Apple Changes Liquid Glass Again in iOS 26 Beta 6

[Brian Greenstone]

Seems Apple knows that this was a huge mistake and they're just doing what they can to salvage it.

 

[coolfactor]

I fear this whole design is a failure and Apple is heading into a dead end. Much too complex to manage properly. As much as I love the idea, it might make sense in specific situations but not for the whole OS. Apple tried translucent UIs with Aqua (translucent menus) and quickly reverted back. Unreadable text and blurry UI just doesn't make sense.

Aqua wasn't a failed design.

 

[coolfactor]

Seems Apple knows that this was a huge mistake and they're just doing what they can to salvage it.

Not a mistake. Just requires refining.

 

[neotint]

Has anyone done battery drain tests vs. turning on "reduce transparency" for both iOS 15 and "26" betas?

It's laughable that horrible HCI gimmicks are actually being defaulted on the global population of iOS users. This has all the makings of becoming the "New Coke" of UX.

 

[eifelbube]

I'm really not sure why this needs to keep being reiterated, but here we go again: the BEFORE image always goes on the LEFT, the AFTER goes on the RIGHT. Just like how we read english text, from left to right. Understand?

It works for me, because I expect LEFT > RIGHT to be the order for “worse” and “better” …

 

[appleph]

Welcome chaos. Should make the car dashboard and the traffic lights look like this too, would be awesome. Don't forget the medical tools as well.

 

[wikiverse]

I'm sure there's some way to adjust this so all should be ok, but in these examples I have to take an extra second or so to really see the time and likely the other controls. But I know when they had it more opaque others didn't like it so clearly some control is needed.

It will never be ok for a very simple reason:

Objects are designed to either be seen OR seen-through. Not both. This is why we use whiteboards with coloured markers, instead of writing on windows with white markers.

If people just want to see their wallpaper, then apple should introduce a screensaver function. I don't know anyone that pulls their phone out just to view the wallpaper. The time, widgets and notifications are the reason to look at your phone, so why are they being designed as see-through instead of being seen?

 

[JohnC1959]

It will never be ok for a very simple reason:

Objects are designed to either be seen OR seen-through. Not both. This is why we use whiteboards with coloured markers, instead of writing on windows with white markers.

If people just want to see their wallpaper, then apple should introduce a screensaver function. I don't know anyone that pulls their phone out just to view the wallpaper. The time, widgets and notifications are the reason to look at your phone, so why are they being designed as see-through instead of being seen?

I always laugh watching some TV show or movie where some modern team of investigators has a fully clear 'white board' to write out their ideas. Or futuristic shows where they have fully transparent monitors. Nothing like trying to focus on some important idea on a screen only to watch someone walk by behind it.

But anyway, it seems there are ways to control how transparent things are with liquid glass so it should be fine. I'll try the default out for a few days in case it grows on me but will likely change settings to my preference.

 

[aperfectcircle]

I'm really not sure why this needs to keep being reiterated, but here we go again: the BEFORE image always goes on the LEFT, the AFTER goes on the RIGHT. Just like how we read english text, from left to right. Understand?

I’m starting to think MR has outsourced article production to ChatGPT or Gemini. This is either bad AI or just flat out laziness.

 

[Virinprew]

All this could be fixed with a slider.

Yep, I suggested the same in previous beta news. No need to release a new version just to tweak this.

 

[aperfectcircle]

I always laugh watching some TV show or movie where some modern team of investigators has a fully clear 'white board' to write out their ideas. Or futuristic shows where they have fully transparent monitors. Nothing like trying to focus on some important idea on a screen only to watch someone walk by behind it.

But anyway, it seems there are ways to control how transparent things are with liquid glass so it should be fine. I'll try the default out for a few days in case it grows on me but will likely change settings to my preference.

I know it seems like a ridiculous TV idea, but the fully glass ‘whiteboard’ is absolutely making appearances in modern offices. I’ve been in 6 recently opened or refitted new offices that have them all over the place. They’re actually not as bad as you imagine but still a stupid idea dreamed up by interior designers with no clue.

 

[Rogifan]

Why do people keep suggesting this as if it’s something Apple could easily do and it would actually work?

 

[Rogifan]

I’ve said it before (not on here but.. w/e) that the customer should have a choice of themes. The bouncing back and forth with the Liquid glass that apple is doing reminds me of the early Longhorn builds that Microsoft had and they changed what the definition of “Aero” was many times before they settled on a deployed state.

I’ve tried the Betas, public beta and always gone back to iOS 18, I don’t dislike Liquid glass but.. it’s just not for me. If Apple had an opportunity to allow a “Classic” iOS look and then have the “Modern” look option with the UI I would be all for it. I’m excited for the enchanted options within iPadOS and I know I need to get used to Liquid glass but still, I should have the option of using a “classic” view that iOS offered in the past.

Just my 2cents…

My guess is Apple doesn’t consider liquid glass to be a theme/skin.

 

[zeus423]

Who knew that there was a daily limit to how many dislikes could be used?! I found the limit today.

 

[TMRJIJ]

You may not know what time it is half of the time, but you can’t deny that this is beautiful.

 

[Tozovac]

I'm really not sure why this needs to keep being reiterated, but here we go again: the BEFORE image always goes on the LEFT, the AFTER goes on the RIGHT. Just like how we read english text, from left to right. Understand?

Silly you!

After before Before symbolizes Form before Function!

Duh.

😜

 

[falainber]

You may not know what time it is half of the time, but you can’t deny that this is beautiful.

It's a beautiful art. It's a horrible UI.

 

[transpo1]

It will never be ok for a very simple reason:

Objects are designed to either be seen OR seen-through. Not both. This is why we use whiteboards with coloured markers, instead of writing on windows with white markers.

If people just want to see their wallpaper, then apple should introduce a screensaver function. I don't know anyone that pulls their phone out just to view the wallpaper. The time, widgets and notifications are the reason to look at your phone, so why are they being designed as see-through instead of being seen?

I love it- the design makes the device screen seem less cluttered and spacious. As long as there's a way to dial it up and down, let's encourage Apple to be bold. Besides, being able to see more of our wallpaper/Lock Screen with loved ones, pictures of nature, pets, etc., just might increase the mental health of our society.

 

[bluecoast]

idk i just don’t see this as a lasting design language. it feels like it was developed as concepts and theories and looking pretty on a screen, and once they started moving into real life user experience things have fallen apart. i’m glad they continue to refine things, but actual readability and usability seem to suffer in preference of something looking “cool”. again, fine as a concept, just doesn’t work great in practice.

Agreed. I know I’ll enjoy the new whizzy look and not be too upset that I sometimes can’t read text well. But I predict I’ll be in the minority.

I’m also going to predict that iOS 27 adopts as default the ‘frosted glass’ look that we’ve seen in the betas because of that.

 

[aperfectcircle]

Agreed. I know I’ll enjoy the new whizzy look and not be too upset that I sometimes can’t read text well. But I predict I’ll be in the minority.

I’m also going to predict that iOS 27 adopts as default the ‘frosted glass’ look that we’ve seen in the betas because of that.

B6 seems to have increased the glassiness whilst also being more readable, at least it feels that way to me. I’m using dark mode on my 14PM and whilst I didn’t have much issue with legibility in the last two betas, this one does seem clearer to me. Even the coloured icons in toolbars seem much sharper and more legible.

 

[iSayuSay]

First it was a missing headphone jack, then missing charging brick, then no Apple stickers.. next step is less visible UI elements and buttons. By the time we reach iOS 30, all iPhone will be boxless and screenless LOL

 

[aperfectcircle]

An interesting observation. I’ve just taken this screenshot from within the Music app, and it is not capturing what I’m seeing on screen. The home icon, text, and play and search icons are all much brighter on screen that what’s been captured in the screenshot. What I’m seeing on screen is like when HDR is applied to text on my OLED TVs. So the icons and text have that HDR pop and are much clearer on screen than what’s being captured in the screenshot. Worth being conscious of for those who haven’t installed the beta and only have screenshots as a reference.

Edit: apparently there’s a setting for screen capture that enables HDR capture which I didn’t have on. Second screenshot attached in HDR which is now capturing what I’m seeing on screen. Hopefully MR is capturing in HDR for articles to give an accurate representation of the actual user experience .

 

[Dog Bone Malone]

Agreed, it does.

Also, awesome dog.

We sadly lost him a few months ago.😞 Anyway, I better say something Appleish or this'll get removed by the forum Fuhrers, YES - B6 is great, and can only get better. We must be only two or three Beta's away from RC. I can't wait to see glass on my new iPhone 17.

 

[StevesBobs]

The whole liquid glass thing is so gimmicky... I hope we don't have to wait too long before it's just completely scrapped.

 

[Atog]

Regression in usability for sure.

Feels like Jony Ive influence on the design team. Aesthetics over usability.

Yep, but still he was able to make his iOS7 design more usable. Maybe some did not like it but it was working and it was different and at the same time unique to Apple. This design is just change for sake of change. Already quite heavy design and slow UI. Without anything useful added.