The Rare Time Apple Customers Felt “Undercharged”
Last week, Apple fans criticized the tech giant over the iPhone 17’s “unattractive” design, set to launch later this week.
Now, Apple is facing backlash again — this time over the newly released iOS 26 update, which appears to be causing significant battery drain.
Since installing the update, first announced in June at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference, many users have reported their battery levels plummeting within hours.
“Just fully charged my phone 58 minutes ago and it’s already down to 79%,” complained one frustrated user on X. “iOS 26 is turning my phone into a brick.”
After facing criticism for its “ugly” liquid glass design, the iPhone is under fire again — this time over iOS 26, which users say is rapidly draining their battery
The new Apple iPhone 17 was unveiled during a special event at Apple’s headquarters on September 9, 2025, in Cupertino, California.
“Dude, wtf. My phone’s been overheating since the iOS 26 update, and now my battery health just dropped to 80%,” exclaimed one frustrated user. “I haven’t even changed any charging habits.”
“iOS 26 clearly has a battery issue,” vented another. “I barely used my work phone this morning, and it’s already down to 50%.”
Apple, however, reassured users that this temporary battery dip is normal. A support document explained that after “completing an update, particularly a major release, you might notice a temporary impact on battery life and thermal performance.”
In this photo illustration, an iPhone screen displays a detailed description of the iOS 26 Beta update, highlighting features such as a redesigned Home Screen and Apple Intelligence, on June 10, 2025, in Chongqing, China.
“This is normal, as your device needs time to complete background setup tasks, including indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps,” Apple explained.
The company added that some new features “may require additional resources from the device,” noting that “depending on individual usage, some users may notice a small impact on performance and/or battery life.”
But battery drain isn’t the only complaint users have had with iOS 26.
Many are also criticizing the new “evil red clock” feature. With this update, when an iPhone is turned on its side, the lock screen can transform into a clock. In low-light conditions, the phone defaults to a red clock against a black background — a look some users find startling.
“Why is that even an option?” one frustrated user asked in a TikTok video. “And why is it red? It’s the scariest thing ever. It’s always at night, just when you’re going to bed. You turn your phone sideways, and suddenly you see the most terrifying clock ever.”
@bkharthun Who invented this scary clock? #evil #clock #yourphone
Many users also criticized the Liquid Glass design, which makes app icons, menus, pop-ups, and other interface elements appear translucent, like frosted glass, causing background colors to look blurry or refracted.
“Liquid Glass Design is the ugliest thing @Apple has ever done!” fumed one frustrated fan, while another commented, “Steve Jobs would have never approved this.”
“Apple’s new glassy UI literally hurts my eyes,” vented a third. “The notifications are a total eyesore. It’s pure form over function. This OS update might be the worst thing Apple has done since iOS 7. No joke.”
Meanwhile, a Redditor said the new background effects — Apple’s first major interface overhaul in over a decade — “made me dizzy just looking at it.”
