How To Experience iOS 26 on iPhone 11 Pro Max: A Review

Introduction: A Significant Update Size

iOS 26 arrives with an impressive update size of approximately 8.65 GB, marking it as one of the largest updates seen for the iPhone. Users upgrading to this version should prepare for a substantial download, reflecting the extensive changes and new features packed into this release. But honestly, big updates can sometimes cause headaches, especially on older devices like the iPhone 11 Pro Max, which might struggle with performance afterwards.

New Liquid UI: A Refreshing Visual Experience

One of the standout features of iOS 26 is the introduction of the new Liquid UI, which employs a glass-like architecture throughout the interface. This aesthetic change gives the operating system a sleek, modern look, making elements like the Control Center and App Store appear almost translucent. You can access a customization panel by going to Settings > Display & Brightness > Visual Effects and toggle between this new clear option and the traditional design. Not everyone loves it — some find it kinda distracting or just not their style — but hey, at least you can turn it off if it feels too much.

Phone App Enhancements: Improved Call Management

The Phone app has been revised with a new bottom bar for easier access. There’s also this new thing called Hold Assist — yeah, sounds fancy but it basically helps you manage calls better by letting you put calls on hold or screen spam calls more easily. To enable this, head over to Settings > Phone > Call Management and turn on Hold Assist. Up close, it might look promising, but on some setups, it can be buggy or slow to respond, so don’t be surprised if it’s a bit inconsistent at first.

Messaging Upgrades: Customization and Polling Features

iMessage gets some fun updates here—like setting custom backgrounds for individual conversations via Settings > Messages > Conversation Background. You can also create polls directly inside chats by tapping the new poll icon. Honestly, these are small things, but they add a bit of personality and practicality. Just keep in mind that sometimes the background changes don’t save properly on older models or if your app needs a refresh, so you might have to try a couple of times.

CarPlay Improvements: Multimedia and Gaming Access

CarPlay is getting a bunch of new features. Now, you can watch YouTube videos directly from your car’s screen — kind of weird, but maybe useful if you’re stuck in traffic (or just want to test it out). The app integration feels smoother overall, especially with Apple Music and Maps, but the real shocker is the new Games app, turning your car into a makeshift gaming zone if you’re into that. To activate these, go to Settings > General > CarPlay or use the quick menu in the Dashboard. Just don’t expect crash-free rides if your system is chugging already.

Performance Concerns: Potential Drawbacks

Here’s where things get kinda annoying. A lot of folks reported that their iPhone 11 Pro Max slowed down or overheated after upgrading. Some say their phone gets warm even during simple tasks, and battery life seems worse. Basically, this update might be a bit much for older hardware — it’s like Apple squeezed every last drop out of it, and the device can’t keep up. If your phone already feels sluggish, you might want to think twice before jumping in right away. You could wait for the first patches or try installing it in small parts using a backup or OTA manual update if you’re feeling brave.

Conclusion: A Mixed Bag of Innovations

iOS 26 is packed with new features that push the aesthetic and usability boundaries — some are great, some are kinda questionable, especially if your device isn’t exactly new. The performance hit seems to be the biggest concern so far, so if speed and stability are your priorities, holding off might be wise. On the other hand, if you want to explore the fresh UI and features, make sure to do a full backup beforehand. Or better yet, wait a little for the bug fixes to roll out.