The iOS 26 update improves animation speed, granting older iPhones faster performance.

With the release of the latest beta version of iOS 26, Apple revealed a notable change in how some animations work, which could positively impact the performance of older iPhones.

The most prominent change is in app launch animations via Springboard, which Apple has made faster for the first time in years, according to phonearena. Although the timing difference does not exceed 150 milliseconds, the effect is not limited to this aspect alone.

In the sixth beta of the system, apps open faster with an animation resembling window folding in macOS, as icons pop out toward the screen much faster than previous versions, giving users a clear sense of speed. While iOS 18 takes time to reach half the screen size, iOS 26 apps expand to about 90% in the same duration.

This step makes the beta version appear smoother, and it is expected to provide devices like the iPhone 11, released in 2019, with a faster experience when updated to the new system. This is crucial, especially since iOS 26 will come pre-installed on the iPhone 17, in addition to being available as an update for older phones.