Apple’s iOS 26 Liquid Glass User Interface Receives Mixed Reviews

Apple’s latest design overhaul, dubbed Liquid Glass, has generated mixed reactions from users and designers alike. The new user interface aims to unify the experience of using Apple devices across platforms, but its first developer beta release is marred by several criticisms.

While some aspects of the design are impressive, such as the beautiful glassy style of Apple’s icons, others are problematic, including unreadable notifications and a nearly unusable Control Center. The issue with reading notifications becomes particularly challenging when the iPhone’s wallpaper is brighter, with lighter colors.

Developers who tested the initial beta found that the interface’s problems are more pronounced in certain situations. For example, the Home Screen animations often miss the mark, and the background blur in the Control Center is insufficient to hide icons and widgets behind various controls.

However, despite its initial flaws, there are signs that Apple will refine and correct many of the design systems’ current issues over time. The company has already demonstrated a willingness to iterate on its designs, as seen with its improvements to iOS 7, which was also released in an unrefined state upon its first release.

Ultimately, Liquid Glass seems poised for improvement, especially given Apple’s investments in hardware, silicon, and graphics technologies that will enable more efficient battery usage. While concerns remain about balancing the iPhone’s power consumption, it is likely that Apple will address these issues as part of the final release.

As other tech enthusiasts and companies take notice of Liquid Glass, some even express admiration for its potential to revolutionize smartphone interfaces. With time and refinement, it is possible that Apple’s new design system will become a standard for mobile devices.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/10/love-it-or-hate-it-apples-new-liquid-glass-design-is-getting-mixed-reviews