My Rollback to iOS 18

[Crowlover0815]

Hi everyone

Yesterday i wrote in another thread, i will sell my iPhone 15 PM and buy a new iPhone 15 PM with iOS 18 installed. Today i received the new iPhone and AW 10 and i thought, it's a good idea to set up it completely from new without any backup from previous iOS 18.

For me definitve the better iPhone experience with iOS 18.

I'm using iPhones since 2009 and i updated every year to the newest iOS version, but iOS 26 is for me the badest release for me.
I usually get used to changes quickly, but this time after a month with iOS 26 i have to go this step and hope, Apple will let the user decide, how much liquid glass we "need", or a option to turn this effects completely off.

I wonder if anyone else has taken this step back? 🙃

 

[FeliApple]

Hi everyone

Yesterday i wrote in another thread, i will sell my iPhone 15 PM and buy a new iPhone 15 PM with iOS 18 installed. Today i received the new iPhone and AW 10 and i thought, it's a good idea to set up it completely from new without any backup from previous iOS 18.

For me definitve the better iPhone experience with iOS 18.

View attachment 2568223 View attachment 2568225

I realized, that one app already have this ugly iOS 26 borders around the app icon under iOS 18. So there will more an more icons get this borders with updates in the future, when the iOS 26 "optimizations" are implemented.

View attachment 2568226

I'm using iPhones since 2009 and i updated every year to the newest iOS version, but iOS 26 is for me the badest release for me.
I usually get used to changes quickly, but this time after a month with iOS 26 i have to go this step and hope, Apple will let the user decide, how much liquid glass we "need", or a option to turn this effects completely off.

I wonder if anyone else has taken this step back? 🙃

I unwittingly had automatic app updates enabled and I barely managed to avoid the iOS 26 borders for now.

I never update iOS so I’m still running iOS 18 on my 16 Plus, but I reckon app updates are eventually inevitable. Unlike iOS updates, which experience shows I can run original iOS versions for years on end, apps typically break far faster, so I reckon that it won’t be long until all apps have the borders.

Nothing I can do about it, so I will enjoy my iOS 18 apps without borders while they last.

Selling the device and repurchasing one on the previous version, especially as somebody who updates every year, is quite extreme. You really disliked iOS 26, didn’t you?

That said, you aren’t the first one to mention doing something like that. iOS 26 has been quite controversial. I knew I disliked it from day one. The only aspect I like is the camera app icon, but the translucency is hideous, at least for me.

Apple is my way or nothing, so they either stick to Liquid Glass for years on end and eventually force us all or they allow some kind of rollback. They changed every OS, so it doesn’t seem like that will be the case.

Well, let’s enjoy iOS (and iPadOS in my case) 18 while it lasts.

 

[UliBaer]

Even on iOS 17.7.2 the icons start to get 26tified:

It is the icon for "hide.me VPN". Since the latest update it has this border.

 

[Crowlover0815]

I bought the latest iPhone every year for years, but I haven't upgraded since the iPhone 15 PM.
Now I'm selling the iPhone with iOS 26 and enjoying a fresh iPhone 15 PM.

I'll also skip the iPhone 17 PM, as the iPhone 15 PM is more than good enough.

Let's see where Apple's Liquid Glass takes us.

I don't like the animations, the battery doesn't last as long, and the iPhone sometimes gets noticeably warm with the same usage.

Apple probably wanted the new iPhones to feel newer and better by making major changes to iOS and thus boosting sales.

 

[tomtattoo]

Let´s not forget about these companies which still refuse to offer a proper dark icon for dark mode.
So you have three! different styles on iOS18: no dark icon, iOS 18 icon, iOS26 icon.

And they are talking about "unifying the design all over devices"
It is ridicolous.

 

[Isamilis]

Hi everyone

Yesterday i wrote in another thread, i will sell my iPhone 15 PM and buy a new iPhone 15 PM with iOS 18 installed. Today i received the new iPhone and AW 10 and i thought, it's a good idea to set up it completely from new without any backup from previous iOS 18.

For me definitve the better iPhone experience with iOS 18.

View attachment 2568223 View attachment 2568225

I realized, that one app already have this ugly iOS 26 borders around the app icon under iOS 18. So there will more an more icons get this borders with updates in the future, when the iOS 26 "optimizations" are implemented.

View attachment 2568226

I'm using iPhones since 2009 and i updated every year to the newest iOS version, but iOS 26 is for me the badest release for me.
I usually get used to changes quickly, but this time after a month with iOS 26 i have to go this step and hope, Apple will let the user decide, how much liquid glass we "need", or a option to turn this effects completely off.

I wonder if anyone else has taken this step back? 🙃

I actually like the iOS 26’ border style. But I stay in 18 due to its impact on performance, battery and visual clarity.

 

[winxmac]

You should have bought an iPhone 16 Pro Max since that is the iPhone model with iOS 18.x in mind. Since you look happy with going back to iOS 18.x and still use an iPhone 15 Pro Max, I guess that works as well.

As an owner of an iPhone 11 Pro Max, I don't have any choice but to upgrade to iOS 26.x once apps no longer update on iOS 18.x and maybe by that time, whatever current iOS release we have will either be back to iOS 6 stability and look or iOS 18 and earlier.

Does anyone here think that iOS 27.x will be a minor update but major in terms of aesthetics?

 

[avro707]

Does anyone here think that iOS 27.x will be a minor update but major in terms of aesthetics?

They will make the entire interface like glass and use the camera to make the background translucent.

(I hope not).

 

[Crowlover0815]

I am satisfied with the iPhone 15 PM and do not need a camera control button. As I am a big fan of the Tech21 Evo Max protective case, i didn‘t purchase the iPhone 16 PM, as this case has an indentation on the right-hand side for the camera control button, which would bother me.

Sooner or later, banking apps in particular will force users to update to iOS26.

View attachment 2568415


View attachment 2568416

The brighter the background, the harder it is to read the text above.

Some changes in iOS26 are ok, but too many not.

Back in 2013 with the release of iOS7, i was happy with the changes and never thougt going back to iOS6 on the lovely iPhone 5.

 

[HouseLannister]

Does anyone here think that iOS 27.x will be a minor update but major in terms of aesthetics?

iOS 27 will be all about foldables and multitasking. Doubt they will have time to refine the glass much. It will probably seem pretty minor for those on slab phones.

 

[aespana]

I’m still in iOS 18 with my 13 Mini and I don’t see a reason to update to iOS 26.

It just looks terrible for me. And I don’t know if I’ll stick with Apple in the future.. don’t like the iOS and it will last years before a change. Tahoe also looks bad today my Air..

The problem here is.. where to go? Pixels? With all that AI crap? Samsung the same.. Motorola? One plus? Xiaomi? (God, no thank you).

Hard times will come. For now, I will enjoy the 13 Mini and that’s all. No iOS 26 for me

 

[CEleven]

I also thought about switching to another 15 Pro Max with iOS 18, but in the end I decided not to. Like others have said, you just have to upgrade at some point anyway.

I’ve been using the iOS 26.01 betas for a few weeks now, and currently iOS 26.1, but I still keep struggling with the accessibility settings — some UI element in iOS 26 just keep bothering me and I can’t find a setting I’m comfortable with.

If I weren’t already so deep in the Apple ecosystem, I’d definitely be considering another platform.

 

[AlanMarron]

I was proactive after using betas of 26. I upgraded my wife’s iPhone to a 16, and bought her a new iPad mini before inventory was upgraded to 26. We have Apple devices here, there, and everywhere, but our upgrade cycle is now frozen. A pity.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I’m still in iOS 18 with my 13 Mini and I don’t see a reason to update to iOS 26.

It just looks terrible for me. And I don’t know if I’ll stick with Apple in the future.. don’t like the iOS and it will last years before a change. Tahoe also looks bad today my Air..

The problem here is.. where to go? Pixels? With all that AI crap? Samsung the same.. Motorola? One plus? Xiaomi? (God, no thank you).

Hard times will come. For now, I will enjoy the 13 Mini and that’s all. No iOS 26 for me

Same. Luckily (I guess?) for us they don't make any new Mini phones (or anything like it), so we aren't missing out on any hardware by staying on iOS 18.

I see no reason at all to downgrade to the 26 experience.

 

[AlixSPQR]

I’m still in iOS 18 with my 13 Mini and I don’t see a reason to update to iOS 26.

Exactly my situation and position. I fear it also will impact the performance gravely.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Does anyone here think that iOS 27.x will be a minor update but major in terms of aesthetics?

No.
The aesthetics don’t change that frequently, the iOS 7 era design language basically stuck around for 12 years, with some small mini refreshes with iOS 11 and 14.
iOS 27 will likely simply build upon the foundation of iOS 26, likely with optimizations for future devices, like folding phones and glasses.
But the aesthetic design will basically stay the same for the next decade or so.

 

[Crowlover0815]

Exactly my situation and position. I fear it also will impact the performance gravely.

It will also negatively affect battery life.

I also thought about switching to another 15 Pro Max with iOS 18, but in the end I decided not to. Like others have said, you just have to upgrade at some point anyway.

It's true that I can't stay with iOS 18 forever, but I've upgraded from 256GB of storage to 512GB with the new iPhone 15 PM, and the battery is now back to its best.


I'll definitely continue to monitor the development of iOS 26, but I won't be updating to iOS 26 for the next few months.

 

[HouseLannister]

I'll definitely continue to monitor the development of iOS 26, but I won't be updating to iOS 26 for the next few months.

And really there is little reason to right now. If More Personal Siri comes out in the Spring on 26.4 and wows us, I am sure there will be a wave of upgrades. But for now it's an easy pass.

 

[turbineseaplane]

If More Personal Siri comes out in the Spring on 26.4 and wows us

But for now it's an easy pass.

So easy.
I'd even argue it's the smart move for now.

 

[Abydos]

agreed, I suspect I will avoid updating io ios26 (or higher) until forced by apps or I purchase a new phone with no road back either that or punt bank apps on my phone completely and keep the present phone to failure

 

[TracerAnalog]

Hi everyone

Yesterday i wrote in another thread, i will sell my iPhone 15 PM and buy a new iPhone 15 PM with iOS 18 installed. Today i received the new iPhone and AW 10 and i thought, it's a good idea to set up it completely from new without any backup from previous iOS 18.

For me definitve the better iPhone experience with iOS 18.

View attachment 2568223 View attachment 2568225

I realized, that one app already have this ugly iOS 26 borders around the app icon under iOS 18. So there will more an more icons get this borders with updates in the future, when the iOS 26 "optimizations" are implemented.

View attachment 2568226

I'm using iPhones since 2009 and i updated every year to the newest iOS version, but iOS 26 is for me the badest release for me.
I usually get used to changes quickly, but this time after a month with iOS 26 i have to go this step and hope, Apple will let the user decide, how much liquid glass we "need", or a option to turn this effects completely off.

I wonder if anyone else has taken this step back? 🙃

I am amazed at the lengths you went through to get back to iOS 18. I don't get the hate myself and consider iOS 26 to be just a minor HMI overhaul. But, you do you! ☺️👍🏼

 

[Crowlover0815]

I've been wanting to completely reset my iPhone without backing it up for a while now, but I haven't felt like going to the trouble until now.
Normally, it takes about an hour and a half to completely set up a new iPhone with iCloud backup.

Of course, some people think my decision is silly and unnecessary.
It's not as if an iPhone with iOS26 is completely bad.

For example, I would still like the iPhone Air, but only if iOS26 has received the necessary optimizations.

 

[maxoakland]

Hi everyone

Yesterday i wrote in another thread, i will sell my iPhone 15 PM and buy a new iPhone 15 PM with iOS 18 installed. Today i received the new iPhone and AW 10 and i thought, it's a good idea to set up it completely from new without any backup from previous iOS 18.

…

I'm using iPhones since 2009 and i updated every year to the newest iOS version, but iOS 26 is for me the badest release for me.
I usually get used to changes quickly, but this time after a month with iOS 26 i have to go this step and hope, Apple will let the user decide, how much liquid glass we "need", or a option to turn this effects completely off.

I wonder if anyone else has taken this step back? 🙃

I rolled back my iPad before they stopped signing iOS 18 so I luckily didn't have to go though the trouble of getting a new device, but that's a really good solution. I didn't even think of that!

 

[robertosh]

As an owner of an iPhone 11 Pro Max, I don't have any choice but to upgrade to iOS 26.x once apps no longer update on iOS 18.x and maybe by that time, whatever current iOS release we have will either be back to iOS 6 stability and look or iOS 18 and earlier.

Really? I haven't found any issue yet. From iOS18 to iOS26 there are not much fundamental changes (apart from the design) that would make developers to require iOS26 as minimum OS. In fact, is even a bad idea commercially as you are leaving behind many users. iOS18 should be well supported by developers for some time, specially taking into account the bad initial reception of iOS26.

 

[SBlue1]

Hell no. Don’t plan to go back. I love the new design. Usually I am very skeptical with big design changes. I hated the flat icons. I loved Aqua back then and I fell in love with Liquid Glass immediately. Best UI in a decade.