iOS 26 Update: Apple Explains Battery Drain and Heating Issues

Apple says iOS 26 may cause short battery drain and heat as indexing completes.

iOS 26 has rolled out to eligible iPhones, and a section of users have reported that battery life feels weaker and phones run warmer during the first day or two after updating, which has raised predictable concern across social media and forums. Apple has addressed this directly through a support communication, stating that immediately after a major update, the system will index data, download assets, and update apps in the background, which can temporarily impact battery life and thermal performance before stabilizing. Alongside these short‑term effects, iOS 26 brings Apple’s new Liquid Glass interface, updated app visuals, and intelligence features like Visual Intelligence, call screening, and live translation, though Apple Intelligence remains limited to newer, more powerful devices. For most users, performance and battery usage should settle once background processes complete, and those still noticing unusual drain can review Apple’s battery guidance or toggle features like Low Power Mode while the system finishes setup.

What Apple said about battery drain

• Apple explains that after installing a major iOS release, background tasks such as indexing files, downloading new assets, and app updates can temporarily affect battery life and heat, and this should resolve as setup completes.

• The company also notes that new features can use additional resources depending on usage, so a small, short‑term impact on battery and performance is expected for some users.

Key iOS 26 features

• Liquid Glass design refreshes the UI with translucent, glass‑like elements that adapt to surroundings, covering system areas like Lock Screen, Home Screen, Control Center, and app interfaces.

• Visual Intelligence lets users act on what’s on screen by highlighting to search, jumping to web results, or asking ChatGPT from the captured context via the standard screenshot gesture.

• Communication upgrades include live translation in Messages and FaceTime, and call screening that asks unknown callers for their name and purpose before the user picks up.

Compatibility and Apple Intelligence

• iOS 26 supports iPhone 11 and newer models, including SE (2nd gen and later), with older devices like iPhone XS/XR not included this cycle due to the A13 Bionic requirement.

• Apple Intelligence features are limited to higher‑end recent devices like iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and newer series, with supported features varying by chipset.

Tips to stabilize battery after updating

• Allow a day or two for background indexing to finish, and use Low Power Mode temporarily if needed while monitoring battery usage in Settings.

• Check Battery settings for apps consuming more power post‑update and consider disabling background app refresh for heavy users until the phone settles.

Why some users notice it more

• Power users exploring many new features right after updating may keep the CPU and network active, which can amplify temporary drain before the system normalizes.

• Enabling multiple visual effects and intelligence features at once can increase load on older supported devices compared to newer chipsets designed for on‑device AI.

What’s next from Apple

• Apple typically refines performance and power behavior with rapid point releases after a major version rolls out, which should continue for iOS 26 in the coming weeks.

• The company’s platform pages highlight ongoing optimizations to design, Visual Intelligence, and language features as broader adoption ramps up.

Editor Analysis 

Based on Apple’s track record and the technical nature of first‑boot tasks, the short‑term battery and heat impact reported after iOS 26 aligns with the usual indexing and asset downloads, which typically resolve within 24–72 hours depending on data size and connectivity. The bigger swing factor this year is the combination of the Liquid Glass visual layer and expanded on‑device intelligence hooks, which may lead to heavier initial exploration and more background activity for early adopters. For readers who want the new look without extra load during the first days, consider pausing nonessential background refresh and limiting live translation or call screening experiments until usage normalizes. Expect an early maintenance update focused on power tuning and bug fixes, as Apple’s own release notes suggest ongoing optimization and the ecosystem press is already tracking minor regressions to be ironed out. Users on newer chipsets will likely see faster stabilization, while A13‑class devices may benefit the most from Low Power Mode during the post‑update window.