iOS 26 was released in September 2025 and became one of Apple’s largest updates in recent years. However, a recent study by the analytics company SellCell showed that adoption has been surprisingly slow. Almost a quarter of owners of compatible iPhones still have not installed the update, and the reasons are not related to bugs, design, or a general unwillingness to update.
78% Have Updated, but 22% Still Have Not
According to the survey, 78% of respondents have already switched to iOS 26. This is a strong result, but the remaining 22% represent millions of devices that continue to run iOS 25 or earlier versions. At the same time, 61% of participants admitted that they usually postpone installing a new operating system and do not update immediately after release.
It is noteworthy that the new Liquid Glass design, which Apple actively promoted, had almost no impact on the decision. Only 7.7% of respondents said that the appearance was a reason for not updating.
Main Reasons: Lack of Awareness and Misconceptions
The most common answer surprised even the researchers themselves. About 28% of participants simply did not know that iOS 26 had been released. They had not seen a notification in Settings, did not follow Apple news, and did not check for updates manually.
Another 23.7% believed that the system updates automatically and did not realize that the update must be started manually. This was especially typical for users who rarely open the General → Software Update section.
The third most popular reason was the belief that installation takes too much time, cited by 23.3% of respondents. In reality, the process usually takes about 5 to 10 minutes, but many people still remember older iOS versions when updates could freeze for an hour or more.
Some users also fear reduced battery life and slower performance, although Apple traditionally optimizes new versions of iOS for older models, and noticeable slowdowns usually appear only in early beta releases.
What This Means for Users
The relatively slow spread of iOS 26 is not a disaster, but it is an important signal. For several years now, Apple has been facing the fact that a significant part of its audience ignores updates. This reduces overall security, since new versions fix critical vulnerabilities, limits access to new Apple Intelligence features, and complicates the work of app developers who must continue to support older versions of the operating system.
For those who still have not updated, the recommendation is simple: check for iOS 26 in Settings → General → Software Update. If the device is compatible, with full Apple Intelligence functionality available on iPhone 15 Pro and newer models, the update will be quick and straightforward.
In Short
The SellCell study showed that 22% of owners of compatible iPhones still have not updated to iOS 26. The main reason is that 28% were simply unaware of the release. Another 23.7% believed updates were automatic, and 23.3% thought the process would take too long. The Liquid Glass design discouraged only 7.7% of users. This means Apple needs to improve user awareness, and those still on iOS 25 should check their Settings and update, since the process takes only a few minutes.
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