Apple is reportedly preparing changes to its controversial “Liquid Glass” software design after months of criticism from users who argued that the interface made devices harder to use.
The company introduced the redesigned look alongside the iPhone 17 lineup in September, calling it one of the biggest visual changes to its ecosystem in years. Apple said the design was inspired by the idea that its devices should feel like “a single piece of glass,” with translucent layers and reflective effects meant to place greater focus on content.
But the rollout quickly sparked backlash online.
Many users complained that the increased transparency effects made menus, notifications, and navigation elements more difficult to read. Others argued that the design prioritized aesthetics over usability, especially on larger screens where the effects became more noticeable.
Apple May Tweak Design Instead Of Removing It
According to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is not planning to abandon the Liquid Glass interface entirely. Instead, the company is expected to refine some of its most criticized elements.
The reported changes will mainly target the “shadows and transparency quirks” that users have repeatedly criticized since launch.
The adjustments are expected to be particularly noticeable on MacOS, where the design reportedly faced heavier criticism because the visual effects appear more pronounced on larger Mac displays.
Apple has already started quietly scaling back some controversial features in recent software updates. Users can now disable certain transparency effects manually, a move widely seen as the company responding to complaints without publicly acknowledging broader issues with the redesign.
Liquid Glass Was Built Around OLED Displays
According to analysts researching Apple OEM sales, the conflicting reports are likely due to Apple’s commitment to OLED technology and the design of its latest graphical user interface (GUI).
Most current iPhones (and other iOS devices) have OLED displays that differ significantly from traditional LCD monitors in terms of brightness, contrast, transparency, and the depth of colour.
The new GUI may simply appear to look worse on a MacBook than on an iPhone or iPad, and until Apple can release OLED MacBooks (expanding the use of OLED technology to all of its GUIs), this difference will continue to exist.
The redesign will also come at a time of staff change within Apple’s product software development team, as Alan Dye, who worked on implementing the Liquid Glass redesign and publicly presenting it, has recently left the company.
Apple is also working on Siri And Battery Improvements
Beyond visual changes, Apple is reportedly focusing heavily on performance upgrades and battery improvements for its next software versions.
The company is also expected to unveil another updated version of Siri, powered by new AI features. Apple has spent years promising major AI improvements for Siri, but many of those upgrades have yet to fully materialize, especially as rivals push aggressively into generative AI.
Apple is expected to officially reveal its upcoming software plans during its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8, where the company traditionally announces major iPhone, Mac, and AI-related updates for the year ahead.
Also Read: Stopped Updating Your Apple iPhone? Here’s What Could Go Wrong
