Apple recently announced its new user interface called Liquid Glass, which has received mixed reviews from users and designers. While some are critical of the unfinished look of the design overhaul, others see potential for improvement before the final release.
The company described Liquid Glass as its “broadest design update ever,” aiming to unify the user experience across all Apple devices. Inspired by the optical quality of glass, the interface features translucent materials and refracts light, drawing parallels to Apple’s Vision Pro VR headset.
However, early testers have raised concerns about the readability of certain elements in the interface. Notifications, for example, may be difficult to read depending on the background wallpaper colors, with text becoming hard to decipher in some cases. The Control Center overlay also faces criticism for its lack of background blur, making it challenging to use effectively.
Despite these initial flaws, there are promising aspects of the design system. Apple’s icons have been praised for their new glassy style, and effects like morphing buttons add a visually impressive touch. The interface elements reflect light and colors in a way that mimics real glass, hinting at the attention to detail put into the design.
Even competitors have taken notice of Liquid Glass, with Nothing CEO Carl Pei expressing admiration for the new interface. Pei envisions a future where smartphones interact with AI through the operating system itself, rather than relying on individual apps, making Liquid Glass a potential fit for this vision.
Concerns about battery usage and device performance have also been raised, but Apple reassures users that advancements in hardware and technology will support the demands of the new interface. Users will likely have the option to toggle off power-hungry effects to preserve battery life, similar to existing features in iOS.
It’s important to remember that past iOS updates, like iOS 7, also faced criticism upon initial release but were eventually refined and improved. The same trajectory is expected for Liquid Glass, with ongoing updates likely to address the current design issues.
Overall, while Liquid Glass may have its flaws in the early stages, there is optimism that Apple will continue to refine and enhance the user interface before the final release. As with past updates, patience and feedback will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Apple’s design language.
