My dad bought a 17 Pro and doesn't even notice Liquid Glass

[AshX]

I don’t quite understand why Apple users tend to be so dismissive of people who voice legitimate criticisms and point out legitimate issues. It is not a personal attack or affront.

From what I have read and experienced myself, iOS 26 breaks a lot of Apple’s own design rules. Is it cool? Yes. Is it functional on the level of previous iOS versions? That depends.

The goal of any OS update, I would imagine, should be to deliver new and improved features while making your OS as functional, legible, and comfortable as possible for the most amount of users. Given the sheer amount of complaints this many weeks since release, Apple has clearly failed in that regard.

As others have commented, not everyone has the same vision or neurology. It’s disappointing that so many users seem to have a level of disdain for people with these sorts of problems and sensitivities. We would all love to use iOS 26 and the latest devices with no issues.

A lot of this can be solved with additional settings, though it really should have been solved at the R&D phase. It was not. The Accessibility settings are not sufficient, which is probably why Apple is toning down Liquid Glass itself. Hopefully it works. Or you know, Apple can just let people downgrade to iOS 18 and provide security updates for the next year until iOS 27 when they will hopefully address these visual problems in a bigger way.

The reason people are complaining as much as they are is because Apple has removed the ability to downgrade. They’ve taken away that choice. It still exists on MacOS - why not iOS and iPadOS? That’s the real problem. This isn’t a matter of choosing to buy or not buy an iPhone 17 that comes pre-loaded with iOS 26 - Apple has actively prevented users with older models from downgrading.

There are a ton of easy solutions available to Apple. They just refuse to give users a choice. It’s their way or the highway, and thus many are so disgusted they’re considering driving down the road to Android.

 

[p.willis]

The whole LG outrage was a very small group of vocal anti Apple posters.

I was worried it was going to destroy a well evolved interface for no reason.
It doesn't.

It adds some slight visual twists that mostly look subtle and nice.

 

[Simmias]

Exact same for my mother!

Except, she does notice, and she does mind.

This is a great point, except that my story is true while yours never happened.

 

[klasma]

Yeah, it’s a bit like a change in government: some love it, others say it’s a total disaster and completely broken, while still others go about their lives and barely notice.

 

[MaxVerstappen]

Yeah, I also think most just get used to the changes after not too long.

Me? I still miss iOS 6.

We all miss being 20 years younger… it’s called being nostalgic.

 

[n-evo]

If people don’t notice major changes like liquid glass then apple shouldn’t change them. Keeps the people who do notice sane.

We’d still be using the original monochrome interface from the 80s.

 

[FeliApple]

We all miss being 20 years younger… it’s called being nostalgic.

The funny part is that I have an iPod Touch 5G running it’s absolutely original version: iOS 6.0

 

[FeliApple]

Except, some people who notice, really like it. Like me. And it was due time for a refresh.

To each their own, but I’ve always disagreed with the phrase “it was due time for a refresh”.

For me this was a full regression in usability and readability. So much so that Apple even toned it back a little.

 

[haruhiko]

He will definitely notice the drop in battery life.

 

[Happy_John]

The moral of the story is:

For people who have lives, or, more realistically, prefer to focus on their lives than advert and sponsor driven online drama, the OS on their phone is not very important.

 

[DCIFRTHS]

My dad went from a 15 Pro running iOS 18 to a 17 Pro running iOS 26 (because AT&T offered him a great trade in deal). I asked what he thought of the new iOS design with Liquid Glass, and he said he didn't notice any difference 😂

To me, this is a hilarious counterpoint to all the online commentators who spent months ranting about the usability and legibility of Liquid Glass and acting like it was the end of the world. Meanwhile in the real world, normies like my dad, who is actually very averse to change and doesn't even like to upgrade his devices, have zero complaints and just go about using their phone as if nothing has changed.

The moral of the story is that most things that make people lose their minds on social media and the forums don't even register with the vast majority of Apple users. They're mainly just controversies drummed up by press & influencers as engagement bait and then amplified by legions of trolls with too much time on their hands and a desperate need for attention.

We need the Thumbs Down button back.

 

[tomtattoo]

So much so that Apple even toned it back a little.

Like bringing back the swipe gesture for changing watchfaces.
This is the best sign they realized they have done it wrong.

And THAT is the best sign that critics were right.

 

[Boeingfan]

My dad went from a 15 Pro running iOS 18 to a 17 Pro running iOS 26 (because AT&T offered him a great trade in deal). I asked what he thought of the new iOS design with Liquid Glass, and he said he didn't notice any difference 😂

To me, this is a hilarious counterpoint to all the online commentators who spent months ranting about the usability and legibility of Liquid Glass and acting like it was the end of the world. Meanwhile in the real world, normies like my dad, who is actually very averse to change and doesn't even like to upgrade his devices, have zero complaints and just go about using their phone as if nothing has changed.

The moral of the story is that most things that make people lose their minds on social media and the forums don't even register with the vast majority of Apple users. They're mainly just controversies drummed up by press & influencers as engagement bait and then amplified by legions of trolls with too much time on their hands and a desperate need for attention.

As the old saying goes, everyone wants change but no one wants to change. There’s another cliche, that change is the only constant in life. Que sera, sera!

 

[Robert.Walter]

My dad went from a 15 Pro running iOS 18 to a 17 Pro running iOS 26 (because AT&T offered him a great trade in deal). I asked what he thought of the new iOS design with Liquid Glass, and he said he didn't notice any difference 😂

To me, this is a hilarious counterpoint to all the online commentators who spent months ranting about the usability and legibility of Liquid Glass and acting like it was the end of the world. Meanwhile in the real world, normies like my dad, who is actually very averse to change and doesn't even like to upgrade his devices, have zero complaints and just go about using their phone as if nothing has changed.

The moral of the story is that most things that make people lose their minds on social media and the forums don't even register with the vast majority of Apple users. They're mainly just controversies drummed up by press & influencers as engagement bait and then amplified by legions of trolls with too much time on their hands and a desperate need for attention.

Maybe it’s time to take away his car keys?

 

[FongemieJ]

I feel like Apple has lost a bit of the balance between looking flashy and actually being comfortable to use. Don’t get me wrong — Liquid Glass looks cool, but sometimes it feels like form is winning over function. Still, most people probably won’t even notice until someone online tells them they should be mad about it.