iOS 18.7 Vs. iOS 26: What's The Difference?

The major yearly software updates from Apple have finally started rolling out. As expected, the biggest share for Apple enthusiasts is on the iOS side of the ecosystem, and they are in for a big surprise this time around. Interestingly, the hot arrival of iOS 26 also tags alongside the release of another update, iOS 18.7, via the stable channel. So, what's the big difference? Well, think of iOS 18.7 as just an incrementally updated version of iOS 18 from last year, but with no major changes in terms of design or features. It's targeted at older iPhones that are no longer eligible for the iOS 26 update.

So, should you ignore the update, since it's nowhere near as flashy as iOS 26 and doesn't add any new features? Quite the opposite. If you get the update notification for iOS 18.7 on your aging iPhone, you should update it as soon as possible because it also patches a bunch of security flaws and related vulnerabilities, which essentially means your device will be safer against malicious attacks.

One of these vulnerabilities could allow a malicious application to "monitor keystrokes without user permission," according to Apple, which would mean sensitive information such as login details and banking-related data could be at risk of theft. Others had the potential to start a denial-of-service problem and allow a shortcut to circumvent sandbox limitations. Simply put, you should install the iOS 18.7 update on your iPhone without a second thought.

This is the update iPhone users have been waiting patiently for. With the release of iOS 26, Apple is changing the visual and functional tone of iPhones, with a healthy dose of meaningful AI tricks also thrown into the mix. The most in-your-face change is Liquid Glass, a transparent UI design inspired by the interaction of water with glass. Apple says it's the "broadest software design update ever" for its software portfolio. Instead of solid lines, opaque backgrounds, and sharp edges, Liquid Glass takes a more fluid approach, intelligently overlaying translucent effects over UI elements, and is equally adaptable to light and dark modes.

The makeover covers everything from buttons and sliders to media controls, text, and switches. To go with the design overhaul, Apple has also simplified the Camera and Photos apps' interface. On the functional side of this update, iOS 26 pays deep attention to the core Apple apps. For example, the phone app gets a "hold to assist" feature for scenarios where your call is put on hold. There's also a built-in call-screening feature to help users identify and accordingly handle spammy calls. In the Message app, you can get real-time language translations, the ability to change chat background, and even launch polls.

In case you're enamored by AI, iOS 26 upgrades the Apple Intelligence stack to OpenAI's latest GPT-5 model, bringing enhanced reasoning capabilities and improved performance to the table, even within the Shortcuts app. The update also introduces a new Games app and enables live translation with AirPods. Unfortunately, iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max aren't compatible with the iOS 26 update.