3 reasons why I’m not upgrading to iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 on day one

Hot off the heels of Apple’s big iPhone 17 series keynote, we have confirmation that iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 are releasing to the public on September 15. Launching alongside macOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26, these next-generation operating systems are set to debut with an all-new ‘ Liquid Glass‘ design language, several major app updates, and, in the case of the iPad, a re-engineered window management system.

While I’m fairly eager to download and install macOS 26 on my 24-inch iMac next week, I’m coy about updating my iPhone 15 Pro and my iPad mini 6 to their respective platform releases. I’m normally an early adopter of new software updates, but, this time around, I think I’ll be sitting out the initial hype in favor of a smoother upgrade experience once the dust has settled in a few weeks.

Here are three reasons why I’ve decided to hold off on updating to Apple’s latest-and-greatest operating systems — at least for the short-to-medium-term future.

1

Liquid Glass is a work in progress

Apple’s new software design language is still rough around the edges

For the most part, I’m a fan of Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language. The added sense of material depth, the reactive and more playful animations, and the advanced reflectivity are a breath of fresh air in the software world, while at the same time harkening back to the good old days of Microsoft’s Windows Vista and 7 releases on PC.

However, not everything is sunshine and rainbows, even in a climate as warm and Mediterranean as that of Cupertino’s. The fact of the matter is that, like with other broad-stroke software redesigns before it, Liquid Glass is an active work in progress. Early visibility concerns relating to poor user interface contrast have been addressed in successive beta releases, but some elements still feel like they need some further tweaking and smoothing out.

As with iOS 7 before it, which was ambitious and yet flawed in initial execution, I imagine Apple will continue to iron out the rougher edges of Liquid Glass in subsequent updates to come. I reckon that the longer I wait before jumping onto the Liquid Glass bandwagon, the more refined and pleasant the experience will be when I do eventually perform the upgrade.

2

Battery life is a concern

All those UI reflections and refractions come at a cost

Another concern I have with both iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 is to do with battery life. Apple’s new platforms are filled with dynamic glass-like reflective and refractive properties, which are technically very impressive, but they almost certainly consume more battery than the traditional gaussian blur effect used in iOS 18 and iPadOS 26.

Many a beta tester has commented on poor battery endurance post update, though this too has appeared to be improving as new beta releases have been seeded out by Apple. If major software updates from previous years are to go by, then it’s likely that a number of further efficiency optimizations will be implemented post-launch, leaving me in no rush to hit the update button on day one.

3

I’ll miss Slide Over too much

iPad window management will never be the same

iPadOS 26 is a major leap forward for iPad, introducing key features that make Apple’s tablet more Mac-like than ever before. Alongside an improved cursor, a better Files app, and a dedicated Menu Bar, the company has entirely rearchitected its windowing system in order to offer a more flexible end-user experience.

Apple’s new window management system is rather excellent — not only does it allow for much more granular resizing and repositioning of active application windows, but it works on more iPad models than ever before, including the pint-sized iPad mini. Unfortunately, this transition process has resulted in one casualty: the removal of the Slide Over function I’ve come to rely on in recent years.

Slide Over allows you to create a separate carousel of iPhone-sized app windows that can be manipulated, stashed off-screen, and placed on top of other full-screen apps at any time. I find Slide Over exceptionally useful for quick-access to the calculator, my Philips Hue smart light controller, as well as chat threads. As much as I want to reap the benefits of PC-grade window management on my iPad mini, I also don’t want to forfeit Slide Over in the process.