Ryan Hans / Android Authority
I am a pixel boy, I’ve been for years – everyone knows him. So, you can imagine that I was happy when Google exposed the content 3 expression, and it looked like a pixel UI design disorder that I already liked.
And then Apple came with its new liquid glass interface as part of iOS 26. In straight words, I thought it looks terrible. It was difficult to read, and the actual effects of the glass seemed to be nasty.
Now, though, I have given iOS 26 a shot. I packed it on my iPhone 16 for a quick journey around the block and I realized that I was wrong. I don’t have the least favorite part of Apple’s latest software, but what has it done with the navigation buttons I spent in years. I am almost ready to go back to iOS 18, and why here.
Liquid glass actually looks cool… Once you find it
Ryan Hans / Android Authority
At first, the liquid glass threw me for the loop. It automatically applied himself, everywhere, automatically, and I was not sure how to visit. The icons of my app suddenly looked like frosting glass pebbles, and most of my screen button was difficult to see. But after a few minutes, my eyes were adjusted. I adapted to the new icons as I had dropped when they barely looked against the deep brown background, and I quickly removed my path.
Once I did it, I started to see how Apple has improved the liquid glass in what Apple has called its iOS 18 design. Where this style felt like a sharp, dirty response to one of my favorite Android customization, liquid glass is considered. The app’s icons feel textured, and the slightest difference in dyeing makes it very easy to select which app I’m looking for – I am no longer mixed between spotifies, and finding Apple’s fitness.
Liquid glass treats the icons of my app, which is much better than iOS 18.
Of course, the liquid glass is not just about re -making the app’s icons. It is also about spice the widget and re -working folders that decorate my home screen. On both fronts, I like what Apple is going for. I keep my home screen beautiful thin, two folders in the bottom and two widgets in the top, and the liquid glass works enough to minimize both of them by exposing the details in my wallpaper.
I especially like that my productivity folder – which is slow, posture and Google is authentic – Patterson pulls the golden evening brightness of the famous Pagoda in the Park and revolves around the folder’s edge as I am watching with a slightly round window.
However, there are also times when I am not sure that the treatment of liquid glass is essential. One when I drag the top from the top to check my notifications. Certainly, it is clear that you can see the glass structure, when you work like a wave as you descend on your apps, but this is not the most notable. The part of the liquid glass that is really outdated when I swipe in apps like photos. Everything is fine with the buttons that are easily visible in the bottom of my library, but when I swipe and the glass is finished, it is almost impossible to find everything from select to search.
And, now when I’m angry with it, let’s talk about the buttons yourself.
Bubble glasses, not good for apples
Ryan Hans / Android Authority
As I saw it, Apple’s current controls were good enough – maybe for some people too. I certainly had no problem in how the buttons were visible on the iOS18, and I also asked Google to copy the chrome (which later) from Safari under the Apple. I was satisfied to live the same for them from a version of the iOS, but Apple had something else in mind. He put everything in his small bubble, making it difficult to find.
Probably the worst example of this – and who impressed me – that’s what Apple did with its safari control. Earlier, they were exactly arranged. The front and backward arrows took a lot of space, and in a glance it was easy to read the address bar. I can jump from one tab to the other with one button and access all other tab controls from it. Now, though, I have to press a button to open the tab menu, then press the second button to see all these tabs, take some unnecessary extra seconds to display these options.
Apple’s bubble goodness also has also ruined its camera app with an easy change. He decided that Google had a good idea with its minor pixel camera interface a few years ago, and now the iPhone should be the same. On the one hand, Apple always kept a tab for video and a tab for photo, but this new interface doesn’t just work for me.
I think my problem is that it is bubble and backwards. On the left, a swipe settings go to the left, while a swipe on the right forces them to go right. This is a completely anti -camera behavior of the previous camera interface, and now it is contrary to how the camera controls. An easy determination for this is to swipe in one direction, but I’m afraid I will wait patiently until Apple realizes it.
Unfortunately, Apple’s strict viewing buttons are very high everywhere in iOS 26. There is still nothing safe, reliable, and everything has been transmitted as its original status. New messages now start from the bottom of the interface rather than above, the phone app now has a unified menu, and the navigation button in Apple’s maps requires practically its navigation feature. It’s confused, it’s a mess, and I’m ready to prepare my stuff and go back to my pixel 9 pro.
I’m sorry, Apple. I may try the future version of iOS 26 – one where I really find my way.
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