I updated the wife's iPhone yesterday. I'm on IOS 26 B4, She's still on 18.6. 18.6 now looks ancient.
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What do you like in iOS26 better than iOS 18?
- Thread starter miamialley
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Yeah, it's interesting how quick that happens - especially as (until I installed iOS/MacOS 26) I really liked iOS 18 and Sequoia!
The new Photos app, maybe, but even that I'm not sure about. As for Liquid Glass and the overall look of iOS 26? I hate it.
I've been running the beta on my iPhone 16 Pro Max and I tried really hard to like the new look. It was exciting at first (simply because it was different), but it's gradually become ugly and distracting now that the novelty has worn off. It looks more like colourless goo than 'liquid glass', it's inconsitently applied, its made the icons uglier, it's less efficient with screen space, it looks terrible on complex backgrounds/images, and I really don't understand the obsession with hiding UI elements to 'give way to the content'. All my own personal opinions, of course.
I still think iOS 7 is still the most beautiful version of iOS.. It was a sorely needed change and a thoughtful, top-to-bottom redesign of the entire system. It certainly wasn't perfect at first and needed plenty of tweaking, but it got there. I've seem many argue that Liquid Glass will do the same, but I disagree. I think the entire concept of using virtual glass for core UI elements floating over content is inherently a terrible idea. I find it ridiculous that Microsoft got it right straight out the gate in 2007 with Windows Vista, yet Apple has fumbled it so tragically in 2025. The main difference is that Windows prioritised legibility and didn't overlay much, if any, content with the glass UI.
I've been dissatified with the direction Apple has been going in with their UIs for years now, especially when it comes to macOS (which has finally reached the completion of its 'iPadification'). This'll seem dramatic to some, no doubt, but Liquid Glass is the final straw for me; I'm moving to a Pixel 9 Pro XL that I got new for £300 off its original price. I know the 10 is round the corner, but it's barely any different, will cost at least £300 more on launch, and it doesn't come in pink! If I'm not happy with Apple's software, I may as well use alternatives that provide far greater freedom and customisation. And it's not just the OS, it's the services I'm fed up with, too. Gmail is in a different league to iCloud Mail.
I've come to accept that the Apple I loved doesn't exist any more. It died with Steve Jobs and died a second time with Jony Ive leaving. I know that's a little cringe to say, but that's how I feel! I don't hate modern Apple, but they're just another big tech company to me now. It's clear that they prioritise profit and shareholder value; you can see it throughout their products and services these days.
I still have an iPad that I'll use for drawing, but I've switched away from iPhone and Mac. I could go on a much longer rant about macOS and iCloud, but this is the wrong forum for that!
I've been running the beta on my iPhone 16 Pro Max and I tried really hard to like the new look. It was exciting at first (simply because it was different), but it's gradually become ugly and distracting now that the novelty has worn off. It looks more like colourless goo than 'liquid glass', it's inconsitently applied, its made the icons uglier, it's less efficient with screen space, it looks terrible on complex backgrounds/images, and I really don't understand the obsession with hiding UI elements to 'give way to the content'. All my own personal opinions, of course.
I still think iOS 7 is still the most beautiful version of iOS.. It was a sorely needed change and a thoughtful, top-to-bottom redesign of the entire system. It certainly wasn't perfect at first and needed plenty of tweaking, but it got there. I've seem many argue that Liquid Glass will do the same, but I disagree. I think the entire concept of using virtual glass for core UI elements floating over content is inherently a terrible idea. I find it ridiculous that Microsoft got it right straight out the gate in 2007 with Windows Vista, yet Apple has fumbled it so tragically in 2025. The main difference is that Windows prioritised legibility and didn't overlay much, if any, content with the glass UI.
I've been dissatified with the direction Apple has been going in with their UIs for years now, especially when it comes to macOS (which has finally reached the completion of its 'iPadification'). This'll seem dramatic to some, no doubt, but Liquid Glass is the final straw for me; I'm moving to a Pixel 9 Pro XL that I got new for £300 off its original price. I know the 10 is round the corner, but it's barely any different, will cost at least £300 more on launch, and it doesn't come in pink! If I'm not happy with Apple's software, I may as well use alternatives that provide far greater freedom and customisation. And it's not just the OS, it's the services I'm fed up with, too. Gmail is in a different league to iCloud Mail.
I've come to accept that the Apple I loved doesn't exist any more. It died with Steve Jobs and died a second time with Jony Ive leaving. I know that's a little cringe to say, but that's how I feel! I don't hate modern Apple, but they're just another big tech company to me now. It's clear that they prioritise profit and shareholder value; you can see it throughout their products and services these days.
I still have an iPad that I'll use for drawing, but I've switched away from iPhone and Mac. I could go on a much longer rant about macOS and iCloud, but this is the wrong forum for that!
I would say those are improvements. I've started using Google Maps lately. The satellite view is really useful. Also the perspective is not top down like in Apple Maps when not navigating.