What’s New in iOS 26?

With the sudden announcement of iOS 26, many have been asking why Apple jumped from iOS 18 to iOS 26? It’s not a tough guess, as reportedly, the idea was to align the version numbering with the calendar year. Apple previewed the iOS 26 at WWDC 2025 held in June, showcasing a new look, and a more advanced “Apple Intelligence,” along with a cleaner camera UI.

Skipping the numbers were only part of the story. iOS 26 offers more, majorly, a fresh new look, called as Apple’s Liquid Glass design. You notice it right away on the Lock Screen and in apps that now float controls and stretch content so they feel lighter. Photos splits back into two clear tabs, and the Camera app gets a simpler layout that helps you focus on the shot instead of hunting for adjustments.

Last year’s iOS 18 release on September 16, 2024 was about control and customization. You could rearrange icons more freely or redesign the Control Center. It also introduced Apple Intelligence and finally added RCS to chat better with Android users. And if you roll back one more year, iOS 17 launched on September 18, 2023 focused on everyday basics like Messages, FaceTime, and interactive widgets.

What’s new in iOS 26 UI?

• A cleaner look across the system. Menus and bars look sorted and out of the way.
• Apps like Music and Podcasts float the tab bar and shrink it while you scroll.
• Apple has redesigned the camera layout, so modes and common controls are easier to reach.
• Photos app is easier to browse. Library and Collections are split into separate tabs again.
• Apple has re-introduced the “Library” and “Collections” as separate tabs.
• Network and connectivity gets a separate drop-down menu when you scroll down.
• Live Translation in calls and chats. It works in Messages, Phone, and FaceTime.
• Apple Intelligence gets better with smarter writing tools, quicker actions, and visual intelligence that understands screen activity and help you act.
• The Phone app gets a new unified view and tools like Call Screening and Hold Assist.
• Messages adds custom chat backgrounds and polls.
• Apple CarPlay picks up some minor updates too.

iOS 26 Vs. iOS 18 Vs. iOS 17

Should you upgrade from iOS 18 to iOS 26?

While the iOS 26 Beta version was already made available few months back, the official release was on 9 September 2025, with the launch of all-new iPhone 17. The full version was made available for iPhone users on Monday, September 15.  If you own an iPhone 11 or newer, the update is free. However, most features may not work because of hardware incompatibility.

The design changes are real, the interface looks pretty, but for some they are confusing. The Camera looks cleaner and offers more room for customization in settings. Adaptive power mode is cool, and Live Translation is great if you travel or work with people in other languages.

If your phone is a 15 Pro or any 16 model, you also unlock more Apple Intelligence features, which makes the upgrade even more sensible. Hence, do it right away if you own iPhone 15 or 16, but if you own iPhone 14, 13, 12, or 11 it’s not a sensible decision, especially if you care about battery life.

Pros of Upgrading to iOS 26

• Once you upgrade to the new iOS 26 you are welcomed with a fresh, light, and floating system design that make apps feel roomier.
• Live Translation in core apps with on-device processing.
• Advanced battery optimization feature that helps you track day-wise battery usage and time to drainage.
• Visual intelligence that understands what is on your screen and helps you act.
• Updates to Phone, Messages, and CarPlay that resolves bugs.

Cons of Upgrading to iOS 26

• Apple Intelligence features are limited to new devices or pro users.
• Users reported faster battery drainage when they upgraded from iOS 18 to iOS 26 beta, hope this gets fixed in the full version.
• Most users who upgraded from iOS 18 to iOS 26 found the camera layout dull and overly changed.
• Sometimes, a complete visual shift makes it difficult to learn for some users.
• RCS arrived in iOS 18, so cross-platform texting isn’t new in 26, but that still depends on your carrier.

Bonus Tip: How to Roll Back iOS 26 in iPhone or Downgrade to iOS 18/17?

Since the release of the public beta, users have reported battery drain, app crashes, overheating, and missing features on older devices. And sometimes, it’s not even about bugs, but maybe you just liked or preferred how iOS 18 or iOS 17 looked.

But, there’s one SMALL problem – Apple doesn’t make it simple to go back. Once you upgrade, downgrading is a hassle unless you end up using the correct tool. Because you could lose all your personal data stored in the device and run into “device not supported” errors, or sometimes iPhones get stuck on the recovery mode.

That’s where the Stellar Toolkit for iPhone can save the day.

Why Stellar Toolkit for iPhone Helps?

• Reinstall any iOS version safely – Whether you want to downgrade from iOS 26 back to iOS 18 / iOS 17 or simply reinstall a clean copy of iOS 26, the iOS repair module of this toolkit helps you do it without wiping your photos, chats, contacts, or apps data.
• Fix iOS stuck issues – If your iPhone is stuck in recovery mode, Apple logo or boot loop after updating, Stellar toolkit for iPhone repairs the OS without data loss.

Best part is, you don’t need any technical skills and it’s a guided process.

When to Use Stellar’s iOS repair feature?

• If you installed iOS 26 beta and regret it.
• If your iPhone feels slower, hotter, or drains battery too fast after upgrading.
• If your favorite apps don’t work well on iOS 26.
• If you prefer iOS 18 and want to roll back.
• This tool works like an “undo” button for iOS upgrades.

Final verdict

If you are on iOS 18 today, it would be best to move to iOS 26. You get a prettier UI, a friendlier Camera, better accessibility, optimized settings, a brand-new Photos app, and helpful translation built into the apps you already use. If you have a recent iPhone, like 15 or 16 or pro versions, the extra intelligence is a big bonus. If your phone is older, and you do not care about the new look, you can ignore this upgrade, but it is worth it for most people.