I attempted iOS 26, and my largest problem has nothing to do with Liquid Glass

I’m a Pixel man, have been for years — everybody is aware of it. So, you’ll be able to think about I used to be fairly happy when Google unveiled Materials 3 Expressive, and it regarded like a refinement of the Pixel UI design that I already cherished.

After which got here Apple with its new Liquid Glass interface as a part of iOS 26. Merely put, I assumed it regarded terrible. It was onerous to learn, and the unique glass results regarded clunky.

Now, although, I’ve given iOS 26 a shot. I’ve loaded it onto my iPhone 16 for a fast journey across the block and realized I used to be flawed. My least favourite half about Apple’s newest software program isn’t the look, however what it’s completed to the navigation buttons I spent years getting used to. I’m practically prepared to return to iOS 18, and right here’s why.

At first, Liquid Glass threw me for a loop. It robotically utilized itself, properly, in every single place, and I wasn’t positive how one can navigate. My app icons out of the blue regarded like frosted glass pebbles, and most of my on-screen buttons have been just a bit more durable to see. However after a couple of minutes, my eyes adjusted. I tailored to the brand new icons similar to I had tailored after they have been barely seen in opposition to darkish grey backgrounds, and I rapidly relearned my manner round.

As soon as I did, I started to see how Liquid Glass is an enchancment over no matter Apple referred to as its iOS 18 design. The place that styling felt like a fast, soiled response to certainly one of my favourite Android customizations, Liquid Glass feels thought-about. The app icons really feel textured, and the slight distinction in coloring makes it a lot simpler to pick which app I’m searching for — I now not get combined up between Spotify, Discover My, and Apple Health.

In fact, Liquid Glass isn’t nearly recoloring app icons; it’s additionally about spicing up widgets and transforming the folders that adorn my residence display. On each fronts, I really like what Apple goes for. I preserve my residence display fairly lean, with two folders on the backside and two widgets on the prime, and Liquid Glass does simply sufficient to attenuate each of them whereas bringing out the small print in my wallpaper.

I significantly like that my productiveness folder — which homes Slack, Asana, and Google Authenticator — pulls from the golden night glow of the long-lasting pagoda in Patterson Park and loops it across the fringe of the folder as if I have been wanting by means of a barely rounded window.

There are, nonetheless, instances after I’m unsure the Liquid Glass remedy is important. One is after I drag down from the highest edge to verify my notifications. Positive, it’s neat which you can see the glass texture take over, appearing like a wave because it descends over your apps, however it’s not probably the most noticeable. The a part of Liquid Glass that’s actually gotten previous is after I swipe into apps like Pictures. All the pieces is okay at first, with simply seen buttons alongside the underside of my library, however after I swipe up and the glass takes over, it turns into virtually not possible to search out all the things from Choose to Search.

And, now that I’m irritated at that, let’s discuss concerning the buttons themselves.

As I noticed it, Apple’s present controls have been adequate — perhaps even nice for some individuals. I actually had no drawback with how the buttons regarded in Pictures on iOS 18, and I even requested Google to repeat Apple’s bottom-mounted search bar from Safari to Chrome (which it later did). I’d have been content material for them to remain the identical from one model of iOS to the subsequent and past, however Apple had one thing else in thoughts. It put all the things in its little bubble, making all of it onerous to search out.

Maybe the worst instance of this — and the one which impressed me — is what Apple did to its Safari controls. Beforehand, they have been arrange excellent. The ahead and backward arrows took up simply sufficient house, and it was straightforward to learn the tackle bar at a look. I may soar from one tab to the subsequent with a single button and entry all different tab-related controls proper from the identical one. Now, although, I’ve to press a button to open the tab menu, then press a second button to view all of my tabs, taking just a few pointless further seconds to show these choices.

Apple’s seek for bubbly goodness has additionally led it to wreck its digital camera app with one easy change. It determined that Google had the fitting concept just a few years in the past with its minimalist Pixel digital camera interface, and now the iPhone ought to have the identical one. On one hand, Apple at all times stored one tab for video and one tab for photographs, however this new interface simply doesn’t work for me.

I feel my drawback is that it’s each bubbly and backwards. A swipe to the left makes the settings go left, whereas a swipe to the fitting makes them go proper. It’s precisely the other habits of the earlier digital camera interface, and now it’s the other of how the Digital camera Management behaves, too. A straightforward repair for that is to make them swipe in the identical course, however I concern I’ll be ready impatiently till Apple realizes it.

Sadly, Apple’s hard-to-see buttons are just about in every single place in iOS 26. Nothing shares a secure, dependable bar anymore, and just about all the things has been moved from its authentic place. New messages now begin from the underside of the interface relatively than the highest, the Telephone app now has one unified menu, and the button to begin navigating in Apple Maps virtually wants its personal navigation characteristic. It’s complicated, it’s a large number, and I’m able to pack up my issues and return to my Pixel 9 Professional.

I’m sorry, Apple. Possibly I’ll attempt a future model of iOS 26 — one the place I can truly discover my manner round.