural engine demands. Older devices like the iPhone 11 still get the Liquid Glass design and other non-AI features, but you’ll miss out on the full experience without a supported chip.
App Updates: Small Changes, Big Impact
iOS 26 revamps several core apps, making them more intuitive and feature-rich. Here are the highlights:
- Photos: The Photos app now has separate Library and Collections tabs, making it easier to organize and find pictures. Apple Intelligence can categorize photos and suggest edits, which saved me time when sorting through vacation shots. The app also supports a new 3D spatial effect for photos, adding depth to your memories.
- Maps: The Maps app now learns your regular routes and alerts you to delays before you start your commute. The Visited Places feature, which is end-to-end encrypted, tracks places like restaurants or shops you’ve been to, making it easy to revisit them. I found this handy when I couldn’t recall the name of a café I visited last week.
- Wallet: The Wallet app now supports digital U.S. passports and revamped boarding passes with Live Activities for real-time flight updates. You can also access airport maps or use Find My to track luggage. During a recent trip, I used the boarding pass feature to check gate changes without digging through emails.
- Apple Music: AutoMix replaces Crossfade, seamlessly transitioning between songs like a DJ with time-stretching and beat-matching. Lyrics Translation and Pronunciation are a boon for music lovers, helping you understand and sing along to songs in foreign languages. I tried this with a Bad Bunny track, and the translation was spot-on, though it’s not available for every song.
- Games: The new Games app is a hub for discovering and playing games, with tabs for Home, Library, and Play Together. You can challenge friends to beat your high scores or see what they’re playing. It’s a fun addition for casual gamers, though I wish it integrated more tightly with Game Center.
- Camera: The Camera app has a streamlined interface, with only “Photo” and “Video” options below the shutter button. It’s less cluttered, making it easier to switch modes. You can also record high-definition audio with AirPods Pro, which I found useful for video calls.
Accessibility and Safety Features
Apple continues to prioritize accessibility and safety in iOS 26. Braille Access is a standout, allowing users with connected braille displays to take notes, read documents, and access Live Captions effortlessly. Vehicle Motion Cues help reduce motion sickness for passengers, and Accessibility Nutrition Labels in the App Store show which apps support features like VoiceOver or Captions.
For families, iOS 26 offers enhanced parental controls. Parents can set age-appropriate protections during device setup for kids aged 13–17, and Communication Safety now blurs nudity in Shared Albums and FaceTime calls. These features give peace of mind, especially for parents of teens.
Performance: Faster and Smarter
iOS 26 is designed to be faster and more responsive across all supported devices, from the iPhone 11 to the iPhone 17 series. Benchmark tests from the Release Candidate (RC) version show a slight increase in single-core performance, leading to faster app launches and smoother navigation. However, multi-core performance dipped slightly compared to earlier betas, which might affect intensive tasks like video editing or gaming on older devices.
In my real-world testing, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 17 handled iOS 26 flawlessly, with buttery-smooth animations and quick app switches. The Liquid Glass interface, with its real-time rendering, is GPU-intensive, so older devices like the iPhone XR may not run it as smoothly. That said, Apple’s optimizations ensure that even older supported devices feel snappy for everyday tasks.
Battery Life: A Mixed Bag
Apple warns that installing iOS 26 may temporarily impact battery life due to background tasks like indexing data and updating apps. In my experience, the first 48 hours after updating saw slightly faster battery drain, but it stabilized after that. The new Adaptive Power Mode, available on iPhone 15 Pro and newer, is a highlight. It adjusts performance during heavy tasks—like gaming or video streaming—by lowering screen brightness or throttling the processor. During a Retro Bowl ’26 session, I noticed the screen dim slightly, but it extended my battery life by about 20 minutes.
Battery Intelligence, another new feature, shows estimated charging times to reach 80% and 100%. This was handy when I needed to know how long I’d be tethered to a charger before heading out. Overall, battery life improvements are modest, but older devices may see more variation depending on usage and enabled AI features.
Real-World Experience: Living with iOS 26
After two weeks with iOS 26, I can say it feels like a cohesive, thoughtful update that prioritizes usability over flashy gimmicks. The Liquid Glass design is visually stunning, though it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. I loved the fluidity of the animations, but I can see why some users find them distracting. The ability to reduce transparency in Accessibility settings is a welcome compromise.
Apple Intelligence is where iOS 26 shines. Live Translation made a video call with a German colleague feel effortless, and Smart Recaps kept my notifications manageable during a busy workday. Contextual actions, like adding an event to my calendar from a text, saved me time and felt intuitive. The Photos and Maps updates were particularly useful for organizing my life, from sorting vacation photos to rediscovering a favorite coffee shop.
On the downside, the initial battery drain was noticeable, and some features—like Lyrics Translation—aren’t universally available yet. The Games app is a fun addition, but it feels like a work in progress compared to established platforms like Steam. Also, while iOS 26 is compatible with iPhone 11 and newer, older devices miss out on key AI features, which might disappoint some users.
iOS 26 Compatible Devices
iOS 26 is compatible with iPhones that have an A13 Bionic chip or newer, meaning devices from the iPhone 11 series onward can run the update. However, not all features, particularly Apple Intelligence capabilities like Genmoji and Live Translation, are available on every supported device due to hardware requirements. Here’s the full list of compatible iPhones:
- iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max
- iPhone Air
- iPhone 16e, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)
Notably, the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, which run iOS 18, are not compatible with iOS 26 due to their older A12 Bionic chips. If you’re using one of these models, you’ll need to upgrade to a newer iPhone to experience iOS 26’s features. Apple Intelligence features are limited to devices with A17 Pro, A18, A18 Pro, A19, or A19 Pro chips, meaning you’ll need an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16 series, 17 series, or iPhone Air for the full AI experience.
Should You Upgrade to iOS 26?
If you’re on a supported device (iPhone 11 or newer), iOS 26 is a no-brainer for most users. The Liquid Glass design, Apple Intelligence features, and app updates make your iPhone feel fresh and capable. However, if your iPhone is critical for daily tasks, consider waiting for iOS 26.1, which will likely address early bugs and performance issues. Repair technicians note that initial releases can have app crashes or Wi-Fi drops, so updating a secondary device first is a smart move.
For users with older devices like the iPhone XR or XS, you’ll get the Liquid Glass design and some features, but the full Apple Intelligence experience requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. If AI is a priority, it might be time to consider upgrading your hardware.
How to Update to iOS 26
To install iOS 26, go to Settings > General > Software Update. The update is about 8 GB, smaller than earlier betas, making it easier for devices with limited storage. Ensure your iPhone is charged or plugged in, and back up your data to iCloud or a computer before updating. Due to high demand, downloads may be slow on release day, so waiting a day or two can ensure a smoother experience.
Final Verdict
In this iOS 26 review, it’s clear that Apple has delivered a polished, visually striking update that enhances the iPhone experience. Liquid Glass adds a fresh aesthetic, Apple Intelligence makes your phone smarter, and app updates improve daily tasks. While there are minor drawbacks—like temporary battery drain and limited AI compatibility on older devices—iOS 26 feels like a step toward a more intuitive, privacy-focused future.
If you’re excited about a sleeker design, smarter AI, and practical features like Live Translation, iOS 26 is worth the upgrade. Just be prepared to tweak some settings if the animations feel too playful, and consider waiting a few weeks if stability is your priority. For now, I’m enjoying the fluid, intelligent experience iOS 26 brings to my iPhone, and I can’t wait to see how Apple builds on this foundation.
Disclaimer
This iOS 26 review is based on the author’s personal experience and official information available from Apple as of September 16, 2025. Features, performance, and compatibility may vary depending on device model, usage, and software updates. Some features, such as Apple Intelligence, require specific hardware (e.g., iPhone 15 Pro or newer). Always back up your device before updating to iOS 26, and consider waiting for subsequent updates (e.g., iOS 26.1) for improved stability. For the latest information, visit Apple’s official website or support channels.
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