Liquid Glass Is Cracked, and Usability Suffers in iOS 26
11 hours ago
- #iOS 26
- #Usability
- #Design
- iOS 26 introduces Liquid Glass, a new glassmorphic visual language that makes UI elements translucent and bubbly, often reducing visibility.
- Transparency in design leads to illegible text and obscured controls, especially when placed over busy backgrounds or other text.
- Excessive animations in buttons and controls distract users rather than enhance usability, turning initial delight into ongoing frustration.
- Tap targets are smaller and more crowded, making navigation harder and breaking established usability guidelines.
- Controls in iOS 26 are unpredictable, appearing and disappearing based on context, which disrupts user habits and consistency.
- Search functionality has moved from the top to the bottom of the screen, breaking long-standing user habits and causing short-term frustration.
- Discoverability suffers with unlabeled back buttons, truncated URLs, and hidden tabs, adding unnecessary steps to navigation.
- iOS 26 prioritizes visual spectacle over usability, making the interface less legible, predictable, and user-friendly.