Featured Image Credit: Cheng Xin/Getty
Topics: Apple, Technology
Niamh Shackleton
People who have downloaded a preview of the iOS 26 update appear to be regretting their decision.
For those of you who still have iOS 18.5 (which was only released last month), you haven't all of a sudden missed eight Apple updates. Instead, the tech manufacturer has decided to skip past 19 and jump straight to 26.
As to why Apple has done this, it's apparently because it wants the same naming system for all of its software, says Stuff.
The new version of the highly anticipated software was debuted at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference yesterday (June 9) and the developer version of it has since been released for people to download.
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Per Tech Radar, to download iOS 26 beta you need to sign up for the Apple Developer Program.
You may be asked to pay to be part of the scheme, but the publication says 'if you just quit out from here you should still be enrolled in the free tier of the Apple Developer Program, which is all you need to access the betas'.
But you might want to think twice before downloading the beta version as some people claim they are regretting doing so.
It appears as if people's main grievance is that the apps in the background of the home screen aren't as blurred as they were in the predecessor update.
Sharing a screengrab of their home screen post-update, one Twitter user said: "Totally regretting updating my phone."
"Steve Jobs would have fired everyone," claimed another, as a third described the new home screen design as 'ugly, hard to read, hard to differentiate states, uses more battery, [and] less performant due to all the blur rendering'.
"That looks horrible and unusable," raged someone else.
Another critic said: "I saw someone else post something similar earlier. I thought it was a joke. Guess no update for me."
But not everybody dislikes the update.
"I think it's gorgeous, can't believe I am in the minority here," a fan of the new update penned.
A second added: "#iOS26 beta is really good! I love the glassy sleek design, and other small features as well. You did a pretty good job @Apple."
According to a press release issued by Apple yesterday, the new design 'makes apps and system experiences more expressive and delightful, while keeping iOS instantly familiar'.
"It’s crafted with Liquid Glass - 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 release continues.
"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."
It's expected that iOS 26 will be fully available sometime this fall.
UNILAD has contacted Apple for comment.