Roughly four months after its release, only a small fraction of iPhone owners have switched to iOS 26, leaving a large majority of devices running older versions of the operating system, according to latest data from StatCounter (via CultofMac).
As of January 2026, only around 15 out of every 100 active iPhones worldwide are using some version of iOS 26. That figure includes devices running the initial release as well as subsequent updates like iOS 26.1 and iOS 26.2.
By contrast, more than 60% of iPhones tracked in the same period still use iOS 18, the system that preceded iOS 26 by two major versions. That older operating system remains dominant internationally, with several minor releases such as iOS 18.6 and iOS 18.7 collectively accounting for the bulk of usage.
This level of uptake stands in stark contrast to previous years. For instance, iOS 18 had surged past 60% adoption just 4 months after its launch, and iOS 17 exceeded 50% adoption within a similar period. Analysts see the gap between iOS 26 and its predecessors as a clear indication that something about this update is resonating less with the general user base.
One widely discussed factor is the dramatic visual overhaul Apple introduced with iOS 26. The company built the system around a design language called Liquid Glass, a translucent aesthetic that Apple executives said would bring a new level of depth and expression to the interface. The update also added enhancements across core apps, Apple Intelligence features and refinements to notifications and system controls
Despite that marketing push, many users have expressed dissatisfaction with the new look and feel. Third-party reports and user discussions online describe complaints about legibility, increased cognitive effort for familiar gestures, battery performance issues and uneven app support for the Liquid Glass style.
Another reason users may be delaying the upgrade is that Apple continues to support older versions with security patches. Unlike some past rollouts where older releases were quietly deprecated, Apple is extending updates to iOS 18 even as iOS 26 receives ongoing fixes.
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Hindsight being 20/20 – on the whole, I'd rather be back on iOS 17.
…and MacOS Sonoma.