The five worst iOS 26 features that users are dragging for being ugly, draining and distracting

Apple has just rolled out iOS 26, calling it the biggest iPhone software update in years, but many users already regret hitting that download button.

iOS 26 officially launched last week after being unveiled back in June at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference. It’s meant to be the company’s most dramatic iPhone update in over a decade. The update brings a completely new look with Apple’s flashy Liquid Glass design and some big new features, but instead of excitement, it has sparked frustration. People online are calling it ugly, annoying, and even “the worst thing Apple has done since iOS 7.”

So, here are the five worst features in iOS 26 that people can’t stop dragging.

1. The battery drain is shocking

My iPhone battery after downloading iOS 26. pic.twitter.com/Zi3W16BFeY

— Austin (@AustinPlanet) September 15, 2025

The number one complaint is how fast iPhones are dying after the update. People say they’re losing 20 per cent of charge in under an hour, with some claiming their overall battery health dropped overnight. Apple insists this is “normal” and just temporary while the phone finishes setting itself up in the background.

2. The Liquid Glass design is an eyesore

First time I hate the new iOS 26 so much. Everything is wobbly, flashy, distracting. Most of things are unreadable.

Who on Earth decided that switching tabs should be so flashy?? (It is even worse on the device in 120 FPS) pic.twitter.com/7bIgkoxdd9

— Slava Cherk (@SlavaCherk) September 15, 2025

Apple clearly thought its new translucent, frosted-glass look was stylish, but plenty of people hate it. Icons, menus and notifications now look blurry and hard to read, with some users even saying the effect gives them headaches or motion sickness. “Steve Jobs would never have approved this,” one unimpressed user wrote on Reddit.

3. The ‘evil red clock’ is creeping people out

@xompeii

iPhones big red clock is a lot less scary when you go into the settings #iphone #iphoneupdate #iphoneclock

♬ original sound – Nutmeg 💙🏳️‍🌈

One new feature lets your lock screen turn into a digital clock when your phone is on its side. Sounds harmless, right? But when it happens at night, the default bright red numbers glow against a black screen, and people say it looks scary, like something out of a horror film.

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4. Dark Mode icons now look… tilted?

iOS 26 is shit.

Everything feels wonky and unreliable. I have black&white filter to reduce the usage of phone, and with it on, it’s not possible to use it after update.

Damn, Apple. pic.twitter.com/oLFtmn1h1u

— Artem 🤙 (@so_weird_guy) September 17, 2025

Dark Mode has also been messed with. App icons now have a soft glow in one corner that makes them look slightly tilted, and people are finding it distracting and even dizzying. To make things worse, switching between Dark and Light Mode is buried behind a long-press “Customise” menu, instead of being easy to toggle in Settings.

5. The keyboard and toggles look wrong

iOS 26:

Clipboard ❌
Better keyboard ❌
Multitasking ❌
Better notifications ❌
Universal back gesture ❌

Unreadable ahhh glass design ✅ pic.twitter.com/MsBoK3W4xF

— Noah Cat (@Cartidise) June 9, 2025

Another big gripe is the new keyboard design. It doesn’t even look the same in every app, which makes it feel inconsistent and messy. On top of that, Apple changed the classic round toggle buttons into stretched-out pill shapes, which many say just look cheap and awkward.

For more like this, like The Tab on Facebook. Featured image via Apple.