After months of beta testing, the long-awaited iOS 26 update is finally official. The testing phase involved nine beta builds and a release candidate build. Now that the latest iOS release is available, many users are wondering if they should update to iOS 26. If you also have the same concern, here you’ll get the answer.
First, let’s see what iPhones are compatible with iOS 26. This year, Apple has discontinued support for three iPhone models with the latest iOS release. iOS 26 is compatible with the following devices:
- iPhone 17/iPhone 17 Pro/iPhone 17 Pro Max
- iPhone Air
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16/iPhone 16 Plus/iPhone 16 Pro/iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15/iPhone 15 Plus/iPhone 15 Pro/iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14/iPhone 14 Plus/iPhone 14 Pro/iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13/iPhone 13 mini/iPhone 13 Pro/iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12/iPhone 12 mini/iPhone 12 Pro/iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11/iPhone 11 Pro/iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)
iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max are not eligible for the iOS 26 update.
Should you install the iOS 26 update?
If you own an iOS 26-eligible device but can’t decide whether to upgrade to iOS 26 or not, I’ll share my experience and provide some suggestions that might help you make an informed decision.
I couldn’t resist installing the first developer beta of iOS 26 as soon as it was released. This means I have been using iOS 26 for a few months. Since I used it on my secondary device, I haven’t had the opportunity to explore every feature. However, the latest release comes with a multitude of changes. You can check out the complete iOS 26 release notes here.
To be fair, iOS 26 performs smoothly on iPhone 14 and newer models, while I noticed a slight sluggishness on older models. Lock Screen personalization in particular feels heavy on older models, and you will notice latency when selecting a new wallpaper. However, other features and general performance remain smooth.
This experience can vary depending on the device, so not everyone will encounter the same issue.
The Liquid Glass design is applied system-wide, so if you’re not a fan of glass-like UI, you might want to avoid the update since iOS 26 is all about Liquid Glass.
If you own a newer model such as iPhone 14 or newer, you’ll likely encounter a mostly smooth experience. However, the experience may differ on older models. If you’re willing to compromise a little bit of smooth performance in exchange for a range of new features, you can proceed and install iOS 26. Those with newer models may find the experience almost seamless.
I suggest waiting for a few days and analyzing feedback from other users who own the same device. This will help you identify potential issues or determine if the experience is incredible without any issues.
Things to do before updating
There are some points to note before updating to iOS 26:
- Back up your device
- Make sure at least 15GB storage space available
- Charge your device to at least 50%
- Update only at normal or lower temperatures
These are the important points to keep in mind for a stress-free update process. Make sure your phone stays cool during the update to avoid issues like green lines.
Related:
- Download iPhone Air Wallpapers [4K Resolution]
- Download iPhone 17 (Pro) Wallpapers [4K Resolution]
- Download the latest iOS 26 Ringtones for any phone
- iOS 26 Developer Beta 6 released with new animations and ringtones
- 21 Best iOS 26 Optimized Depth Effect Wallpapers – Download Now
- Download CarPlay Wallpapers from iOS 26
- How to get iOS 26 Transparent Glass Icons on your Galaxy phone
