I Would Like to Know About the Functionality of iOS26 - NOT the Look

[Shawn MacApple]

There is enough complaining about the look of Liquid Glass (and that awesome Homage Orange color 😁). That stuff has been run into the ground. I want to know what people think about the rest of it.

Those who are using it (regardless of liking Liquid Glass or not) I would like to know what are your thoughts? Are there major issues with usability of the OS? Quirks? Changes to be aware of you like or don't like other than the UI? I know there are many new things and I would like to know your thoughts on those as well.

These are things that are really helpful to others on the forum like myself. I am using a 15PM so that would be a good comparison but I'll take any info since most of it will be available to my phone.

Thanks.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Issues with usability are largely down to the UX implementation - buttons being hard to read, nonsensical labels, etc. As far as features and functionality, here are some improvements and regressions that aren't about Liquid Ass:

• The new Phone app layout is great. Voicemail inline with call history feels obvious now that I've used it in that way.
• Messages Filtering is so much better than it was before - it works well, has distinct categories (like Mail in iOS 18), and actually remembers what filtered view you were in last.
• I like the big clock.
• Photos now has a two-tab layout, an improvement over iOS 18's single view. The new second tab is for collections - think albums, holidays, etc. Basically one is the firehose of photos that iOS 18 forced on us, the other is the organized bit.
• I like the look of the keyboard now. I thought iOS 18's (and every version prior's) was super ugly, now it actually looks like it belongs in iOS.
• Camera is now much simpler to use. The UI is less cluttered with unlabeled buttons. Granted I use a non-Pro, so this may not apply to phones with 3 cameras.
• Animations are much faster across the whole UI. This wasn't an issue with phones that have ProMotion, but now us peasants without it also get a more responsive UI. It's not 120Hz w/ VRR but it feels much better than before.

One gripe I do have is the share sheet. Feels like they changed it again for not a whole lot of reasons, and it requires more taps usually to send whatever I'm sharing to wherever I need it.

 

[HouseLannister]

Everything is too many clicks now. Things are hidden or just unintuitive. ATP had a good rant about it. Camera app, Phone app, Safari... so many extra clicks. You can revert some of the changes, but it is intentional obfuscation and it is everywhere. The Circle to Search ripoff is just far too fiddly when it could have used the same gesture as Google (which is basically the Type to Siri gesture no one is using).

 

[Shawn MacApple]

Issues with usability are largely down to the UX implementation - buttons being hard to read, nonsensical labels, etc. As far as features and functionality, here are some improvements and regressions that aren't about Liquid Ass:

• The new Phone app layout is great. Voicemail inline with call history feels obvious now that I've used it in that way.
• Messages Filtering is so much better than it was before - it works well, has distinct categories (like Mail in iOS 18), and actually remembers what filtered view you were in last.
• I like the big clock.
• Photos now has a two-tab layout, an improvement over iOS 18's single view. The new second tab is for collections - think albums, holidays, etc. Basically one is the firehose of photos that iOS 18 forced on us, the other is the organized bit.
• I like the look of the keyboard now. I thought iOS 18's (and every version prior's) was super ugly, now it actually looks like it belongs in iOS.
• Camera is now much simpler to use. The UI is less cluttered with unlabeled buttons. Granted I use a non-Pro, so this may not apply to phones with 3 cameras.
• Animations are much faster across the whole UI. This wasn't an issue with phones that have ProMotion, but now us peasants without it also get a more responsive UI. It's not 120Hz w/ VRR but it feels much better than before.

One gripe I do have is the share sheet. Feels like they changed it again for not a whole lot of reasons, and it requires more taps usually to send whatever I'm sharing to wherever I need it.

Certainly piqued my interest with these things. Sounds like some improvements that really make a lot of sense.

• That phone layout sounds like a definite improvement
• In the past I had the filters on Messages and I ended up missing a few important messages regarded as spam so I will give this new version a try
• I don't clutter my lock screen with anything other than the current limit of widgets so that huge timepiece will be handy.
• I have hated the Photos app since they ruined it a few updates ago so anything will be an improvement.
• I never really gave the keyboard any thought so I will have to see that
• Having a PM, I am hopeful the camera got simplified a little
• I didn't like the last time they messed with the Share Sheet and it took me a while to change my old habit. Some things they really don't need to touch.

Thank you for your thoughts; this is exactly what I was wanting to see - good or bad. I really appreciate it.

 

[Shawn MacApple]

Everything is too many clicks now. Things are hidden or just unintuitive. ATP had a good rant about it. Camera app, Phone app, Safari... so many extra clicks. You can revert some of the changes, but it is intentional obfuscation and it is everywhere. The Circle to Search ripoff is just far too fiddly when it could have used the same gesture as Google (which is basically the Type to Siri gesture no one is using).

Again, good info that I was looking for. Thank you.

I just don't know why they would make any changes that force a user into more work, especially since the steps we have been taking to use apps the way we do have not really changed that much for a long time. Seems like a step or two backwards to do that. It goes back to change for the sake of change. I am not against change if it makes sense, but not just for the heck of it.

It really makes me wonder, if they believe in their update, why they have built in options to undo what they built to revert back.

I will have to look at the Circle to Search when I can. I do not know much about it.

 

[tomtattoo]

Everything is too many clicks now.

THIS.
It is really everywhere - iOS, MacOS, in so many apps....makes you crazy.

 

[aperfectcircle]

I find iOS 26 to be really fluid, and yes part of that is the animations. I’ve been using it since beta 3 on my 14PM and for the last 24 hours on my Air. There is some adjustment of course, as not everything works the same as iOS 18. Some things require an extra tap or two due to restructuring or menus, but now that I’m used to it those things don’t bother me at all.

I’m a lone wolf in that I preferred the consolidated style of the Photos app in iOS 18, so the split into library and collections is one thing that still slightly annoys me - but I’ve got used to it and it is what it is. The unified view in the Phone app is great and the filtering in Messages is awesome as here in Vietnam the telcos love to spam you with offers (and I run two SIMs with different providers so I get double the spam).

Music is a little annoying with no next track button on the collapsed toolbar, but then the pinning feature is really great. Safari is fine, the swipe up from the address bar to view all tabs is nice and easy, the extra click to clear history isn’t too annoying as I only do that once or twice a week. The toolbar that sits atop the keyboard when in a text box sometimes covering the text box gets annoying so I’m hoping they’ll sort that out. It tends to only be an issue on sites like this where I’m entering a novel of text, but still drives me mad.

Overall I’m liking 26 more than 18, but be prepared for the adjustment to take time.

Edit: I’d also add that using Music seems much improved, with queuing much better than it was previously. Not sure if this was a 26 thing as it may have changed in a later 18 release? Either way just general use of Music seems simpler/easier now.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I just don't know why they would make any changes that force a user into more work, especially since the steps we have been taking to use apps the way we do have not really changed that much for a long time. Seems like a step or two backwards to do that. It goes back to change for the sake of change. I am not against change if it makes sense, but not just for the heck of it.

Apple's designers seem to think that visual simplicity = simplicity in use. This simply isn't true, it doesn't take a genius to know that hiding functions makes using the thing more complicated, not simpler.

It really makes me wonder, if they believe in their update, why they have built in options to undo what they built to revert back.

Those options don't actually revert the design. In fact they actively make it worse. People online only say that do that to put down people that do not enjoy Liquid Glass.

 

[auxbuss]

Apple's designers seem to think that visual simplicity = simplicity in use. This simply isn't true, it doesn't take a genius to know that hiding functions makes using the thing more complicated, not simpler.

Years ago, I worked alongside the "upgrade" of a mobile/cell phone billing system where the designers removed all the shortcuts that the reps used day in day out. They had a plethora of sequences that were simply a string of numbers: 1:5:3:7:8, and so on. They could navigate the complex system at an astonishing speed, which is what you'd expect from people skilled at using a system. Instead, the designers fully expected the reps to click through each screen, one by one. The productivity drop would have been huge. Nevertheless, when the thing first encountered a real user, all hell broke loose, and of course the designers dug their heels in.

I also worked for a banking software firm about a decade ago. I have no idea how anyone understood the absolute mess of numbers and symbols that appeared on the screen and the myriad pop-ups of yet more gibberish. But that's what was required to do the job. The design was, pretty much, perfect – and not a rounded corner or transparent widget in sight.

I can only speculate, but it does appear that by navigating towards a unified visual design across their hardware, Apple is being forced towards the lowest common denominator. The outcome of which should be obvious.

 

[newellj]

I've got about 18 hours on 26...didn't try any of the betas.

Very briefly, it's much better than I expected. Functionally, the basics are all still there. There are some UI changes but my personal experience is that the UX hasn't gotten worse (or better, for that matter) than 18/17.

I'm not sure you can separate visual changes from functional changes. I was amazed at how visually "quiet" the UI was, and then remembered that years ago I turned on "reduce motion," "reduce transparency" and "increase contrast," and those settings have carried over as I've migrated from one iPhone to the next. My point here is that if people don't like all the liquid glass-related effects, change some of the settings under Accessibility and see if it isn't a great deal better for you.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

They had a plethora of sequences that were simply a string of numbers: 1:5:3:7:8, and so on. They could navigate the complex system at an astonishing speed, which is what you'd expect from people skilled at using a system.

My current job is due to upgrade our system and make a similar move from my beloved AS/400 / 5250 emulator software to a real GUI for our inventory system. I'm not looking forward to it - these number shortcuts are far too engrained in my muscle memory.

 

[JerryIII]

There is enough complaining about the look of Liquid Glass (and that awesome Homage Orange color 😁). That stuff has been run into the ground. I want to know what people think about the rest of it.

Those who are using it (regardless of liking Liquid Glass or not) I would like to know what are your thoughts? Are there major issues with usability of the OS? Quirks? Changes to be aware of you like or don't like other than the UI? I know there are many new things and I would like to know your thoughts on those as well.

These are things that are really helpful to others on the forum like myself. I am using a 15PM so that would be a good comparison but I'll take any info since most of it will be available to my phone.

Thanks.

I upgraded over night and just started playing with it. One thing is immediately apparent, this OS is blazing fast on my 15 pro.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I upgraded over night and just started playing with it. One thing is immediately apparent, this OS is blazing fast on my 15 pro.

Even on my 13 mini the animations are super fast. Can't complain about the speed boost.

 

[Maloney~888]

I upgraded over night and just started playing with it. One thing is immediately apparent, this OS is blazing fast on my 15 pro.

I’m on a 15 Pro. I’m hesitant this time round (always installed new iOS on day 1 in the past) I have iOS 26 on my 2018 iPad. Looking to hold out to at least iOS 26.1 before jumping in on my phone.

 

[Shawn MacApple]

I have always updated on day one as well but was going to wait on this update. After seeing the comments above I really didn't see anything too horrible. I actually just updated the beta on my iPad Pro and then jumped in and just updated my 15PM and my AWU1.

I have not played with it much but will today. What I have also noticed is that it is really fast on my 15PM.

Thanks again to all who shared their thoughts good and bad.