Apple’s Liquid Glass is gorgeous—but is it actually usable ?📱

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Since its debut, iOS 26’s new Liquid Glass design has been shaking up Apple’s world. It’s bold, futuristic, and visually striking: shifting gradients, layered transparency, smoother animations, reimagined icons—the works. Apple clearly wanted to modernize the iPhone’s look while tying the entire ecosystem together. The result? A strong visual identity that makes an immediate impression—and one you definitely can’t ignore.

When aesthetics collide with usability 🧐

The wow factor, however, doesn’t come without trade-offs. For many users, style seems to be winning over substance. Lower text contrast, fuzzy icons, and hard-to-read notifications on certain wallpapers make everyday tasks trickier. What was meant to be sleek and immersive sometimes ends up being impractical—especially in bright light or on pale backgrounds. Even basic actions like reading a notification or typing on the keyboard can feel less intuitive than before.

Performance dips on older iPhones ⚙️

Another sticking point: performance. Rendering Liquid Glass in real time puts extra strain on the GPU, which means lag and stutter—particularly noticeable on older iPhone models. Battery life holds up surprisingly well, but the occasional slowdown takes some shine off the experience, especially for longtime Apple users used to near-instant responsiveness.

The hidden toggle that helps (a little) 🎛️

Some frustrated users tried to switch Liquid Glass off entirely—without success. But there’s a workaround buried in Accessibility settings: “Reduce Transparency.” Flip it on, and the interface reverts to a more classic look, closer to iOS 18. It doesn’t remove the effect completely, but it does improve readability and contrast for those who find the new design distracting.

A community once again divided ⚡

Apple fans have been here before. Remember the uproar when iOS 7 ditched skeuomorphism for flat design? The outrage eventually faded as the look became standard. Liquid Glass seems to be following the same path: initial shock, heated backlash, and—if history repeats itself—gradual acceptance as Apple fine-tunes the details in future updates.

Innovation or over-styling ?

With Liquid Glass, Apple is making it clear: even its most established visual conventions are fair game. Whether it’s a bold step into the future or just too much design for design’s sake is still up for debate. Is this the company’s most daring aesthetic move in years—or its biggest misstep since iOS 7? That depends on whether you prioritize wow factor or usability.

So, what’s your take?
Liquid Glass: are you on #TeamWowFactor or #TeamReadabilityFirst? Let’s hear your thoughts on iOS 26’s boldest design shift yet.