iPhone users furious after claims new iOS 26 update has 'ruined' key feature on phones

Apple officially released its new iOS 26 update earlier this week but it seems as if some iPhone users have been left angry after the new software 'ruined' a key feature on their devices.

The tech company unveiled its latest iPhone models at the conference in California last week, with some colours on the pro models causing some controversy among customers, but it is the new operating system's release which is now hitting the headlines.

The iOS 26 update promises more home screen customisation, as well as 'Liquid Glass' which has changed the shape and look of the icons and widgets on the home screen, in what some people are calling the biggest update in years.

When announcing the update back in June, Apple said: "Liquid Glass [is] a new translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings, bringing greater focus to content, and delivering a new level of vitality across controls, navigation, app icons, widgets, and more.

The new update has split opinion (Cheng Xin/Getty Images)

"The new design extends to the Home Screen and Lock Screen, making them more personal and expressive than ever.

"Liquid Glass also brings new customisation options to app icons and widgets, including a stunning clear look."

However, it seems as if some customers are unhappy with the update, not because of the way it looks, but because of the impact it has reportedly had on their battery life.

One X user said: "Just fully charged my phone 58 minutes ago and it's already down to 79 per cent. iOS 26 is turning my phone into a brick."

Another added: "Dude wtf. My phone's been burning up since the update to iOS 26 and voila my battery health just fell down to 80 per cent. I haven't even changed any charging habits."

A third posted: "iOS26 is a battery hog! I typically don't run out of juice and only need to recharge at night."

Fortunately, for those of you who can't go five minutes without looking at a screen, it seems as if the battery drop is only temporary.

Apple has already issued a statement explaining why the battery may be impacted following the update, and suggests that things should go back to normal, or perhaps even better, once everything has been downloaded.

Thankfully, it seems to be temporary (Getty Stock Image)

The company clarified: "Immediately after completing an update, particularly a major release, you might notice a temporary impact on battery life and thermal performance.

"This is normal, as your device needs time to complete the setup process in the background, including indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps.

"New features are exciting and help you get even more out of your Apple product, though some may require additional resources from the device.

"Depending on individual usage, some users may notice a small impact on performance and/or battery life.

"Apple continually works to optimise these features in software updates to ensure great battery life and a smooth user experience."

Still, if you can download iOS 26 you should count yourself lucky, as some phones are now considered to be 'obsolete' as they struggle to keep up with the latest developments at Apple.