Not everyone needs to download the latest iOS update right when Apple makes it available.
Apple is today releasing iOS 18, which brings new features to the iPhone, including an overhauled Photos app, a more customizable home screen and lock screen, locked and hidden apps, and so much more.
But just because iOS 18 is out, does that mean you should install it on your phone?Â
In this story, we'll take a look at a few reasons why you may not want to update to iOS 18 just yet, and instead let others take it for a spin.
If you know you want iOS 18 though, check out how to download iOS 18, as well as all the cool hidden iOS 18 settings and features you can expect to find.
Your iPhone battery might drain faster than usual
One reason to hit pause on the download? There isn't a single general reason why battery drain occurs right after a major software update like iOS 18, but it happens to some people pretty much every year.Â
If your battery health level is already in bad shape (Settings > Battery > Battery Health), you might want to refrain from updating to iOS 18 for a bit.
Here are a couple of reasons why iOS 18 might be draining your battery:
- Your phone is working overtime in the background. New features, such as the improvements to Messages and overhaul to the Photos app, may need to index your messages, photos and other files to work properly.
- Your apps don't support iOS 18. Developers are given plenty of time to update their apps to the latest iPhone software, but if they don't, the apps could drain more battery because they're outdated.
And of course, there's always the slight chance of software bugs that could be eating up your battery life in the background.
You may need to charge your phone more often because of new software.
Even if you wait for future iOS 18 updates, you may still encounter some battery drain for the first few days, but that generally disappears once your iPhone gets settled with the software update.Â
Your older iPhone might get really slow
Just because your iPhone supports iOS 18 doesn't necessarily mean the new OS will run smoothly on your device. An older iPhone model, like the iPhone XS or iPhone XR might struggle to keep up with iOS 18's demands, due to little storage, low RAM or an older chipset.
Don't miss:Â iOS 18 Is Launching Monday. Will Your iPhone Even Be Able To Run It?
You might encounter bugs that can cause issues on your iPhone
No matter how polished a software update may seem, a few bugs are bound to slip through the cracks. It's why Apple sometimes releases a "point update" shortly after a major update, to fix issues like:
- Battery drain
- Lag
- Apps force-closing
- Phone restarting
- Unusable features
If you're concerned about possibly facing issues such as these, you may want to wait until any possible major bugs are squashed in subsequent iOS 18 updates.
You might not get all the new iOS 18 features you want anyway
Not every iPhone running iOS 18 will get all the new features, especially older models like the iPhone XR and iPhone 11. Below you'll find some of the features that aren't supported on all devices running iOS 18:
- Apple Intelligence: iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 series (not available until iOS 18.1 next month).
- Messages via satellite: iPhone 14 and later.
- Live audio transcription: iPhone 12 and later.
- Eye tracking: iPhone 12 and later.
If you were looking forward to any of these features but can't get them because of your older iPhone, you might want to skip out on iOS 18.
Apple Intelligence is only available on a few limited iPhone models.
For the most part though, you should probably update to iOS 18
Regardless of any hesitations you might have, if you do want to jump in, there are plenty of reasons to just go ahead and update to iOS 18. Aside from all the new features you may benefit from, Apple's major software updates may fix bugs and other issues in previous iterations.
However, major updates don't just fix issues, they also bring new privacy and security settings that improve your safety and better protect your personal information.
On iOS 18, you have a few major privacy and security features to look forward to:
- Locked and hidden apps. You can lock or hide apps with sensitive information whenever someone else is using your phone.
- New Passwords app. All your passwords, verifications and security alerts now live in a dedicated application.
- Control how you share contacts with apps. You can choose which contacts to share with an app, rather than give it access to all of your contacts.
- Redesigned privacy and security settings. The new settings menu makes it easier to manage your privacy and security features.
- Improved bluetooth privacy. When you pair your phone with other accessories, your information will be better protected.
If you lock an app, you must use Face/Touch ID or a dedicated passcode to access it.
And then there are all the new accessibility features, which can be incredibly beneficial to those with disabilities:
- Eye Tracking. You can control your iPhone with just your eyes. makes it possible for people to control iPhone with just their eyes.
- Music Haptics. This syncs the your phone's vibrations with the rhythm of songs so those who are hard of hearing can still enjoy music.
- Vocal Shortcuts. Helps people with severe atypical speech record sounds that can then trigger specific actions.
For more, check out how you can pre-order the iPhone 16 right now and a hands-on look at the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro.