I’ve felt my frustrations with Apple develop for a while. I keep in mind getting my palms on the unique iPhone, realizing how historical it made my Motorola Q look. The iPhone ushered in a interval of relentless innovation from Apple, with the corporate persistently being first to market with options that carried out properly 12 months after 12 months. It was an thrilling period for Apple, and it was onerous to think about a time when the corporate wouldn’t push the envelope.
Sadly, issues modified. From a enterprise standpoint, I perceive why Apple slowed its development, choosing cautious strikes over daring improvements. Apple abruptly was the final to market with new options, however no less than they ran properly. Now, with a sequence of subpar software program releases and the failure that’s Apple Intelligence, I can now not give Apple the advantage of the doubt. Right here’s why iOS 26 is the final likelihood I’m giving Apple to show issues round.
Associated
Brutal iOS experiences
‘It simply works’ now not applies
I’ve skilled issues with iOS for the final a number of years. I’ve suffered by random battery drains and quite a few recurring points with system apps. iOS 18.4.1 was the worst of all, with constant crashes and lock-ups, issues I by no means would have encountered a decade in the past. Apple’s software program was as soon as thought-about essentially the most dependable, however I now place it close to the underside of the checklist. The corporate used to get away with being final to market with options as a result of they ran properly and sometimes included parts that different producers didn’t, however that’s now not the case.
No smartphone producer has satisfied me that AI provides worth to the person expertise, however Apple’s implementation is horrible.
Apple Intelligence is essentially the most evident instance. The corporate closely marketed the iPhone 16 Professional Max with guarantees of Apple Intelligence, solely to see among the promised options not launched for months. After they did arrive, they labored poorly, and I discovered it simpler simply to disregard them. Notification summaries are a multitude, with Apple Intelligence typically doing extra hurt than good. As well as, the substantive upgrades to Siri had been delayed, leaving us with the slowest and least-capable voice assistant amongst main smartphone producers. One thing has to alter, and Apple hopes iOS 26 gives aid.
iOS 26 exhibits flashes of outdated Apple
Not in a great way
It was troublesome to carry again an audible snicker when Apple launched Name Screening for iOS at its WWDC 2025 Keynote occasion, a function that has been a staple on Pixel units for years. It was the primary of some “new” iOS 26 parts that Android customers know and love. iOS 26 units may even observe the place you’ve been, so you’ll be able to recall an inventory of eating places or shops you could have forgotten the title of — cease me if any of those sound acquainted. I don’t thoughts. I’d accept the Apple that launched issues final however nonetheless did them properly over what we presently have. If the corporate might ship dependable software program, I’d accept ready lengthy intervals for options.
The corporate is no less than giving us a significant visible overhaul, its first in ten years. iOS 7 was a wonderful design, however it was time to maneuver on. Liquid Glass, Apple’s new design language, is an intriguing idea, however it in the end comes right down to execution. I don’t care how fairly my transitions are or how translucent my icons develop into if the system freezes up a number of occasions a day. Apple must return to its roots, specializing in offering dependable software program and premium {hardware}. It additionally has to scrub up the mess it created with Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence must work
It could possibly’t get a lot worse
No smartphone producer has satisfied me that AI provides worth to the person expertise, however Apple’s implementation is horrible. My iOS expertise bought worse as the corporate rolled out AI options, and Apple Intelligence is sweet for nothing greater than fun with buddies, sending screenshots of the notification summaries for our group chat. iOS 26 presents a possibility for the corporate to show issues round. Whereas I nonetheless don’t see the imaginative and prescient, and I don’t suppose the corporate’s AI roadmap is as clear as Google’s, it did exhibit how new AI options can be built-in into the person expertise.
Except for including options like Name Screening, I’m curious to see how Apple’s model of Visible Intelligence performs. I’d get pleasure from a extra interactive expertise with my environment, and if Apple has a solution to Google’s Challenge Astra, I’d prefer to see how that develops. I’m pissed off with Apple, and the corporate has undoubtedly slipped in the previous few years, however it’s not unsalvageable. Apple Silicon is incredible, and when software program isn’t getting in the best way, iPhones nonetheless ship wonderful battery life and efficiency. Nonetheless, we’ve suffered by sufficient mediocrity — Apple has to come back by with iOS 26.
I’m not the one one complaining
I’ve had numerous buddies come as much as me, individuals who by no means paid consideration to the telephone they had been utilizing, and ask what Apple alternate options had been on the market and the way onerous it’s to modify. Persons are trying in direction of flashy folding telephones, akin to the brand new Motorola Razr 2025 or the dependable Google Pixel 9 sequence, as a result of they’re bored with what Apple retains releasing. I’m prepared to provide Apple one other likelihood, however my endurance is operating out.