Key Takeaways
1. User Feedback on Readability: Many users, including a notable response on X, criticize the new Liquid Glass UI design for negatively impacting readability, suggesting it may not meet user needs.
2. Apple’s Vision: Apple aims to create a visually appealing and dynamic UI with Liquid Glass that enhances user focus on content, as highlighted during the WWDC25 keynote.
3. Achievements in Design: The updated iOS 26 UI showcases impressive animations and sleek design, but the visual effects are causing readability challenges, particularly in the Lock Screen.
4. Proposed Solutions: Suggestions for improvement include using a more intense background blur, adding color tints to UI elements, and incorporating features like drop shadows to enhance visibility.
5. Opportunity for Improvement: With iOS 26 still in Beta, Apple has time to address user feedback and make necessary adjustments to enhance the user experience before the full release.
“Steve Jobs would have fired everyone” was the response of a user on X after witnessing Apple’s innovative “Liquid Glass” software design in use. This post has racked up over 18.5 million views on X, pointing out that the iOS Control Center with the new user interface (UI) design reveals how the transparent quality and gentle blur can negatively impact readability.
Apple’s Vision for Liquid Glass
During the WWDC25 keynote, Apple highlighted that the UI components made from Liquid Glass are designed to be “more expressive and delightful,” and they “dynamically transform to help enhance focus on content.” It’s evident that Apple’s goal with this new UI, which spans its ecosystem from macOS 26 to TVOS 26, is to create a modern, visually appealing UI redesign that doesn’t sacrifice functionality.
Achievements and Challenges
Overall, Apple has made significant strides. For example, the updated iOS 26 UI is impressively sleek, featuring some of the industry’s finest animation techniques. The individual UI elements seem to come alive with a gentle bounce and responsive interactions. Yet, the visual aspects of the Liquid Glass design appear to be the source of most issues.
Consider the iOS Lock Screen, where our own Vaidyanathan S. demonstrates on X that the iOS 26 Lock Screen looks much clearer and simpler to read when transparency is disabled.
Readability Issues
Readability takes a hit when the UI is set to the new “Clear Light” mode. Thanks to the translucent effects of Liquid Glass, iOS 26 is more visually appealing when displayed in “Clear Dark” mode.
One straightforward solution would be for Apple to apply a more intense background blur, allowing the foreground UI elements to pop. Right now, the background blur is somewhat too soft, making information-dense elements like the Control Center harder to read.
Another potential solution could be to add a color tint to the Liquid Glass material, which would help clear UI elements stand out against a bright background.
Additionally, @XorDev, a graphics programmer, proposes enhancements like Drop Shadows, Tone Mapping, and more as possible improvements.
Looking Ahead
Fortunately, iOS 26 remains in Beta and won’t be fully released for several more months. This gives Apple ample time to consider this feedback and make necessary adjustments.
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