Owners of the technology giant’s mobile devices face a complex scenario after installing the latest software package made available by the company. What should be a routine update to ensure compatibility with new tracking accessories has turned into a widespread headache for consumers around the world. Relatos accumulated on specialized forums and social networks indicate that version 26.2.1 of the mobile operating system introduced a series of serious flaws that compromise the basic usability of devices, from biometric security to energy autonomy.
The situation became even more delicate after confirmation that the company had stopped digital signatures for the previous version of the system. In practice, this means that the downgrade procedure — returning to a stable version of the software — has become unfeasible using official methods. Usuários who carried out the update now find themselves in a dead end, forced to deal with an unstable digital environment until an official fix is released, with no immediate provision for a definitive solution.
The central objective of this update was to prepare the ecosystem for integration with the new AirTag 2, a long-awaited location device on the market. However, soon after applying the firmware, users started noticing anomalous behavior on their smartphones. The stability of the system was severely affected, generating a wave of dissatisfaction that calls into question the reliability of the company’s quality control in this development cycle.
Among the most critical problems identified by the technical community and end consumers, failures that prevent essential resources from functioning stand out. The list of reported bugs includes:
– Bloqueio total or partial facial recognition system (Face ID);
– Drenagem battery acceleration, even with the device at rest;
– Severe Instabilidade in browser Safari and in network connections;
– Ocupação undue internal storage due to ghost files.
Severe impacts on biometrics and web browsing
One of the most alarming points reported involves the failure of the Face ID security system. The error is not just limited to unlocking the device, but extends to all applications that rely on biometric authentication, such as banking apps and digital wallets. With the sensor inoperable, users are forced to manually enter their passwords for each operation, which represents a significant setback in terms of convenience and agility in daily use.
In parallel with the security issues, the web browsing experience has suffered notable deterioration. The native browser Safari has been exhibiting erratic behavior, with tabs closing suddenly without any user interaction. Esse bug results in the loss of information, interruption of readings and failures in work processes that depend on the browser. Application instability, when added to system failures, creates a frustrating usage environment that directly affects productivity.
Excessive heating and energy consumption
Device power management has suffered a devastating impact with the arrival of the new system build. Usuários of the high-end model, identified as iPhone 17 Pro Max, reported that battery life was drastically reduced. Dispositivos that previously supported a full day of intensive use now require multiple recharges over 24 hours, even with little screen activity.
In addition to the rapid depletion of the charge, there are consistent reports of devices overheating. The processor appears to be operating at unnecessarily high frequencies to try to deal with poorly optimized background processes introduced by the update. Esse behavior not only makes handling the device uncomfortable due to the high temperature, but can also accelerate the chemical degradation of the battery’s internal components in the long term, generating future financial losses for consumers.
Storage error and ghost files
Another technical issue that has generated confusion involves managing the system’s internal storage. Após the update, several users noticed that around 30 GB of disk space was occupied without apparent justification. The system classifies this consumption as “Data from Sistema”, but does not allow the user to clear or manage these files.
Experts suggest that this phenomenon, dubbed “ghost space”, may be the result of error log files generated in a loop or installation files and media cache that were not properly discarded after the update process. Mesmo attempts to delete large applications or personal photos have no effect on freeing up this space, indicating that the problem resides in logical blocks of storage that the average user does not have permission to access or modify.
Unstable connectivity and community reactions
The stability of network connections was also called into question. Wi-Fi connectivity and mobile data experience constant fluctuations, resulting in dropped video calls, corrupted downloads, and content streaming failures. In an increasingly connected world, the inability to maintain a stable signal makes the device practically unusable for professional or critical communication tasks.
Faced with this scenario of uncertainty and technical instability, the unanimous recommendation of experts and the technological community is extreme caution. Para users who have not yet updated to version 26.2.1, the advice is to keep the operating system on the old version and wait. The company must publicly acknowledge the flaws and make a corrected version available that guarantees the expected security and efficiency of the devices, making the current installation unnecessary and risky.
