Why users aren’t updating to iOS 26: a study reveals the reason, Liquid Design also plays a role

The introduction of iOS 26 has marked one of the most radical aesthetic transformations in iPhone history, with the launch of the new Liquid Glass style. Although Apple has exerted strong pressure to push for the update, also motivated by the gradual decommissioning of security protections, recent data show a nuanced reality.

Although overall adoption has reached 78%, a significant share of users has not yet made the move to the latest version. The reason? A deep caution related to the impact that the new software can have on device usage, and in part it also involves the much-talked-about translucent design.

iOS 26 and the update paradox: one in five iPhone users chooses to wait

The most surprising finding from recent market research is that the adoption of iOS 26 does not coincide with total user trust. A full 72% of them reports at least one reason for concern or hesitation regarding the update, highlighting how installation often occurs out of necessity rather than conviction.

Only 39% of iPhone owners decides to update immediately as soon as the notification appears on screen, while the vast majority, about 61%, prefers to take a passive approach, ignoring reminders or waiting several weeks to observe any bugs reported by others.

This trend of postponing is fueled by the fear that the update could compromise the stability of a well-functioning device. Battery life ranks first among users’ doubts, cited by 24.2% of respondents. Next comes the concern about a general drop in the phone’s performance, a factor that deters 23.8% of users.

We know these concerns aren’t entirely unfounded, considering Apple’s history as well as that of various manufacturers in general. To complicate matters further, there is also concern about the irreversibility of the update: 15% of users fear that once iOS 26 is installed, it will be extremely difficult or even impossible to revert to the previous version if something doesn’t work correctly.

Beyond the technical aspects, the Liquid Glass design represents another breaking point: 17.5% of users openly state that they dislike the new style or experience readability issues, while a small but vocal minority feels frustrated by the impossibility of turning it off completely.

For that 22% of users who have not updated yet, the reasons for the delay are often less strategic. Many simply state that they are not aware of the software’s availability, while others wrongly assume that the phone will update automatically without any manual intervention.