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iOS 26 update was introduced in September and was rolled out for iPhone 17 series users out of the box last year
iOS 26 update is Apple’s biggest in years but also the slow in terms of installs
iOS 26 update made its public debut in September 2025 and since then Apple has released up to the iOS 26.2 version in the market. iPhone users have usually been quick to upgrade to the latest iOS version but 2025-26 has shown a different trend as many users are yet to warm to the big design overhaul of the iOS 26 version for iPhone 11 and later models.
The big reveal during the WWDC 2025 keynote suggested people were excited to try out the new iOS version but coming over to the early part of 2026 and most reports indicate that early hype seems to have died down.
iOS 26 Updates Not Showing The Usual Trend
Apple has proudly talked about quick upgrade turnover for years but iOS 26 seems to have shown a different trend among iPhone users. The data sourced via StatCounter says only a small number of devices have got the iOS 26 update installed and it is lower than what Apple has usually recorded for the same duration in previous years.
When you talk numbers, the report claims only 15 percent of iPhone users have installed the iOS 26 update, four months after its official release. This is quite a big drop compared to 2025 when around 63 percent of iPhone users were happy to install the iOS 18 update.
The 2025 data is actually the lowest that Apple has seen in years and many tip the iOS 26 design overhaul and the Liquid Glass interface play a big part in the less than expected upgrade conversion. Apple never officially admitted to the design concerns but its recent iOS 26 updates and the changes to the UI feature suggest the company was happy to address those issues faced by many.
Besides the UI issues many have talked about bugs with iOS 26 updates that have made the whole experience jittery and wanted Apple to fix the ‘mess’ with the version before they fully decide to make the upgrade. The fact that Apple is forcing people to install the iOS 26 update hasn’t helped either and some of them have willingly stuck to the iOS 18 version which might not be an option for a long time.
Delhi, India, India
January 09, 2026, 15:35 IST
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