As reported by 9to5Mac.
Today the official launch of iOS 26 has begun. The main novelty – Liquid Glass, which has sparked debate and is compared to the minimalism of iOS 7, introduced in 2013.
Apple has made significant changes to the system’s appearance after beta testers complained about readability and the confusing design elements. However, among developers there are doubts: is Liquid Glass ready for release?
Rather than sharpening the focus, it too often blurs attention due to readability problems and distracting visual effects. On Mac, the controls are overly conspicuous, and on iPhone they relentlessly seem to disappear into a new Apple approach to the hamburger menu, depriving users of the chance to develop effective muscle memory.
Developers’ Response
Some experts support part of Apple’s concept, but consider Liquid Glass an incomplete solution. Hello Weather designer Jonas Downey noted that despite certain advantages, the new interfaces feel complex and often hinder usability.
While there are things he likes, the new interfaces feel complex and often hinder users.
He also emphasized that transparent components are distracting, low contrast makes it harder to distinguish elements, and the excessive darkening and the depth of buttons and tabs make them more prominent than the content, creating friction between the user and the information.
Apple’s goal is to merge the interface with the content to reduce distraction, but I believe Liquid Glass achieves the opposite: it creates distortions that catch the eye while scrolling through content. There are fundamental readability issues because Liquid Glass cannot control what lies behind it. And when the system switches between light and dark themes, it only adds to the distraction.
There are real tensions between the stated aims – separating the interface from the content, and its elevation – and the practical reality of partially obscuring content and creating swirling, distracting, ever-changing colors during scrolling.
Grannell argues that at a time when smartphone design has plateaued, Apple expects Liquid Glass to bring excitement and novelty, but the official release so far provides no clear grounds for optimism.
Experts’ Verdict
I’m not convinced that the argument “hardware is solid – software is brilliant” holds water, given that the iPhone Air is the biggest hardware breakthrough in years. At the same time, Apple hasn’t provided reasons to be optimistic this year.
Personally, the author believes Liquid Glass has potential but acknowledges the issues uncovered during beta testing and understands that the release is only the first step. In future updates, developers should expect improvements and fixes in how they interact with user content.
Now it’s worth watching how the story develops: whether Apple can find a balance between style and usability, and whether Liquid Glass will become a stable experience for users.
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