Apple's iOS 26 update, featuring the "Liquid Glass" design, has been released to developers, with a public beta coming next month. This major interface overhaul, inspired by the Vision Pro headset, gives apps a frosted glass look with blurred backgrounds. While some designers find the new look aesthetically pleasing and "really fresh," others express concerns about its impact on readability.
Several designers noted readability issues, particularly with the transparency level. Allan Yu, a product designer, suggested increasing blurring or adjusting backgrounds to improve clarity. Josh Puckett expressed concerns about potential readability challenges for users with visual impairments, although he remains optimistic about future improvements based on Apple's history of accessibility features. Serhii Popov, however, believes the design could enhance readability and interaction on devices like iPads.
Beyond readability, some designers worry about the potential for distraction. Adam Whitcroft praised the technical achievement but criticized instances where the design elements detracted from the overall user experience, suggesting that it could lead users away from the main content.
The response to Apple's Liquid Glass design is mixed. While many appreciate the visual appeal and innovative approach, concerns remain regarding readability and the potential for visual distraction. The success of the design will likely depend on how well Apple addresses these issues in future updates.
Apple’s translucent design update for iOS 26, called Liquid Glass, is now available to developers, with a public beta scheduled for next month. The refresh—Apple’s first major interface overhaul in 10 years—makes app icons, buttons, menus, and pop-ups look like they are made of frosted glass, with blurred background colors peeking through.
The sweeping software changes are not just for iPhones. This glassy look—inspired by the operating system in the Vision Pro headset—will eventually roll out to the entire suite of Apple devices, from smartwatches to iPads.
Courtesy of Apple
After the WWDC 2025 keynote concluded on Monday, many design-focused developers WIRED spoke with were impressed by the major update but had lingering questions about how this translucent look could impact readability for users.
“It's hard to read some of it,” says Allan Yu, a product designer currently building the workplace messaging app Output. “Mainly because I think they made it too transparent.” Yu suggests bumping up the blurring or adjusting the backgrounds to make onscreen designs more readable.
“Similar to the first beta for iOS 7, what we’ve seen so far is rough on the edges and potentially veers into distracting or challenging to read, especially for users with visual impairments,” says Josh Puckett, cofounder of Iteration, which helps startups with designs. Still, Puckett is optimistic, based on Apple’s past accessibility features, that readability will improve over time.
Serhii Popov, a design-first software engineer at MacPaw, the company behind the CleanMyMac app, is curious to see how the new operating system will look on Macs in bright light situations, where glare already impacts visibility. But overall, Popov is enamored with this “really fresh” look from Apple. “I think it will make everything look bigger and allow you to read or interact with the UI with more comfort,” says Popov. For him, the new design and updates look especially sleek on iPads.
Beyond readability concerns, the first impression from some designers is that this new look could be unnecessarily distracting for users.
"From a technical perspective, it's a very impressive effect. I applaud the time and effort it must have taken to mimic refraction and dispersion of light to such a high degree,” says Adam Whitcroft, a designer at Owner.com, which makes apps and websites for restaurants. “But, sadly I haven't seen a single example of where it's pulled off in a way that's complementary to the broader context it's presented in.” Whitcroft points to the dispersion and refraction of layers beneath the apps as visually distracting, especially as the user interface is changing layouts. “If you've designed a UI that draws the attention of the eye away from the wider context, you've gone down the wrong path,” he says.
If you often open multiple tabs and struggle to keep track of them, Tabs Reminder is the solution you need. Tabs Reminder lets you set reminders for tabs so you can close them and get notified about them later. Never lose track of important tabs again with Tabs Reminder!
Try our Chrome extension today!
Share this article with your
friends and colleagues.
Earn points from views and
referrals who sign up.
Learn more