Overview
- Following the Sept. 15 release, users worldwide report freezes, sluggish performance and rapid battery loss, with some overheating and shutdowns on newer models such as the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
- Apple’s statement and a newly published support document say intensive post‑update processes like reindexing, app optimization, photo analysis and recalibration can tax devices for a short period.
- The company has not given a timetable for full normalization and advises waiting as background activity completes.
- Recommended steps include enabling Low Power Mode, avoiding heavy apps and high‑resolution recording, freeing storage, updating apps and restarting, with guidance to contact Apple Support if problems continue beyond about a week.
- iOS 26 introduces resource‑intensive changes that contextualize the load, including the Liquid Glass interface effect, live translation and ChatGPT integration.