Apple just released iOS 26 (September 15, 2025), ushering in the “Liquid Glass” design, an ambitious redesign that brings translucency, dynamic visuals, and a cleaner, more fluid interface to the iPhone. For users who aren’t ready or whose phones can’t handle the glossier future, Apple also dropped iOS 18.7, a lighter version focused on essential bug fixes and security patches.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s new, who can upgrade, and whether this is the time to take the plunge.
What is Liquid Glass?
Liquid Glass is Apple’s sweeping new design language that aims for a more immersive, layered UI experience. Key features include:
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Translucent panels that reflect and refract what’s behind them, giving depth to toolbars, buttons, sliders, and navigation elements.
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Dynamic tab bars and sidebars that shrink or expand depending on scrolling or interaction.
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Visual refinements to app icons and widgets: lighter or dark tints, layered “glass” effects, icons that adapt more to the wallpaper and system theme.
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Improved system apps: among others, updates to Phone, Messages (with better filtering), and inclusion of tools like Preview on iPhone for PDF annotations.
It’s Apple’s most significant redesign in years, pulling some inspiration from visionOS and pushing to unify visual style across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
Who Gets iOS 26 — and Who’s Left Behind
Not every iPhone gets to join the shiny new party.
Supported devices:
Apple confirmed that iOS 26 works on iPhones with the A13 Bionic chip or newer — essentially iPhone 11 and later, iPhone SE (2nd generation) and newer.
Dropped models:
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iPhone XR
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iPhone XS
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iPhone XS Max
These devices will no longer get iOS 26, though they’ll still receive updates under the older OS line (for now). Apple says hardware limitations — especially around GPU, RAM, and maybe neural engine capability — make it hard for these older models to properly support the more demanding visual and AI features.
What’s iOS 18.7, and Why It Matters
For those who either can’t upgrade (because their device is excluded) or simply prefer to stick with a familiar, more stable environment, iOS 18.7 is Apple’s answer. Here’s what iOS 18.7 offers:
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It’s not about new features, fancy visuals, or AI tools. Its purpose is grounded: bug fixes and security updates.
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This update helps protect older and currently compatible devices from known vulnerabilities, especially for those who don’t want to or can’t move to iOS 26 right away.
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Because iOS 26 is new with new features, early adopters may run into bugs or discover that performance isn’t optimal on older (but still supported) models. The 18.7 track gives you the essentials with less risk.
Risks and Rewards
Moving to iOS 26 offers substantial rewards: stylistic refresh, new capabilities, improved design consistency, and access to Apple’s increasing “Apple Intelligence” / AI-powered features. But it’s not risk-free:
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Some users in beta testing complained about legibility issues, especially where Liquid Glass elements are overly translucent or where contrast is low.
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Performance implications: the more elaborate visuals and system demands may tax older supported phones (e.g., iPhone 11/SE 2) more than newer ones, especially around GPU load, battery usage, etc.
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There’s also the “habituation cost”: interfaces move, controls shift, and icons may behave differently. That can disrupt workflows. Some people prefer stability and familiarity.
What Should You Do?
If I were advising a friend (or you):
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Check whether your phone supports iOS 26. If not, iOS 18.7 is almost certainly the best move: security matters.
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If your device does support iOS 26, decide whether you prioritize new design and features vs. smooth, stable performance. If you’re OK living with some early wobbles (bugs, minor design oddities), go ahead. Otherwise, wait a few updates for refinement.
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Backup before updating. Always. If something goes wrong, or you dislike the new look, you’ll want an escape hatch.
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If battery life matters a lot, especially on older devices, keep an eye on user reports over the next week or two.
Why This Matters to You
This isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about how long your iPhone remains useful and secure. Apple’s dropping support for devices after about seven years shows that even the most premium tech has limits. For consumers, that means planning longer term: when you buy, how you maintain, and when you upgrade.
For Apple, it’s a balancing act pushing forward with new capabilities while managing legacy support. iOS 18.7 is their tool for smoothing that transition.
iOS 26 is big. It’s a gamble on design, visual polish, and deeper integration of intelligence and dynamic interaction. If everything lands well, it’ll feel fresh and modern in a meaningful way. But it’s also a reminder: older hardware has its expiry date.
If you value stability and want to avoid early bugs, iOS 18.7 could be your comfort zone. If you want to be part of Apple’s next wave of Liquid Glass, newer features, and AI tools, then iOS 26 is exciting, if imperfect at first.
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