Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Why is everything not AppleOS so ugly?
- Thread starter Der_mit_dem_langen
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Le_Chiffre
macrumors regular
lostPod
macrumors 6502a
I like the UI's design (even though it obviously has borrowed a lot of polish from Apple), I like that the OS has a bit more "freedom", multitasking, and customization. SD CARD! Samsung's screens are always gorgeous. The OS feels a little bit more like a Desktop OS, in comparison. Lastly the price of the used market. S-Pen design and functionality I like better than iPad as well.
The only thing that is lacking is the same 3rd party power apps that iPadOS offers, such as Photoshop.
I have used both iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, Windows, and Android all extensively. I used to be a die-hard iPad fan too .. My favortie iPads were probably the first iPad Air and the 11" Pro. The only thing really that keeps me owning an iPad in my colorful lineup is iMessage, lol.
Edit: I will say the Tab S11 was a pretty large step backwards IMO. I returned the S11 for an S10+.
capamac
macrumors 6502a
There's so many window managers and desktop environments for linux/bsd tho ... highly configurable, too. They can be made to be quite attractive IMO. Better than Liquid Glass for sure.
Mousse
macrumors 601
A case of the grass is greener on the other side.
I certainly don't like Liquid Glass. I much prefer the clean interface of possible do to AOSP customization. My patch of grass is greenest because that's where I spread my 💩.😉
Last edited:
lowendlinux
macrumors 603
If we're talking mobile I just need to touch what I want to do, they all do that pretty well in 2026. The thing with Android is which Android skin are we talking about? My GrapheneOS install there was no real thought put into its appearance, lots of the Chinese OEMs put a lot of thought in UI/UX. I like iOS and the Android I use, I also like MacOS and Gnome so maybe my opinions on this topic aren't relevant.
Le_Chiffre
macrumors regular
I have absolutely no idea what you are trying to convey. Have said that, good for you. 😂
One nice aspect of this forum is there are users that disagree with this statement.
Samsung, OPPO, Huawei, OnePlus, Google and others offer their own unique distributions of Android.
Having used these personally, the experience has revealed the efficiency, speed, usefulness and reliability of the Android platform.
The choices are to be celebrated.
Le_Chiffre
macrumors regular
To be fair Huawei no longer ships phones with Android and one plus is currently exiting the glopbal market and may be winding down operations completely by next year.
Asus cancelled thisr Rog phone this year, xiaomi cancelled their 18 ultra, and Lenovo and zte might be following one plus lead and wind down smartphone operations.
So the choices are starting to dwindle as the smartphone market continues to consolidate into 2027.
Excellent point, especially true here in the USA.
It's somewhat of an iPhone vs Samsung world in terms of what's readily available from the major carriers.
Globally there's still a variety of choices which is to be expected.
Le_Chiffre
macrumors regular
Huawei and Apple are doing great in China, while you are correct Samsung and Apple are doing well everywhere else.
Only problem is Samsung mobile will post an operating loss for q2 2026, which has historically been their best quarter yoy.
Bear in mind Samsungs electronics other core division, Samsung DS and Samsung electronics subsidiary; Samsung SDC are doing surprisingly well.
jamezr
macrumors P6
That is not quite true.....
Samsung's mobile division is estimated to maybe have its first ever loss for the quarter. But Samsung as a company is posting 40 years high record profits. So I guess they will take those numbers!
Howe has the iPhone Air done for Apple? I heard it was the most returned smartphone of the year. They canceled it for next year because sales were so bad.
Last edited:
thistleknife
macrumors member
"Isn’t it weird that there is exactly one company who puts a lot of work into the design of their OS and all other manufacturers (Google, Microsoft, Linux developers) can only produce extremely ugly UI elements?"
It is not weird. It has always been this way.
It is not weird. It has always been this way.
jamezr
macrumors P6
Do you what is really ugly is the Apple TV OS...I mean its so bad Apple loses billions support it. Apple TV operates at a loss amounting to billions of dollars on the streaming service.
Le_Chiffre
macrumors regular
Really? tvOS is probably the best thing Apple make. It serves to be just a barebones space to plonk some apps and gets out of the way when you're watching something. The same cannot be said of SmartTV OSes.
But its not perfect. The last truly great TV-based operating system was the XMB on the PlayStation 3 that wisely chose to build itself around the d-pad of a controller instead of apeing a phone.
jamezr
macrumors P6
Yeah look it up yourself....Apple loses billions supporting Apple TV and their streaming services.
Hajj.david
macrumors 6502a
What does any of your post have to do with UI/UX design? Apple loses about a billion per year on streaming, but is growing at a fairly considerable speed and has recently been compared as "the new HBO" because of how good their first party content is like Widows Bay etc.
jamezr
macrumors P6
Personally I find it awkward and hard to navigate. Then aren't we all here posting our personal opinions and experiences? Apple is losing billions on their Apple TV streaming services. Personally I love some of their content like Silo and Foundation. But I watch that content then leave the service to watch something else.
Hajj.david
macrumors 6502a
Oh I misread your post as: you find Apple TV (the streaming service) ugly BECAUSE it loses billions of dollars, not IN SPITE of spending billions. I totally agree I hate the UI of their streaming service and it is somehow even worse on macOS. As for the tvOS itself I think the UI is great, its quick and easy to navigate and it largely gets out of the way. The new remote is a slight improvement but still its weak point imho. So I apologize
I dont think Apple loses money on their TV hardware / OS I am sure all of their losses are on the actual streaming side of things.
For example I click on a show, it instantly starts playing instead of showing me the episode list, I have to long press "go to show" to then see the episode list. When an episode finishes I press the (x) on macOS to close out the video player thinking it will surely take me back to the episode selection page. NOPE I have to reopen Apple TV right click on the show go to show, then select the next episode. Its a huge mess, plus the full screen behavior vs PIP. Disgusting.
one more
macrumors 603
I was asking myself the same question, also asking some of my friends using Android what they thought about it. They did not care much about the aesthetics of it, as long as it worked, instead focusing more on the contents and device’s functionality. I guess Google, Samsung, etc., understand this, so they simply do not bother to the degree Apple does.
Hajj.david
macrumors 6502a
I have a few android devices, the Niagra launcher is probably the closest thing to a really comprehensive clean design on android: https://niagaralauncher.com/
(not sponsored or anything, its just what I personally use since I value aesthetics)
Le_Chiffre
macrumors regular
tvOS has one of the best Ui for television. Really wish Apple would just make a large tv already but the Apple Vision Pro is a great alternative.
I do agree with our other posters have said about navigating the ui, going to the episode instead of the show.
I would also like to add i wish Apple TV ui had a next episode button like other streaming services, instead of “start from the beginning”.
Nonetheless less great ui/ux and easy to navigate with the Apple Remote. I love that I can just use the Apple TV remote or my phone to control the volume and switch off/on the tv. I no longer have to use the terrible oem remote controls anymore.
Regarding Apple TV streaming service, there are good shows and movies and terrible ones. Just like any other streaming service. But lately the tv shows and movies are getting better and better.
Foundation, silo, lucky, slow horses, prime target, for all mankind, your friends & neighbors, monarch, masters of the air and widows bay are some of examples of great tv shows.
Tetris, the greatest beer run ever, fountain of youth, the instigators, the bankers and of course f1 were all great movies.
Seems as though Apple is slowly finding their footing when it comes to their streaming service, Apple TV. 📺
Really like the expanse before Amazon cancelled it.
I do agree with our other posters have said about navigating the ui, going to the episode instead of the show.
I would also like to add i wish Apple TV ui had a next episode button like other streaming services, instead of “start from the beginning”.
Nonetheless less great ui/ux and easy to navigate with the Apple Remote. I love that I can just use the Apple TV remote or my phone to control the volume and switch off/on the tv. I no longer have to use the terrible oem remote controls anymore.
Regarding Apple TV streaming service, there are good shows and movies and terrible ones. Just like any other streaming service. But lately the tv shows and movies are getting better and better.
Foundation, silo, lucky, slow horses, prime target, for all mankind, your friends & neighbors, monarch, masters of the air and widows bay are some of examples of great tv shows.
Tetris, the greatest beer run ever, fountain of youth, the instigators, the bankers and of course f1 were all great movies.
Seems as though Apple is slowly finding their footing when it comes to their streaming service, Apple TV. 📺
Really like the expanse before Amazon cancelled it.
jamezr
macrumors P6
That is the beauty of Android....If you don't like something you can change it. I wish I could do something similar on my 17 PM
Streaming sure but the box itself was about $90 to make and sold for $130 before the price hike. Thats an easy margin on what is essentially spare iPhone parts in a plastic shell. There aren't many R&D overheads here.