A notification pops up on every iPhone at Blue Valley North; this time, it’s calling for everyone to update their phones. Apple introduced a new update, changing the functionality and design of the iPhone. New lock screens, new messages, new cameras and more appear as students and staff hit update on their phones. Raising differing opinions and views, iOS 26 fills the screens at BVN. What do the staff think of it, and is the students’ opinion any different?
The new design features introduced by Apple changed how the phone looks on every screen. BVN teacher Courtney Tomboli shared that she finds the update good because she can do more with her phone.
“I like this update. I can do more with it,” said Tomboli. “The customization of iOS 26 can make everyone’s phones more unique to them instead of looking the same for everybody, but I do have to learn how to customize it.”
Sophomore Maad Al Ameer shares that he also likes this update and prefers it over the old one.
“I prefer this update more because you can customize it. Apple added cool water effects on the lock screen and changed the options for the wallpaper of the home screen,” Al Ameer said.
However, Tomboli expressed how she currently struggles with learning how to maneuver this new update. She wants to be able to edit something if she doesn’t like it through the settings app.
“If I don’t like something, I can go into my settings and change it. But that’s the learning curve I’m talking about. I have to figure out how to change it,” Tomboli said.
This “learning curve” made it harder for Tomboli to adjust to this change. Conversely, Al Ameer shared that it didn’t change the difficulty nor affect the functionality of the iPhone.
“I think the update is more cosmetics, which didn’t make it harder to use it,” Al Ameer said.
Tomboli adds that not everyone will want this update because it was more cosmetic than anything else.
“It depends on who you are. If you’re tech-savvy, then it’s exciting. Unfortunately, it may make it more difficult for some users who only use the phone for basic needs,” Tomboli said.
Despite this “difficulty” for some people, Tomboli said every update made by Apple requires adaptation to learn how to use it. Additionally, she believed that Apple thinks “ahead” of what people want.
“[Apple] is not just keeping up with what people want. They’re thinking ahead of what people want before people realize they want it,” Tomboli said.
Al Ameer disagrees with this statement and expressed that Apple should pay attention to what the community wants more.
“Apple is definitely missing the voices of the community. They should start rolling [out] updates that everyone else likes,” Al Ameer said.
