Apple need to tweak the Liquid Glass Design badly

[Astrohunter]

They should add way more blur to all the backgrounds.
I was making way better looking "UI" on Linux a decade ago, having blurry transparent terminal etc.

And Apple with thousands of employees is releasing this crap, unbelievable. I don't care that it's a beta, they decided to show it to millions of people, which to me means many people at Apple thought it looks fine. They would have to change one setting probably just to make it more blurry, to separate stuff from the background.

Now lets pray Tim Cook will get spammed with rants and they will uncook it somehow.

 

[UpsetTheAppleCart]

Personally, I absolutely love it. If the next beta “fixes” it to make all the blind people in this thread happy, I’ll probably stay on this version forever.

 

[Parowdy]

They should add way more blur to all the backgrounds.
I was making way better looking "UI" on Linux a decade ago, having blurry transparent terminal etc.

And Apple with thousands of employees is releasing this crap, unbelievable. I don't care that it's a beta, they decided to show it to millions of people, which to me means many people at Apple thought it looks fine. They would have to change one setting probably just to make it more blurry, to separate stuff from the background.

Now let’s pray Tim Cook will get spammed with rants and they will uncook it somehow.

Exactly. I was thinking that maybe they released it the way it is to showcase devs what is theoretically possible with Liquid Glass, but what’s the point if A it looks bad and B they are apparently not going to stick with this as their final design?
Apple deserves all the bad press they get imo.

 

[Sami13496]

To me it looks like Windows Vista met Comic Sans font. I want to like it but I can’t.

 

[Dr McKay]

it's beta

I honestly don’t understand comments like this, you’re on a tech forum for Apple enthusiasts, people are going to discuss things they like or dislike here, especially on new stuff.

When you say “it’s a beta” it feels like you’re trying to shut down a discussion about it, what’s your end goal? That literally nobody discuss what they don’t like outside of submitting feedback in the feedback app?

 

[Artemiz]

I honestly don’t understand comments like this, you’re on a tech forum for Apple enthusiasts, people are going to discuss things they like or dislike here, especially on new stuff.

When you say “it’s a beta” it feels like you’re trying to shut down a discussion about it, what’s your end goal? That literally nobody discuss what they don’t like outside of submitting feedback in the feedback app?

A discussion would be "I dislike the transparent CC. Legibility is degraded and needs some serious tweaking. This should've been obvious". When people say it's a beta, it's usually in response to something like "this is the absolute worst design ever or I hate everything about it or Apple should fire Tim and the entire team".

Critiquing vs. whining -- there's a difference.

 

[krspkbl]

I honestly don’t understand comments like this, you’re on a tech forum for Apple enthusiasts, people are going to discuss things they like or dislike here, especially on new stuff.

When you say “it’s a beta” it feels like you’re trying to shut down a discussion about it, what’s your end goal? That literally nobody discuss what they don’t like outside of submitting feedback in the feedback app?

It's the very first "public" (as in outside Apple) release of brand new software. We still have the rest of june, july, august, and september for the software to be improved and refined.

There's not point complaining. I'd get it maybe if we were on Public Beta 4 but it's Dev 1. This is the worst it's gonna be. If someone feels very strongly about something in this software then they should give that feedback to Apple. If come September it still sucks then we can complain. Until then it's a work in progress. I recommend people look at the definition of "beta" and learn more about software development cycles.

This is NOT for the public and even the "public" beta isn't really for the general public. If you decide to install this software on your device that is your choice but people shouldn't expect it to be working perfectly and have the polish of a general release.

I am aware this is a discussion forum so we can indeed discuss it but again there is no point complaining. Instead you'd be better spending time submitting your thoughts to Apple so things can actually be changed.

 

[Dr McKay]

It's the very first "public" (as in outside Apple) release of brand new software. We still have the rest of june, july, august, and september for the software to be improved and refined.

There's not point complaining. I'd get it maybe if we were on Public Beta 4 but it's Dev 1. This is the worst it's gonna be. If someone feels very strongly about something in this software then they should give that feedback to Apple. If come September it still sucks then we can complain. Until then it's a work in progress. I recommend people look at the definition of "beta" and learn more about software development cycles.

This is NOT for the public and even the "public" beta isn't really for the general public. If you decide to install this software on your device that is your choice but people shouldn't expect it to be working perfectly and have the polish of a general release.

I am aware this is a discussion forum so we can indeed discuss it but again there is no point complaining. Instead you'd be better spending time submitting your thoughts to Apple so things can actually be changed.

This just feels like a gigantic list of assumptions on your part about others followed by the notion that nobody should discuss anything about any of the betas until the RC because it’s “pointless”. OP even acknowledged it was a beta and things change yet you seem to think they expect the beta to be “working perfectly”

That’s a strong disagree from me.

 

[xdexina]

I think, they need to level down the system.
No need for Widgets and icons to be glassy. Quite the opposite, use the liquid glass as an accent.
The icons lack detail, differentiation with this. All the widgets look worse, than iOS 18 widgets.

Its too much...

(Was a Human Interface designer at Apple until iOS7, and worked on Scott team's for context.)

 

[FSMBP]

I think, they need to level down the system.
No need for Widgets and icons to be glassy. Quite the opposite, use the liquid glass as an accent.
The icons lack detail, differentiation with this. All the widgets look worse, than iOS 18 widgets.

Its to much...

(Was Human Interface designer at Apple until iOS7, and worked on Scott team's for context.)

I'm guessing it's too late in the iOS 26 cycle to do the changes you're mentioning?

They will probably up the opacity and in iOS 27 / 28, slowly making the fundamental changes you're describing.

 

[xdexina]

I'm guessing it's too late in the iOS 26 cycle to do the changes you're mentioning?

They will probably up the opacity and in iOS 27 / 28, slowly making the fundamental changes you're describing.

Perhaps,

It's all about direction. If Human Interface team listen to criticize they have plenty of time.
But knewing Dye it will be impossible.

 

[avro707]

I think, they need to level down the system.
No need for Widgets and icons to be glassy. Quite the opposite, use the liquid glass as an accent.
The icons lack detail, differentiation with this. All the widgets look worse, than iOS 18 widgets.

Its too much...

(Was a Human Interface designer at Apple until iOS7, and worked on Scott team's for context.)

Having used it from the day it was available I agree.

Some things like notifications on the Lock Screen when they layer up just don’t work.

It feels just a bit clunky to be honest. I’m sure that will improve.

 

[one more]

Mac OS 10.0 Aqua - Year 2000
before super processors and OLED screens
enough said…

View attachment 2518529

It was beautiful back then and much more easier to read. As you can see, the button background was not so transparent and the fonts were bolder, more emphasised.

 

[staypuftforums]

No firsthand experience but I've certainly been getting Vista vibes. Hope I'm wrong.

It’s even worse. Vista mostly had a coherent look to it. This is iOS 18 with a weird Vista skin on it. Gross.

It doesn't even feel like an official Apple product. More like a mod you’d download from the App Store. Like a teenager made it.

 

[staypuftforums]

I’m getting a headache just from the screen shots. It’s nauseating with all the blur and weird effects.
It’s a really bad design and I hope we get options to reduce glass effects.

At least the icons looks better in dark mode.

I’m on a SE3 and the screen feels very cramped because so much of it is blurry. Just a mess.

 

[ghostface147]

Personally, I absolutely love it. If the next beta “fixes” it to make all the blind people in this thread happy, I’ll probably stay on this version forever.

Except betas expire and you’ll have a brick.

 

[Astrohunter]

I have downgraded today, and I feel like if the UI was redesigned and how it should be. 😂😂

Feels so fresh Mmm 😁

 

[ibookemo]

I have downgraded today, and I feel like if the UI was redesigned and how it should be. 😂😂

Feels so fresh Mmm 😁

This is honestly the first design change that Apple have made that I really don't like. I actually did like iOS 7, always thought it was quite clean. iOS 26 looks like a brilliant, very cool idea and is truly a technical marvel. Any clear background will always be a less suitable vehicle to present information on than a solid background though, it's just basic design (I've been a UI designer for 21 years).
There's a reason why paper is not clear or even semi-clear.

 

[redheeler]

This is honestly the first design change that Apple have made that I really don't like. I actually did like iOS 7, always thought it was quite clean. iOS 26 looks like a brilliant, very cool idea and is truly a technical marvel. Any clear background will always be a less suitable vehicle to present information on than a solid background though, it's just basic design (I've been a UI designer for 21 years).
There's a reason why paper is not clear or even semi-clear.

iOS 7 removed a lot of depth and visual contrast from the UI that was present in iOS 6. I remember liking it at first but it became boring really quickly. 2 or 3 years in I was already wanting to go back.

Frosted glass to clear glass isn't the revolutionary iOS 7-style update Apple is trying to make it seem like. Even the introduction of the system-wide dark mode was a much bigger change.

 

[ibookemo]

iOS 7 removed a lot of depth and visual contrast from the UI that was present in iOS 6. I remember liking it at first but it became boring really quickly. 2 or 3 years in I was already wanting to go back.

Frosted glass to clear glass isn't the revolutionary iOS 7-style update Apple is trying to make it seem like. Even the introduction of the system-wide dark mode was a much bigger change.

I agree, it's not at all revolutionary. iOS 26 is very familiar, the layout of all the functions makes sense. It's just the vast reduction in clarity of information and the complete lack of 'style' or 'taste' that I basically can't get over.

Really interested in how it all shakes out in September, but I'd be surprised if it's vastly better looking than it appears now TBH. Certainly there will be tweaks, but the actual underlying reasoning behind the visual design is weak AF. What on earth is the actual reason for using glass so heavily in a UI. I'd love to know.

 

[one more]

I think, they need to level down the system.
No need for Widgets and icons to be glassy. Quite the opposite, use the liquid glass as an accent.
The icons lack detail, differentiation with this. All the widgets look worse, than iOS 18 widgets.

Its too much...

(Was a Human Interface designer at Apple until iOS7, and worked on Scott team's for context.)

Submit Apple feedback with your real name, then we will have a good chance that things will change for the better for the rest of us.

 

[redheeler]

I agree, it's not at all revolutionary. iOS 26 is very familiar, the layout of all the functions makes sense. It's just the vast reduction in clarity of information and the complete lack of 'style' or 'taste' that I basically can't get over.

Really interested in how it all shakes out in September, but I'd be surprised if it's vastly better looking than it appears now TBH. Certainly there will be tweaks, but the actual underlying reasoning behind the visual design is weak AF. What on earth is the actual reason for using glass so heavily in a UI. I'd love to know.

Apple may be trying to undo the mistakes of iOS 7 and add back some skeuomorphism into the UI, and although this Liquid Glass seems like a step forward to me (especially after it gets the inevitable refinements you mentioned), it isn't the greatest attempt at doing so. The UI / UX design team may have too much hubris to just revert back to the pre-7 design language for anything more than the Camera app icon. Pre-7 placed so much emphasis on contrast, and this is doing the exact opposite.

 

[staypuftforums]

This is honestly the first design change that Apple have made that I really don't like. I actually did like iOS 7, always thought it was quite clean. iOS 26 looks like a brilliant, very cool idea and is truly a technical marvel. Any clear background will always be a less suitable vehicle to present information on than a solid background though, it's just basic design (I've been a UI designer for 21 years).
There's a reason why paper is not clear or even semi-clear.

Am I the only one who doesn’t think it even looks good?

 

[ibookemo]

Am I the only one who doesn’t think it even looks good?

I agree with you. I really like the look of iOS 18 - they were going in a good direction. Shame.

 

[Rogifan]

Apple may be trying to undo the mistakes of iOS 7 and add back some skeuomorphism into the UI, and although this Liquid Glass seems like a step forward to me (especially after it gets the inevitable refinements you mentioned), it isn't the greatest attempt at doing so. The UI / UX design team may have too much hubris to just revert back to the pre-7 design language for anything more than the Camera app icon. Pre-7 placed so much emphasis on contrast, and this is doing the exact opposite.

I don’t think undoing skeuomorphism was a mistake. iOS 6 was looking very stale. I’m curious to try out iOS 26 when the public beta drops.