3 Minutes
A new SellCell survey of 2,000 U.S. adult iPhone users reveals a surprising amount of hesitation around iOS 26: 22% of respondents say they still haven’t upgraded, even though the release has been available since September. The reasons range from simple unawareness to worries about battery life, performance and Apple’s new Liquid Glass design.
Awareness, inertia and the ‘it’ll update itself’ mindset
Not everyone is avoiding iOS 26 for technical reasons. A sizeable share simply didn’t know the update existed or assumed their iPhone would install it automatically. In fact, 61% of users don’t rush into major updates — they prefer to wait and see if any major bugs or compatibility issues surface before committing.
Battery drain and slowdown: the top fears
Only 28% of those surveyed said nothing put them off iOS 26, meaning 72% have at least one reservation. Leading the list is the fear that battery life will worsen after upgrading, closely followed by concerns the phone will become slower. Those worries aren’t coming from nowhere — many users recall past high-profile update problems — so the caution is understandable.
Design divides: Liquid Glass isn’t for everyone
Beyond performance, aesthetics play a role. Apple’s Liquid Glass UI — a glossy, translucent visual refresh — has its fans, but a notable portion of users dislike the look or find it harder to read. For some people, a UI they don’t enjoy is enough reason to stay on an older, familiar version.
Other reasons people wait
- Some users only update when forced to by app requirements or security prompts.
- Concerns about reversibility: many worry that once they upgrade, rolling back will be difficult or impossible.
- Practicalities like limited storage, time to update, or needing their phone for work also delay installs.
Practical tips if you’re hesitant
If you’re on the fence, a few simple steps can help: back up your device before updating, read early user reports and patch notes, and consider waiting for the first point release if battery and performance are top concerns. Installing on a secondary device first, or waiting a couple of weeks for community feedback, are low-risk ways to decide.
Apple’s iOS 26 clearly has momentum, but this SellCell snapshot shows that real-world adoption depends on trust — in design, performance and the company’s ability to ship bug-free updates. Would you upgrade right away, or wait for others to test the waters?
Source: gsmarena
Leave a Comment