iOS 26 might be Apple's riskiest redesign yet

Apple's iOS 26 redesign, Liquid Glass, shifts UI, risks accessibility.

: Apple's iOS 26 introduces a bold new design called Liquid Glass, marking its most significant visual shift since iOS 7. This upgrade impacts numerous Apple devices, including iPhone, MacBook, and Apple Watch, featuring a 'glassmorphism' style with opaque menus. Although the redesign is visually appealing, concerns arise over its potential negative impact on accessibility and legibility. Critics express worry over blurred visuals possibly complicating text readability.

Unveiled at WWDC 2025, iOS 26 introduces Apple’s most dramatic visual overhaul in more than a decade with a design language called Liquid Glass. The update spans across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, bringing a cohesive look that aligns more closely with the futuristic Vision Pro interface. The redesign features glossy, translucent elements and layered effects, signaling Apple’s vision for its next era of devices.

Interface components like app icons, tab bars, and notifications now appear to float above the screen with glass-like transparency. While the visuals are striking, some early testers have raised concerns about reduced legibility and visual clutter—particularly in areas like Control Center and system settings—suggesting that the aesthetic shift may come at the cost of usability.

Beyond design, iOS 26 debuts new Apple Intelligence features. These include real-time voice and text translation, “Genmoji” emoji mashups, revamped iMessage features such as custom chat wallpapers and group polls, a unified Games app, and a new “Hold Assist” function that manages call holds. However, a major update to Siri was pushed to 2026, disappointing users hoping for deeper AI enhancements this year.

Critics are calling Liquid Glass Apple’s riskiest interface decision since iOS 7. The increased use of transparency may hinder accessibility for users with vision impairments, and developers may need to rethink UI design to accommodate the new layering effects.

Overall, iOS 26 delivers sweeping changes across visual design, productivity, and AI, aiming to redefine the Apple experience. But the risk lies in whether users will embrace these shifts—or push back against a style that prioritizes form over clarity.

Sources: The Washington Post, The Verge, AP News

SoftwareMobileSmartphones