Apple is once again in hot water with its loyal fan base—this time not over hardware, but its latest software.

Just days after the company drew criticism for the controversial design of the upcoming iPhone 17, users are now slamming the newly released iOS 26 update for rapidly draining their batteries and introducing divisive design changes.

Reports began pouring in shortly after the update went live, with users taking to X (formerly Twitter) to voice frustration.

“Just fully charged my phone 58 minutes ago and it’s already down to 79%,” one user fumed. Another complained: “Dude wtf. My phone’s been burning up since the update to iOS 26 and voila my battery health just fell down to 80%.”

A third added: “I used my work phone less than I usually do in the mornings and I’m already down to 50%.”

Apple, however, reassured customers that this is a normal, temporary issue. In a support note, the company explained that after major updates, devices may experience short-term battery drain and overheating as they “complete setup processes in the background,” including indexing files, downloading assets, and refreshing apps.

Still, battery woes aren’t the only reason users are frustrated. The update also introduced a new lock screen feature that turns the display into a glowing red clock when the phone is placed sideways in low light. While intended as a functional nightstand clock, many users have called it “creepy” and “unsettling.”

“Why is that even an option? And why is it red?” one TikTok user asked. “It’s the scariest thing ever, especially when you’re about to fall asleep and suddenly see this glowing clock.”

Meanwhile, Apple’s new Liquid Glass interface—its first major design overhaul in more than a decade—is drawing backlash of its own. The feature makes icons, menus, and notifications appear translucent, refracting background colors like frosted glass.

“Liquid Glass Design is the ugliest thing @Apple has ever done!” one critic raged on social media. Another wrote: “Steve Jobs would have never approved this.”

Some users even reported feeling dizzy while looking at the new background effects. Others complained that the frosted transparency sacrifices readability for aesthetics, calling it “form over function.”

Between the contentious iPhone 17 hardware and the divisive iOS 26 update, Apple is facing growing skepticism from even its most loyal fans. Whether the company can smooth over the backlash—or whether users will continue to feel burned—remains to be seen.