Update Sept. 23, 2025: This article, originally published on Sept.22, has been updated to add news of an exciting iPhone security enhancement in iOS 26.1.
Apple’s iOS 26 is here, alongside an update for those who want to wait to upgrade to the latest iPhone software, iOS 18.7.
Both iOS 26 and iOS 18.7 are available for anyone whose iPhone will run the software, so for now, the choice is yours. But iOS 18.7 and iOS 26 fix a long list of security issues, which means you must update to one of them ASAP.
So, which iPhone update should you choose?
The Case For iOS 18.7
If anything, iOS 18.7 is a safe option for those who want a secure iPhone but don’t care about iOS 26 features. The iOS 18.7 update contains fixes for 12 security vulnerabilities, some of which are serious.
These include two flaws in WebKit, the engine that underpins the Safari browser and one in the Kernel at the heart of the iPhone operating system. Meanwhile, an issue in Shortcuts tracked as CVE-2025-43358 could see a Shortcut able to bypass sandbox restrictions, according to Apple’s support page.
One big reason to go for iOS 18.7 is that it’s always possible to change your mind. Once you have upgraded to iOS 26, there is no going back. And new data from cloud-based call center solution provider MightyCall shows a surge of regret among iPhone users after the iOS 26 launch. Searches for “how to downgrade iOS 26 to 18” jumped 572% week-over-week, while general downgrade searches rose 335%, according to the firm.
Apple will update iOS 18 with security-only fixes for a few months after issuing a major point upgrade, in this case, iOS 26. After this period, iOS 18 updates will only be available for those who can’t upgrade their iPhone to iOS 26.
For now, if you are a business user, or you can’t stand bugs that come with iOS 26—which so far include the usual battery drain and more—iOS 18.7 is probably the best update for you.
The Case For iOS 26
Apple’s iOS 26 comes with a bunch of very cool new iPhone features, many of which improve your security. For example, iOS 26 boosts support for Passkeys, making security and privacy more simple for users, says Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at security outfit ESET. “Apple’s iOS 26 offers the most up to date protection and addresses newly discovered vulnerabilities and permission controls. There are also better controls to tighten restrictions on how apps can access sensitive data,” he says.
If you, like me, are an early adopter of Apple software and don’t care about some minor bugs—most of which will be fixed quickly—then iOS 26 is the update for you. The iOS 26 update will also be ultimately more secure than iOS 18.7, because Apple will now focus on its latest operating system for bug fixes, giving you a more substantial list of patches going forward. The iOS 26 update fixes more than 25 flaws.
Plus, if your iPhone can run iOS 26, you will need to update to it eventually, as Apple will stop offering fixes for devices running iOS 18 by choice, probably by early 2026.
iOS 26.1 Will Change iPhone Security, For The Better
It’s now emerged that another version of Apple’s latest iPhone software, iOS 26.1 is coming soon. The next point update to iOS 26 will introduce some major changes to your security via a refresh to a feature some of you might be familiar with — Rapid Security Responses.
Apple first introduced Rapid Security Responses in iOS 16, with the idea of being able to release important patches on the fly, rather than alongside bug fixes and features in a whole new iOS version. All started fine with these, but then, a Rapid Security Response went wrong and Apple was forced to quickly issue another update to fix it. After that, the iPhone maker remained tight-lipped, but no further Rapid Security Responses were ever seen.
With iOS 26.1, Rapid Security Responses are back, under the new name Background Security Improvements, according to a report in MacWorld, which has seen its existence in the code.
There will be a slight difference in Background Security Improvements, because they will happen in the background requiring no user interaction, once you have opted in to getting them. Apple will also be able to roll back Background Security Improvements, showing the iPhone maker learnt from the snafu it suffered with the early Rapid Security Response.
If this does happen, it’s another reason iOS 26 will be more secure than staying on iOS 18. However, the feature won’t arrive until iOS 26.1 is released some time in October or November.
iOS 18.7 Vs iOS 26 — The Verdict
In the end it comes down to personal choice. Apple’s iOS 18.7 will be better for some people, iOS 26 for others.
For the non-early adopters, iOS 18.7 is “a stable update that offers bug fixes without any new features,” says Moore. However, he points out, you will miss out on the “more advanced security safeguards that iOS 26 is offering.”
The update you choose is up to you, but you must select either iOS 18.7 or iOS 26 to keep your iPhone safe. So, what are you waiting for? Go to your iPhone’s Settings > General > Software Update and download and install iOS 18.7 or iOS 26 now.
