Struggling With iOS 26? Here’s What iPhone Users Need to Know | Battery Drain, Bugs, & More

Apple just released the new iOS 26 version with the iPhone 17 series. The update will improve and speed up phones. However, a lot of consumers believe that their experience hasn't been seamless. 

Social media users claim that iOS 26 is creating slowness in phones, app glitches, quick battery drain, and design issues. Apple has replied to these complaints, saying some issues are normal and temporary. Still, many users are unsure if they should keep the update or go back to an older version.

Battery Drain After iOS 26

The most common complaint is that the phone’s battery drains faster after the update. Users say their iPhones now lose charge more quickly.

Apple explained this issue. The company said: “Immediately after completing an update, particularly a major release, you might notice a temporary impact on battery life and thermal performance. This is normal, as your device needs time to complete the setup process in the background, including indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps.”

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Apple also said new features need more power. Depending on how each person uses their phone, performance and battery life may feel different.

Top 5 Problems Users Reported

Users listed the most common problems with iOS 26. Here are the top five:

• Widget Text Hard to Read – A user named BurgerKhaega said widget text is “extremely invisible.” They also noticed lags, internet issues, and more storage being used.
• Photos App and App Colours – Some users said the Photos app looks “greyed out.” Changing app colours also caused apps like Google Maps and Calendar to stop working properly.
• WhatsApp and Safari Bugs – A few users said WhatsApp audio does not play at the chosen speed. Others disliked Safari changes, where now you must hold the three-dot icon to see all tabs.
• Colour and Widget Issues – Some colours do not work as expected. Users also complained that Google widgets have problems, just like in iOS 18.
• Keyboard Misalignment – Some noticed the keyboard goes out of line, with one side losing its padding.

Many users suggested waiting for Apple to release a new update. Some even said it’s better to go back to iOS 18 until developers fix these issues.

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Apple’s Reply

Apple said these problems are temporary and will improve once the phone finishes its background tasks. Similar issues have happened in past updates, too.

But what has changed is how users are responding. Apple enthusiasts anticipate a seamless experience from day one. Online, even little bugs generate a lot of complaints. 

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