iOS 26.1 update still hasn't fixed the homescreen widget page swipe lag

Apple rolled out iOS 26.1 just days ago, and iPhone users across various models are still dealing with a frustrating performance issue that should have been fixed by now. The homescreen widget page continues to stutter and lag when swiping back to the main screen. This lag is even more noticeable on devices with 120Hz screens.

Here’s a video for reference:

What makes this situation particularly baffling is that some users report the issue was actually resolved in iOS 26.1 beta 3, only to resurface in beta 4 and persist through to the final release. One user on Reddit described the experience as the phone dropping from 120Hz to what feels like 30Hz for a brief moment during the swipe.

This isn’t limited to older devices either. iPhone 17 Pro Max owners are reporting the same choppy behavior, with some noting that their phones were running smoothly on iOS 26.0.1 before the update made things worse.​

I’ve noticed this lag on my iPhone 16 too, and while it doesn’t really mess with usability in any way, it does ruin the otherwise smooth user experience.

In fact, it reminds me of how older Android smartphones used to stutter a bit when swiping between the Discover page on the home screen. But most Android smartphones now handle that quite well, with no lag. Yet now it seems that the same problem has shifted to iOS with iOS 26.

Users in the iOS 26.1 release thread have expressed disbelief that Apple’s quality control teams let this slip through. Some testing suggests the lag might be tied to having multiple widgets on the page, though even configurations with just Apple’s own widgets show the problem. The frustration is compounded by the fact that iOS 26.1 was supposed to be a polish update after the rocky iOS 26.0 launch.

Adding to the list of visual glitches, the update has also introduced a Control Center ghosting bug where a faint, low-opacity version of the Control Center remains visible for a second or two after dismissing it.

For a company that prides itself on polished software experiences, these bugs feel especially out of character. Whether Apple addresses these issues in the next release remains to be seen.

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