Critics React to Apple’s New iOS 26 Update

So, it seems the latest update from Apple is stirring up quite a bit of chatter. A preview of the iOS 26 update, unveiled at the Worldwide Developer Conference, has received a fair amount of criticism. Many have described the new design as tough on the eyes, or as one commenter put it, “ugh.”

This redesign, dubbed Liquid Glass, is the first significant change in Apple’s interface in a decade. The features will roll out to developers soon, with a public beta expected next month. The idea is to make app icons, menus, and pop-ups appear translucent, reminiscent of frosted glass, which gives a soft, blurry effect to the background.

Different reactions have surfaced from users and professionals alike. For instance, some Apple users found the Liquid Glass aesthetic less than appealing, with one fan exclaiming, “the liquid glass design is the most gli-damaged thing Apple has done to date!”

According to Apple, this new material behaves like glass in real world settings. It’s designed to adjust based on its surroundings, adapting to both bright and dark settings. Although, there are varying opinions on its practicality.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, hailed the new design as “gorgeous.” However, it appears that not all users are on board with the transparency aspect.

Responses have ranged widely. One enthusiastic user praised it, while another lamented, “Steve Jobs probably never approved this.” Another critic chimed in that the new interface “literally looks at my eyes in pain.” They even went as far as to say this could be Apple’s worst update since iOS 7, which, wow, is a strong opinion.

Even into the design community, skepticism exists. Alan Yu, a product designer, stated that the design’s readability is lacking, mostly due to excessive transparency. Meanwhile, Josh Puckett, co-founder of a design startup, described it as distracting and hard to read, though he maintained some hope for improvement.

As it stands, Apple’s latest redesign has prompted quite the discussion. Some see potential, while others—well, not so much. It’ll be interesting to see how these opinions evolve once more users get their hands on the new interface.