iOS 26 and its newly introduced Liquid Glass design seem to be much more of a distraction than a genuine innovation. Apple has officially unveiled iOS 26, slated for release in September, and with it comes a fresh numbering convention and a substantial redesign. However, what many are calling the most significant design overhaul in years, Liquid Glass, raises several questions. Apple claims the new look takes inspiration from visionOS, leveraging the power of its hardware and graphics technologies. According to Apple’s press release, the new material is ‘translucent and behaves like glass in the real world.’ But honestly, do we even need a translucent interface? And what exactly does it mean for the interface to ‘behave like real glass’? If we swipe too fast, will the screen shatter? There’s a lot left to the imagination here.
Furthermore, while Apple emphasizes how Liquid Glass takes advantage of the processing power of its silicon, I can’t help but think: don’t we have better ways to utilize the hardware? This effort feels more like an aesthetic choice rather than something functional. 
And speaking of things that feel off, what about Siri? Apple has mentioned its intelligence system only twice during their presentation, and it still lags behind competitors like Google Assistant and Alexa. It almost seems like Apple is using flashy designs to deflect attention away from more pressing issues. We can’t ignore that Apple’s approach to AI remains limited compared to other tech companies pushing the envelope with multimodal AI.
The obsession with aesthetics in design is nothing new. Humans are naturally attracted to beauty. The evolutionary psychology behind this explains why we’re drawn to symmetry and pleasing shapes, which historically signaled good health and fertility. This tendency impacts our perception of everything-from nature to products and technology. In the case of iOS 26, Apple capitalizes on this evolutionary predisposition, knowing that a visually appealing interface can make people feel more connected to their device. It’s a clever psychological trick, but is it enough to mask the lack of real innovation?
The aesthetic-usability effect suggests that people tend to believe that more attractive products are also more functional. This is why, for many, the beauty of an interface might make it feel more intuitive, even when it’s not necessarily better designed. Apple has built a reputation for producing visually stunning devices, and iOS 26 appears to follow that trend
. But at what cost? Is Liquid Glass just an attempt to distract us from Apple’s continued struggle with AI, or does it represent a true advancement in design? I believe it’s the former. While there are certainly positives to iOS 26, such as its consistent rollout across Apple’s entire ecosystem, it feels like a cover-up for the lack of genuinely groundbreaking features.
iOS 26’s Liquid Glass may be a bold move, but it might also be a case of style over substance. The design overhaul might be flashy and sleek, but is it practical? As Apple continues to play catch-up with its competitors, iOS 26 doesn’t seem to push the envelope as much as we’d like. Liquid Glass is a great example of Apple using visual appeal to hide its shortcomings in AI and other key areas. What do you think about this new update? Is it all just hype, or is there something genuinely innovative about iOS 26? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!