The recently released iOS 26 update from Apple is drawing criticism from users who have installed the new operating system. Reports across the internet indicate that phones are experiencing significant battery drain immediately following the update. Many users have expressed their dissatisfaction with the issue.
Complaints began surfacing shortly after the update’s release.
One user reported their phone’s battery dropping from 100% to 79% in under an hour. Another user reported a decline in battery health after the update.
Beyond battery concerns, users are also reporting that the new version still contains bugs and lags when rendering animations. Apple had previously warned users about potential impacts on battery life and thermal performance after installation.
Users on Reddit have also complained that their phones are running hotter than usual post-update. A user mentioned that the phone had to index a large number of items, which took a considerable amount of time. Some users have speculated that Apple may have anticipated the rise in temperature, as the new iPhone 17 models are equipped with vapor chamber cooling systems.
While the impact of software updates on battery life has been noted in past Apple support documents, the company has not previously addressed post-update battery drain as explicitly as users are now experiencing.