Will iOS 18 slow down your iPhone? What you should know

Apple's big new iPhone software update is here. iOS 18 was released today with a long list of new features. But the age-old question about new software is back: Will the update slow down your iPhone? Here's what you need to know.

The problem with operating system updates on older devices

Almost every time I talk to family or friends about a new iOS update, the question comes up: “Will this slow down my phone?”

And unfortunately the answer is not that simple.

Apple constantly releases software updates for its devices. Major updates like iOS 18 appear once a year.

Every major operating system update is designed to support as many iPhone models as possible. This year, iOS 18 is compatible with a long list of models. The oldest supported devices are the iPhone XS and XR from 2018.

The problem, however, is that old phones constantly need new features without sacrificing performance.

Some people suspect that Apple intentionally slows down iPhones through software updates. But remember: Phones from 2018 aren't as powerful as phones from 2024, so it's unlikely that 2024's modern features in iOS 18 will run as smoothly on an older device.

Ideally, Apple will do everything it can to minimize performance impacts, but when modern software needs to run on a less powerful, older device, the options are limited.

Apple could choose to only release its operating system updates to newer devices, but that would create a whole new problem. Everyone would claim the company is holding back new features to boost iPhone sales.

Make an informed upgrade decision

So will iOS 18 slow down your iPhone? Maybe, maybe not.

If you have an iPhone from the last few years, you probably won't notice much of a difference. If your device is older, things get a little riskier.

The decision is entirely yours: Do you want access to the new features of iOS 18 or would you rather make sure your iPhone works the same as it does today?

Of course, Apple would love to sell you a new iPhone 16. But the company, more than most, does a great job of providing ongoing software and security improvements to users of older devices.

It even offers iOS 17.7 as a new alternative to iOS 18, complete with important security fixes.

Have you installed iOS 18? How was the performance for you?

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