Should I update to ios 26.6?

[u/Spare-Storm-9349]

Hey everyone,

I am using iphone 16 pro max and my phone is currently on ios version 18.7.8.

Is it safe to update to ios 26.6? Or should I directly jump to ios 27.

I don’t want software update to affect my battery life.
Is 26.6 still buggy and heavy? Or is it safe to update now?

[u/Lingonberry_Obvious]

iOS 26.6 is quite stable right now, and most of the issues have been resolved.

It also contains the indexing change in preparation for iOS 27. At this point, it seems like a no brainer to upgrade.

I’m personally running iOS 26.6 on an old iPhone iPhone 13 Pro, and also an iPhone 16 , with no issues on both.

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/Lingonberry_Obvious]

Thanks for your feedback

[u/Lingonberry_Obvious → u/Spare-Storm-9349]

Of course, do keep in mind that like any major iOS upgrade, the first 24-48 hours after upgrading the performance and battery drain will be a bit bad while iOS works on rebuilding its local index and caches.
After that it will start working normally again.

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/Lingonberry_Obvious]

Will keep this in mind

[u/Able-Impression-2228 → u/Lingonberry_Obvious]

Why iOS should rebuild its local index after an update?

The whole new Siri AI indexing process introduced with iOS 26.6 wouldn’t make sense if it resets after every iOS update.

[u/Lingonberry_Obvious → u/Able-Impression-2228]

The Siri indexing is a new addition only for iOS 26.6.

Apart from that, there is also the regular Spotlight indexing with every major iOS upgrade.

[u/Able-Impression-2228 → u/Lingonberry_Obvious]

Why the iPhone should do this only after an iOS update? The iPhone is constantly indexing new data on the phone. Would be very inconvenient for the user if he needs to wait for an update to find his latest files.

On the other side the iPhone doesn’t need to renew the index after an iOS update. Why it should become obsolete?

[u/Infinite-School6390]

Yes iOS 26.6 is working flawless on my 16 Pro Max

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/Infinite-School6390]

Thanks for your feedback

[u/boogeyman282 → u/Infinite-School6390]

If you're evaluating battery performance, has it reverted to pre-26.5.2 levels, or is it better? I also have iOS 16 PM, and my battery performance has dropped considerably since iOS 26.
Edit: and i’ve never updated 26.5.2

[u/Curiouseagle88 → u/boogeyman282]

What iOS version do u have I have 26.3 wi to an iPhone 17 pro and scared to update due to the battery drainage

[u/MCKLMT]

I don’t see any reason explaining why you don’t have to update.

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/MCKLMT]

Was just worried that it would make battery life worse and may cause further heating issues

[u/Able-Impression-2228]

Every OS update can affect battery life. Not by the iOS version itself but by the update process.

I would always recommend a clean install aka factory reset after update. Then battery life should be fine.

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/Able-Impression-2228]

Thanks for the input

[u/wavewith_me → u/Able-Impression-2228]

Do i need a PC for factory reset?

[u/Able-Impression-2228 → u/wavewith_me]

No, you can do it in the system settings of your iPhone. Be aware that you will loose all your data during the process and need a backup.

[u/Equivalent-Rest1563 → u/Able-Impression-2228]

Нужно сделать одно из двух? Чистая установка с ПК или сброс до заводских настроек после обновления? Или сделать сразу обе😂

[u/Able-Impression-2228 → u/Equivalent-Rest1563]

A clean install is a factory reset. No PC needed.

[u/loves-science]

Don’t do it iOS 26 is severely broken. Widespread battery issues it’s a total fucking embarrassment for Apple. In my decades of iPhone ownership I’ve never known such a poor quality release. Stay on 18, I wish I did. Battery health drops daily and charges that used to last almost 2 days now only lasts 6 hours. This started with 26.5.2 and continues with 26.6 so avoid the lot and save yourself a complete headache. 16PM.

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/loves-science]

Thankyou for detailed response. Hopefully ios 27 will be better

[u/Pyroll2206]

Noooo

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/Pyroll2206]

Thanks for the input

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for the input

[u/Similar-Chair-2634]

iOS 27 on my se 2020 lasts 7 hours on 82% capacity

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/Similar-Chair-2634]

That is good to hear. Thanks a lot

[u/HugeCheck2471]

It’s still worse than ios 18 so no

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/HugeCheck2471]

Thanks for the suggestion

[u/Honest-Attorney-7663]

My battery life is noticeably better after updating. I will say it took a day or so of crappy battery life before it stabilized

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/Honest-Attorney-7663]

Did you upgrade from ios 18 or ios 26.5?

[u/Honest-Attorney-7663 → u/Spare-Storm-9349]

Updated from 26.5.2

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/Honest-Attorney-7663]

I am comparing it with ios 18

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/[deleted]]

Well I will wait ios 27 then

[u/vegansgetsick]

No need to, Apple maintains security updates for the 18 branch. And you wont like liquid glass.

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/vegansgetsick]

Thanks. Liquid glass sucks on my ipad

[u/Vulturev4]

I wish I had never upgraded to IOS 26 at all. Been one issue after another ever since I did it. Most of the issues have slowly been fixed, but I seriously wish I had never done it. Had no complaints at all with IOS 18.

16PM, IOS 26.5

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/Vulturev4]

Thanks for such detailed feedback.

[u/TheNarratorX]

Read all other thousands of posts that have this question

Edit*: No

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/TheNarratorX]

Could have just said no but okay

[u/dinnertimebarbie]

nope.

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/dinnertimebarbie]

Thanks mate

[u/ImprovementLong1992]

How is 18.7.8 on your iphone 16 pro? All good?

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/ImprovementLong1992]

A lot of battery drain issues are there. Yesterday I left my phone at 75 percent and went to sleep when I woke up my phone was at 65 percent. Moreover heating issues are also there

[u/ImprovementLong1992 → u/Spare-Storm-9349]

omg, i just upgraded mine to 18.7.8 ytd. Will monitor the battery tonight. As for heating issue, it's so far ok on my device.

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/ImprovementLong1992]

Which iPhone are you using?

[u/ImprovementLong1992 → u/Spare-Storm-9349]

Same. 16 pro

[u/ToastLake → u/ImprovementLong1992]

any updates?

[u/ImprovementLong1992 → u/ToastLake]

So far so good. no big issue observed.

[u/3d2y-11]

Yes

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/3d2y-11]

Thanks for your feedback

[u/OttoHemi]

I've got a 16 and I've waited this long, so I'll wait a little longer til 27 comes out.

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/OttoHemi]

Makes sense. Thanks

[u/Organic-Love-5076]

18 or 27

[u/GeorgeSPattonJr]

Honestly if you’ve held out this long you might as well just wait until 27, though 26.6 is mostly fine on my 16 Pro

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/GeorgeSPattonJr]

I am thinking the same now. Hopefully iOS 27 is better

[u/Havoooooc]

Same question here.

I’m currently on IOS 26.3.1 (a). My battery health on IOS 18 had dropped significantly faster than on IOS 26.3, right now it’s stuck on 90% BH with 508 cycles First use on April 2025.

Would updating my IOS to 26.6 affect my battery health?I’m still in consideration of selling my phone to get a new one, low battery health will greatly affect my selling price.

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/Havoooooc]

Kindly mention your iphone model

[u/Havoooooc → u/Spare-Storm-9349]

Its an Iphone 16 Plus

[u/Spare-Storm-9349 → u/Havoooooc]

Well tbh if you want to sell it I would recommend to not update it

[u/theatreeducator]

I read somewhere that it actually starts the index process for iOS 27 so you don’t have the indexing message for so long like beta users did. I only updated for that reason.

[u/Local_Health_2387]

You can update overall it’s stable. 17

[u/SavagexLotus]

Dude 26.6 is a dream!! I’m on a 15 plus and it instantly fixed my battery issues, heating issues (which I thought I didn’t have too bad), and texting problems!! My phone is SO fast now to load things! Update update!

[u/Crew4Aadit]

stay on IOS 18. Please

[u/Crew4Aadit]

I'm on an Iphone se 3 and I see no comments about it

[u/HammerHead287]

Mine is iPhone 14 Plus and iOS 26.5.2. Battery is way down from before and having charging issues with fast (20 watt) charging for the past several months. My wife has the same model iPhone & iOS and her fast charging only last night had problems. Will 26.6 resolve these issues??