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2d ago

iOS 26’s ‘Liquid Glass’ Redesign Splits Users as Readability and Performance Complaints Surface

Some users are softening the new look by using Accessibility toggles to increase contrast.

iOS 26 hidden features
Apple’s iOS 26 redesign splits opinion, as users share regrets and seek downgrades across social platforms.
iOS 26
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Overview

  • Apple’s iOS 26 is now widely available, preinstalled on iPhone 17 and iPhone Air and offered to iPhone 11 and newer, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd gen).
  • Posts on Reddit describe hard‑to‑read widget text, greyed app visuals in certain modes, animation lag, keyboard misalignment, larger system footprint with updates reported up to 14GB, and battery drain with noticeable heat.
  • Apple promotes the release as visually refreshed and more efficient on newer devices, though many early users report slowdowns in everyday interactions.
  • There is no built‑in switch to disable Liquid Glass, but users can go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and enable Reduce Transparency or Increase Contrast to boost clarity, which also makes lock‑screen notifications stand out more.
  • Home screen icon options allow a Tinted look with Increased Contrast to lessen transparency, and despite Apple dialing back effects during betas, the public build continues to draw mixed reactions.