How’s your 10.5 performance on 17? I have one running the last version of 16 and it’s one of my favorite Apple devices ever. Only complaint with it is no 4K YouTube
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Don't Want to Upgrade to iOS 26? Here's How to Stay on iOS 18 [Update: Now Unavailable]
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Regular users, those who do not tinker much about settings and customization, they almost always have the Software Update enabled automatically and usually the updates/upgrades get downloaded when the iPhone/iPad is connected to a charger and not in use, which the update/upgrade usually happens during sleep or early morning hours. Unless someone else set up their device for them, the only time they will notice something new is when visual changes like iOS 6 to iOS 7 or iOS 18 to iOS 26 happens, although it was more iOS 17 to iOS 18 since iOS 18 was the first to drop the Control Center design that was introduced in iOS 11. You could say that iOS 18 was the new update and iOS 26 was the refinement, ideally that is.
At first I thought "Yes." Then I realized that one of the main reasons (only one!) I elected to upate to 18.7.3 via the beta route was this: I have an SE2 that has 3GB of RAM. (SE2 is at the very end of the list of phones supporting 26) Some more knowledgeable-sounding contributor said that it really requires a minimum of 6GB of RAM to run 26. Apple may distribute 26 "totally free" but I'll pay big bucks when I have to replace my perfectly adequate for me SE2 with another iPhone. Whether you want to upgrade, or can't really afford it, I'm afraid you pay!
I’m not sure what you are asking, of course the leadership positions are going to get paid.
And of course Alan Dye *lead* the design team.
But that’s the thing, he led a team. He wasn’t single-handedly responsible for every single little tiny UI element in the, what, four dozen built-in iPhone apps?
Him departing does not mean that the user interface design is going to be overhauled again overnight, that’s not how things work.
I think people still believe that Apple is this tiny little startup somewhere deep inside that has like six people who literally do everything, but they are not!
They literally have somewhere around 200,000 employees, likely more than half working in non-retail positions. You really think Alan Dye and Craig Federighi are writing every line of code and designing every UI element by themselves? Of course not.
A very good watch about a similar topic is this excellent video made by snazzy labs, clearly explaining how a company like Apple does and should operate. The answer? Extremely slowly, and in such a way where when leaders depart it makes as a little impact to the day today as possible. In the video’s case it’s about the CEO, but the head of UI design likely functions very similar. If there are big changes in design philosophy coming, we likely will not see them for the next five years.
Both Windows 95 (from DOS or Win3.1) and Windows XP (from Windows 98) are good examples of times 'regular' consumers wanted and liked an Operating system upgrade.
OSX is probably also a good example from the Apple world.
100% agree. I’m not a huge proponent of the “forced obsolescence” argument, but I fully feel this is the case. Definitely happening with A12 and A13 devices currently
Helveltica Neue is my favorite font ever for this reason. Specifically the ultralight variant used in earlier iOS 7 betas
Honestly, it’s more than fine for what I use it for. I do some streaming (specific videos, youtube, etc.) but little with other streaming apps (Hulu, Netflix, Plex, etc.) and have not encountered any problems. I guess I don’t expect 4k to work since the screen isn’t 4k. I sometimes do AirPlay but that’s usually to show some private photos/videos on the TV and that works fine as well. Everything else like web browsing, specific apps, pencil use, works well.
Disclaimer on web browsing: I know some web sites get “porkier” over time with increased ads and such but I’ve noticed little impact. However, I do run pihole on my network and it “eats” some of those requests that might otherwise slow down page loading.
Still not sure why all the hate on 26. Run's great, LG is fine. 26 has some nice features. What are you guys all gonna do when 27 comes out and its more of the same?
My own observations have led to me conclude that while one needs 6GB of RAM at a minimum for 26, it isn’t until one hits 8GB of RAM that 26 comes close to running smoothly.
iPhone 13 has 4Gb or RAM and for me it runs just fine. Browser scrolling is smooth and apps launch promptly. Can you detail what you see declining in performance? I can imagine gaming might be an issue but I don’t use it for that.
To qualify my point, essentially your argument was the "buck stops nowhere".
Either it does or does not.
Dye was given an off-ramp he most probably could not refuse in the context.
Apple had what I will coin as the "Forstall dilemma" once again, either such was a strangely unique one off never to be repeated anomaly or Dye sidestepped in a very political manner and they hope that is enough that no one notices , but the lack of scapegoat needs to be balanced and I would say that the balancing equivalent is remedying liquid mess asap, by being brave and very bold if no one is going to own the mess and pay the price.
If the mess is not remedied, then the "Forstall Dilemma" remains in play and it will eat away at Apple as it already is the old-time super loyal core userbase who have lived with Apple most of their lives.
Methinks the can is being kicked here and it will be for the new CEO to deal with it. Which will be the most likely reason for any delay in cleaning up the Ui/UX mess.
"Steve Jobs would've fired everyone": iOS 26 Liquid Glass UI comes under fire for poor readability
Apple proudly showcased the new "Liquid Glass" UI design at the WWDC 25. Coming to iOS 26, macOS 26, and iPadOS 26, the new design brings the properties of real glass, like refraction and translucency, to UI elements. However, this has prompted widespread criticism from users.
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Thanks for mentioning your experience with 26 on your mother's SE. it's exactly why I'll resist upgrading to 26 on my SE2 as long as possible. (I'm starting to save spare change for my next iPhone 😒.)
The more I think about this the more this truly is the Forstall Dilemma of Forstall Dilemma's!
Liquid glass is essentially skeuomorphism mania at it's finest! 🤣
Liquid glass is essentially skeuomorphism mania at it's finest! 🤣
There extreme use of animation is probably the thing that bothers me most.
I feel like I'm going to have a seizure with all the flashing, popping and morphing.
Thanks for confirming my fear that my SE2 with 3GB OF RAM shouldn't be updated to 26. I really do feel I'm slowly (or not so slowly?) being forced to upgrade to a new phone.
Good grief man. Please read the posts after the article and then respond. Thank you.
I’m sure you can get by on 18.7.3 on the SE2 for another year. Wait and see what iOS 27 offers.
I was able to upgrade to 18.7.3 before they closed the beta loophole, but all Apple has to do is release 26.2.1 and I'm back in the same pen with the rest of the herd. If or when that happens I'll go to another manufacturer. The only way to force change is to attack their bottom line.
The buck stops at Tim Cook.
Liquid Glass was a massive, comprehensive, system wide, and platform wide UI change that (according to every report I could find) was in development since at least 2021, likely longer.
It was absolutely a massive collaboration across the entire company, between the UI design team lead by Alan Dye, the software teams led by Craig Federighi, the services team led by Eddie, the hardware team led by John Ternus, the marketing team, so on and so on.
And as far as I can tell, despite these forums being in a constant state of “sky is falling”, it’s been a relative success. A success in need of improvement, but a success.
RIP to my wife’s iPhone 13 mini which she accidentally updated and is now in Liquid Glass hell with me. She hates it so much and it’s killing the performance and battery life of her little iPhone, which she refuses to upgrade because she wants a phone that can fit in a smaller jeans pocket and she can use with her small hands. Still so pissed that Apple killed the mini and yet trots out **** that nobody wants to buy like the iPhone Air.