Survey reveals why iPhone users are slow to upgrade to iOS 26

A recent survey by SellCell, which polled 2,000 adult iPhone users in the US this month, found that 22% of respondents have yet to upgrade to iOS 26, even though the update has been available since September. The top reason? Many users simply weren’t aware the update was out. Coming in second was the assumption that their iPhone would update automatically. Other common concerns include fears over reduced battery life and reluctance to adopt the new Liquid Glass design. Some users also worry the update will slow down their device.

Overall, 61% of iPhone owners don’t install new iOS versions immediately. Most prefer to wait and make sure there are no major bugs. There are also those who believe the update will happen automatically, as well as users who only install new versions once the system starts pushing them to do so.

Interestingly, only 28% of those surveyed said they had no concerns about iOS 26. This means 72% harbor at least one worry related to the update. The biggest fear is battery life taking a hit, followed by concerns about slower performance. Given Apple’s track record, these fears aren’t unfounded. Other complaints include dissatisfaction with the look or readability of the Liquid Glass interface and anxiety over losing the ability to downgrade to the previous iOS version after updating.

So, while iOS 26 has already captured a significant share of installed versions, plenty of users remain hesitant. Concerns about battery life and device performance still weigh heavily, and some iPhone owners are putting off the update simply because they’re not sold on the new Liquid Glass interface.