Apple Reportedly Retooling Liquid Glass Issues for macOS 27

At a glance:

• Apple is preparing a 'slight redesign' for macOS 27 to fix Liquid Glass implementation quirks.
• The update aims to address usability issues, including transparency problems affecting low vision users.
• Critics like John Gruber have called the new icons 'objectively terrible' on aesthetic grounds.

The Context of Liquid Glass

Apple's embrace of the Liquid Glass aesthetic in macOS 26 Tahoe sparked significant backlash, with critics highlighting implementation flaws that undermined its intended design. The controversial update, which introduced a translucent, glass-like interface, faced criticism for its execution, particularly for users with low vision who found the transparency settings disruptive. Before the February 2024 26.3 update, reducing transparency led to overlapping text and washed-out interface elements, creating a frustrating user experience. While Apple has since addressed some of these issues, the original rollout was met with widespread criticism, both for its aesthetic choices and its technical execution.

Apple's Defensive Stance

According to anonymous sources speaking to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing a 'slight redesign' for macOS 27 to fix 'shadows and transparency quirks' associated with Liquid Glass. Gurman's sources, however, were somewhat defensive, arguing that the Liquid Glass update 'didn't necessarily suffer from design problems' but instead had a 'not-completely-baked implementation from Apple's software engineering team.' This framing suggests that while the design team envisioned a certain aesthetic, the engineering team failed to realize it effectively. The fixes are intended to 'make Liquid Glass look the way Apple's design team intended it to from the start,' indicating a significant effort to align the implementation with the original vision.

Criticism and User Impact

The backlash against Liquid Glass was not limited to technical issues; it also included aesthetic criticism. John Gruber of Daring Fireball, a well-respected Apple analyst, was particularly scathing in his review of the new icons in macOS 26 Tahoe. He noted that while the old icons from MacOS 15 were 'particularly good,' the new ones were 'objectively terrible,' reflecting a broader dissatisfaction with Apple's design direction. For many users, the transparency issues were not just aesthetic but practical, as they interfered with usability, particularly for those with low vision. The problems persisted even after the 26.3 update, which aimed to address some of the transparency issues but did not fully resolve them.

Apple's Broader Software Strategy

Gurman has previously suggested that Liquid Glass is part of a 'long game,' with the aim of integrating the aesthetic into Apple's upcoming 20th-anniversary iPhone. This phone, expected to be a significant design milestone for Apple, is rumored to benefit from the Liquid Glass aesthetic. If successful, this integration could potentially shift public perception of the design, making it more widely accepted. In the meantime, Apple is focusing on refining its software, with Gurman expecting 'more of a cleanup and refinement effort aligned with the company's wider push to polish its software this year.' This approach suggests that Apple is committed to improving its user experience, even if it means addressing past mistakes.

What to Watch Next

As Apple prepares for the release of macOS 27, users and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the company addresses the issues with Liquid Glass. The success of this update could have significant implications for Apple's design strategy and its relationship with users. Additionally, the upcoming iPhone, which is rumored to incorporate Liquid Glass, will be a critical test of the aesthetic's viability. If the iPhone is well-received, it could signal a shift in public opinion, making Liquid Glass a more accepted design choice for Apple's products.