Apple may be dialling back window corner radius in macOS 27

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

When Apple unveiled the latest accessibility features (that use AI), they posted a screenshot of the updated Accessibility Reader app.

(https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2...features-and-updates-with-apple-intelligence/)

This new version of the app actually has a reduced corner radius. (Original below)

What makes this interesting is that most other apps have seen the opposite change on the release of macOS 26; so could this be a course correction?

Also worth pointing out that the icon creator has been updated for developers, so there are now more tools to make them unique as far as Liquid Glass allows.

 

[Nik]

There is a better fix: They should revert to the Sequoia design, roll back the nonsense entirely.

 

[n-evo]

Let’s hope so. I’m kinda used to it though, what irks me the most is the inconsistency of window corners between apps we see on macOS Tahoe today. I don’t get why the OS even allows it without jumping through enormous hoops.

 

[2638se]

Interesting finding! Since they are backtracking now I really want them to just stop being so narcissistic and go back to the more sensible time of Snow Leopard where the corner/UI does not obstruct content.

 

[n-evo]

I think OS X Mavericks was my absolute favorite. It had the nice updated Aqua from OS X Lion without those horrendous skeuomorphism app windows.

 

[droplink]

It would be a welcome change. Also if they un-rounded the buttons too.

 

[2638se]

Upon a closer look, They are still doing the thing that the upper window border is brighter than the other three borders. Ughhhhh

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Upon a closer look, They are still doing the thing that the upper window border is brighter than the other three borders. Ughhhhh

I wouldn’t worry about this. If Apple is indeed going to make changes to Liquid Glass then we’ll need to wait until 27. The window dimensions are a different source for design.

 

[Refractor]

When Apple unveiled the latest accessibility features (that use AI), they posted a screenshot of the updated Accessibility Reader app.

View attachment 2631380

(https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2...features-and-updates-with-apple-intelligence/)

This new version of the app actually has a reduced corner radius. (Original below)

View attachment 2631382

What makes this interesting is that most other apps have seen the opposite change on the release of macOS 26; so could this be a course correction?

Also worth pointing out that the icon creator has been updated for developers, so there are now more tools to make them unique as far as Liquid Glass allows.

I have no problems with the layout, shape, design, form factor etc of the existing corners.

I wish Apple would not tinker around at the edges every new release with inconsequential design choices.

Instead they should aim high and make macOS a very stable OS.

I still don't, but never really liked the Tesla cars in Europe how they look on the street (except for the smallest model). But after all the years one gets used to it and there are bigger fish to fry and things to worry about.

 

[turbineseaplane]

God I hope so.

It's change for the sake of it, and combined with the increased padding all over it reduces the usable area for content on a given window. On laptop sized screens this is a real drawback vs previous OSes.

 

[hieubui]

Corner radius was never the problem with Tahoe. Its performance IS.

 

[darkjungle]

I want as many squares as possible everywhere. I hate circles.
The avatar shape on macrumors also hurts me ))

 

[Steph.fr]

I want as many squares as possible everywhere. I hate circles.
The avatar shape on macrumors also hurts me ))

no panic, I am a 𝝅chopath too ...

 

[JMalone]

For one year we saw two guys defend the ridiculous round corners and lack of title bar and gaslight anyone who didn’t like it. Now Apple brought back the title bar and restored the classic corners and the Yosemite sidebar.

 

[StellarVixen]

For one year we saw two guys defend the ridiculous round corners and lack of title bar and gaslight anyone who didn’t like it. Now Apple brought back the title bar and restored the classic corners and the Yosemite sidebar.

That sidebar style started with Big Sur

 

[StellarVixen]

Literally Sequoia style sidebar (which started with Big Sur)

 

[PotentPeas]

I don't think they're going back to Sequoia border radius, it looks like it has a bigger radius than that in Golden Gate, but at least it is going to be consistent between apps again. He made a point to say that even apps that "haven't been updated" will get the radius tweaked.

Also a big change of the improvement to the left sidebar. That has always looked weird on Tahoe.

 

[StellarVixen]

I don't think they're going back to Sequoia border radius, it looks like it has a bigger radius than that in Golden Gate, but at least it is going to be consistent between apps again. He made a point to say that even apps that "haven't been updated" will get the radius tweaked.

Also a big change of the improvement to the left sidebar. That has always looked weird on Tahoe.

It's somewhere between Tahoe and Sequoia by the looks of it. Smaller than Tahoe but larger than Sequoia.

 

[PotentPeas]

It's somewhere between Tahoe and Sequoia by the looks of it. Smaller than Tahoe but larger than Sequoia.

Tahoe has at least three different border radius sizes that I can see in apps that I have open right now. Photoshop has a small radius (same as Sequoia). Firefox, Thunderbird, and Quicken have a medium radius. Official Apple apps like Numbers and Notes have a large radius.

It looks like Golden Gate is using the medium one? Need to find an actual full-size screenshot to compare.

 

[StellarVixen]

Tahoe has at least three different border radius sizes that I can see in apps that I have open right now. Photoshop has a small radius (same as Sequoia). Firefox, Thunderbird, and Quicken have a medium radius. Official Apple apps like Numbers and Notes have a large radius.

It looks like Golden Gate is using the medium one? Need to find an actual full-size screenshot to compare.

Don't look at third party apps, look at Finder, Mail, Safari...etc, that is what Tahoe corner radius was "supposed to be".

Third party apps either didn't adapt or went their own way

 

[auxbuss]

It's somewhere between Tahoe and Sequoia by the looks of it. Smaller than Tahoe but larger than Sequoia.

That's what I see. I'll wait to judge, but I'll still be on hold for now.

My plan now is to buy a used machine that can run Sequoia as my backup machine. Recent machines have plenty enough power for my requirements, and I've never been an update to the latest person. To be clear, though, if macOS was sane again, I'd buy new in a heartbeat and make my current machine my backup.

Anyway, let's hope Apple's second bite is sane again. First look is promising.

 

[Mick_ag]

There’s no need to look at screenshots, they said it and showed it clearly in the keynote. Were you all in the bathroom or something?

 

[pinkkie]

Uh-oh, Alan Dye will NOT like this!

 

[PotentPeas]

There’s no need to look at screenshots, they said it and showed it clearly in the keynote. Were you all in the bathroom or something?

Someone commented that they went back to the border radius used in Sequoia and previously. Even if they shrunk the border radius from Tahoe, it doesn't look like they shrunk it by that much. Screenshots will let us actually measure it!

 

[Mick_ag]

Someone commented that they went back to the border radius used in Sequoia and previously. Even if they shrunk the border radius from Tahoe, it doesn't look like they shrunk it by that much. Screenshots will let us actually measure it!

Fair enough. But that

Apple may be dialling back…​

It’s confirmed. As shown in the keynote.

And it’s dialing, not dialling 😅