I like the effect. Apple Music bottom bar looks beautiful with cover art flowing behind, as do desktop widgets on macOS.
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Apple Announces All-New 'Liquid Glass' Software Redesign Across iOS 26 and More
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Look at that camera icon. That iOS6-esque design is giving me a boner.
I'm sure they'd add a high opacity option deep in the accessibility menu. And that'd for sure look like you're on a Windows running Vista with Aero but don't have the graphics to render its translucency and end up with completely opaque blocks and windows.
BTW, didn't Google do something similar system wide redesign with Material Design like 10 years ago?
This LiquidGlass 'unified look' across all devices seems it should have been in place already.
Jony Ive tried to do something like this in iOS 7 calling it Harmonious Design. So it this a repudiation of Jony's work?
This LiquidGlass 'unified look' across all devices seems it should have been in place already.
Jony Ive tried to do something like this in iOS 7 calling it Harmonious Design. So it this a repudiation of Jony's work?
I think readability concerns are valid and is a challenge for the new UI. I could imagine the alpha will respond to the concerns by probably dialing in default settings to a more subtle liquid glass out-of-box experience
Yeah it needs a lot more blur to become readable
No. It’s a new look. People have been clamoring for something else because that design style has been around in Apple World since iOS 7
You know what, I kind of do too
And I like it on the CarPlay side of things too as the rounded sidebar for your active apps and all is much more friendly on my bigger screen I have in my car
The other little things like being able to see estimated time remaining for charging is a welcome feature too, but surprised that it took until now for such a feature that Android has had for years now
At least there is an option to turn it off if you don’t like it. I know as soon as IOS 26 drops in September, I’m turning the feature off for my parents and in-laws as they have poor eyesight, this would be a nightmare for them.
I think I actually like the glass effect, its growing on me. It’s more closer to a large theme change rather than a redesign.
I think I actually like the glass effect, its growing on me. It’s more closer to a large theme change rather than a redesign.
Ya there is no such option champ. So good luck with that.
Really? Someone told me that you can turn it off in the settings. If not, I’m keeping my parents and in-laws on IOS 18 for as long as I can.
I really don’t know what was going on in their heads while they were creating the new camera icon. It can’t be further apart from the new so called liquid glass design. Consistency at its best.
There's no setting to 'revert to iOS 18." When people say "you can turn it off" they mean there are certain accessibility options that pertain to motion and visibility. It does not turn off the glass nor does it remove the shimmering edges or the blur. The UI is very much the same but some elements are reduced. Stop listening to the internet oversimplify every thing. This is a huge shift and for better or worse, you are stuck with it. *flips water bottle*
I don't like what they've done to the home screen. I liked it in iOS 18 better. It has made wallpapers I spent a lot of time on almost useless. There is no more transparency. Even my folders show a frosty background. There's no more dark screen. There's a dark option, but it's only the app icons. It's really made my widgets look bad. I guess I'll have to get used to it.
Agreed. The iPhone 16 is my first iPhone in almost a decade, and it will more than likely be my last.
Omg Apple has finally completely and totally jumped the shark what a complete piece of **** UI.
I'm confused about this iOS 26 update. I was under the impression that Apple was doing a major revision and overhaul to iOS in general.
But all they did with this "Liquid glass" is install a theme or skin, and really no other changes or revisions.
Thank God for Android 16 and my Pixel Pro.
But all they did with this "Liquid glass" is install a theme or skin, and really no other changes or revisions.
Thank God for Android 16 and my Pixel Pro.
I understand why a lot of people in Apple Puritan land loved skeuomorphism because it set Apple apart from everyone else. However I actually much preferred the iOS 7 “flat” redesign—it felt so modern and clean compared to iOS 6. This feels similar but not nearly as revolutionary. I also have concerns about accessibility. But I think seeing it on devices is much different than seeing it in renders.
Probably a hot take around here but I fully agree. No idea why Jobs was so obsessed with it. I get people loved it and it made Apple “different” but it was ugly, cluttered, and cartoonishly dated.
Which they always opted to use before. Apple has always used insane blur levels for this very reason. Contrary to most everyone else.
This level of blur they are using what you typically see in game UIs. Where it’s a gong show of stupid tripping over stupid when it comes to UX.
I don’t know what VP they lost or who convinced them all any of this was a good move forward 🤷♂️
I’m happy that you can change back to the old look. Liquid glass, without color is idiotic. I use color a lot when looking for icons. Without it, you have to read all that tiny text. I wish Jony Ive was still there - he had a good sense of usable design.