iOS 26 vs. iOS 18: Which One is Better?

von Sandy An Sep 18, 2025

Apple’s software journey has taken a bold leap, jumping straight from iOS 18 to iOS 26, leaving many users wondering, “What happened to iOS 19?” Well, this happened due to Apple’s rebranding strategy that aligned iOS version number with the year of release.

With that, iOS has arrived with its “Liquid Glass Design” and smart AI features with unmatched performance. Now that iOS 26 makes iOS 18 look like yesterday’s news, let’s dive into how iOS 26 compares to iOS 18.

The Big Picture: Key Differences Between iOS 18 and iOS 26

A Design Transformed: The Liquid Glass Effect

Under the Hood: Performance & Battery Life Realities

Smarter and More Helpful: The AI Revolution

App by App: Where It Matters Most

Should You Upgrade to iOS 26?

The Bottom Line: Evolution vs. Revolution

The Big Picture: Key Differences Between iOS 18 and iOS 26

Shifting from iOS 18 to iOS 26 might feel a big jump, but here is how the new version outshines its predecessor:

Feature	iOS 18	iOS 26
Visual Style	Flat, minimal, simple blur	Liquid Glass, vibrant, dynamic
Lock Screen	Static clock, solid alerts	Dynamic clock, glassy effects
Control Center	Basic blocks	Rounded, 3D glass look
App Icons	Flat, uniform	Larger, layered with depth
Messages	Basic chats, Tapbacks	Custom backgrounds, polls, live translation
Siri & AI	Standard Siri	Apple Intelligence with smart AI tools
UI Adaptation	Fixed colors	Adaptive menus and transparency
Photos	Standard gallery	Spatial photos, smart events
Battery	Stable, efficient	Initial drain, adaptive power
Phone	Basic calls, RCS	Hold Assist, call screening, translations
CarPlay	Simple layout	Glass theme, widgets, video, Live Activities
Customization	Basic widgets, shortcuts	Deeper icon, widget, lock screen options
Stability	Very reliable	Early quirks, improving with updates

A Design Transformed: The Liquid Glass Effect

Coming towards the design comparison, iOS 26 features the Liquid Glass Effect for a more futuristic and responsive user experience. It's an advanced, glass-like visual style that runs throughout the interface, whereas iOS 18 focused on semi-translucent backgrounds and dark tones. Some of the significant differences related to the icon, lock screen, or control center are listed below for your understanding:

Feature	iOS 18	iOS 26
App Icons	Flat, standard size	Larger with a layered glass effect and depth
Control Center	Simple, block-style with low opacity	Rounded, glass-like buttons with depth
Lock Screen	Fixed clock, solid notifications	Dynamic clock, see-through notifications, glass unlock animation
Widgets & Menus	Static colors, limited adaptation	Adaptive colors and transparency that match the background
Button Highlights	Basic light/dark fills	Shifting light refraction for a 3D look
Customization	Shortcuts, limited icon changes	Transparent “All Clear” icons, more dynamic depth options
Accessibility	Reduce transparency for clarity	Enhanced contrast and customization for readability

Under the Hood: Performance & Battery Life Realities

It has been reported that iOS 26 will run across iPhone 11 and newer devices, offering a faster and more optimized version for fluid multitasking. In contrast, although iOS 18 is running rock-solid, iOS 26 is offering a faster navigational experience, with a brief show of lagging (which will settle in!)

That’s not all! iOS 26 has not been offering the best battery performance, when put in comparison with iOS 18. At this moment, it has been reported that the battery is draining heavily with the new visuals. Furthermore, it has also been discovered that the Liquid Glass effect has risen the device heat, almost 10°C higher than its predecessor. However, this usually settles down within a week or so after the official release, so that’s nothing to worry about.

Smarter and More Helpful: The AI Revolution

Now, if you question “Is iOS 26 better than iOS 18”? Our answer would be yes! Its Liquid Glass design, smarter AI, and smoother performance make it a true upgrade. Talking about AI, iOS 26 takes a giant leap over iOS 18 with the Apple Intelligence suite. Here is what you need to know.

Feature	Highlights
Live Translation	Real-time translations in calls, Messages, FaceTime, and even in-person with AirPods, spoken and written.
Siri Evolution	Smarter, faster, and context-aware Siri that handles multi-step tasks fully on-device for better privacy.
On-Screen Awareness	Let you translate, summarize, or act on anything visible, screenshots, text, or objects, instantly and privately.
Writing Tools	AI-powered proofreading, tone rewrites, and summaries are available across the system and third-party apps.

App by App: Where It Matters Most

Still wondering “Should I upgrade from iOS 18 to iOS 26?” iOS 26 upgrades core apps with smarter, more personal, and convenient features for everyday life. Review the given table to know how:

App/Feature	What’s New in iOS 26
Messages	● Liquid Glass looks ● Rebranded “Screen Unknown Senders” ● Custom chat backgrounds (AI) ● Group chat upgrades ● Live translation ● RCS improvements
Phone & Communications	● Call Screening ● Hold Assist ● Live call translations ● Compact CarPlay UI ● Tiled FaceTime with posters
Photos	● Liquid Glass UI ● Tab bar navigation ● 3D spatial photos ● Smart event recognition ● AI-powered search
CarPlay	● New Liquid Glass design ● widgets on dash ● Parked video playback ● Live Activities in-car, ● Richer Messages/Phone integration

Should You Upgrade to iOS 26?

So, what is the final decision? If you prioritize new features over rock-solid stability and a better life, upgrading is worth it. But it depends on the iPhone model!

● iPhone 15/16/17 Series - Highly Recommended

Enjoy the smoothest Liquid Glass design, full Apple Intelligence features, fast multitasking, and minimal battery impact.

Plus, with Apple’s latest launch still fresh, many of you are either waiting for your new device to arrive or already unboxing it. We strongly recommend getting a protective case this time around—since the new iPhone features an aluminum enclosure, keeping it safe is more important than ever. If you’re interested, check out ESR’s Lifeproof cases for iPhone. They’re compatible with a wide range of models, both old and new. Looking for iPhone 17 series cases? Click here!

● iPhone 13/14 Series - Optional, upgrade if you want new features

Some lag or faster battery drain early on; best for users excited about Live Translation, smarter Siri, and writing tools.

● iPhone 11/12 Series - Supported but may strain

Battery and speed take the biggest hit; turning off Liquid Glass can help preserve performance.

● Work-Critical Devices - Better to Wait!

Stick with the stable iOS 18.7 until bugs are patched and battery life steadies, upgrade later for safety.

The Bottom Line: Evolution vs. Revolution

To wrap up, iOS 18 offers smooth performance and reliable battery life. iOS 26, on the other hand, comes with Liquid Glass design, Apple Intelligence features, and deeper customization. Still, the final decision is yours, but if you take the leap to iOS 26 and later miss the old comfort, no worries! You can roll back by restoring your iPhone with an iOS 18.7 IPSW file through Finder or iTunes.