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Apple refines Liquid Glass interface with readability controls and design rollback

The tech giant introduces a customisation slider and reverts contentious corner aesthetics across its Class of ’27 operating systems.

Author
Owen Mercer
Markets and Finance Editor
Published
Draft
Source: Engadget · original
Apple updates Liquid Glass to be more readable and customizable
WWDC 2026 keynote addresses user criticism of the 2025 design language

Apple has announced significant refinements to its Liquid Glass design language during its WWDC keynote on June 8, 2026. The updates, which apply across iOS 27, macOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27, aim to address substantial user criticism directed at the interface when it was first introduced last year.

The company is introducing a new slider that allows users to customise readability settings. This addition provides greater control over the visual presentation of the interface, responding to feedback regarding the legibility of the original design rollout.

In addition to the readability adjustments, Apple is redesigning sidebars and menu bars to resemble the aesthetics of older macOS versions. This shift marks a departure from the previous iteration’s layout, offering a more familiar navigation structure for long-term users.

The announcement also includes a rollback of the contentious corner designs that characterised the initial Liquid Glass release. By modifying these specific visual elements, Apple appears to be softening the most polarising aspects of the design upgrade while retaining the broader aesthetic framework.

These interface changes occur within the context of a broader keynote focused on the “Class of ’27” operating systems. The event also highlighted heavy integration of Apple Intelligence, with pre-event speculation pointing toward further developments in AI-driven Siri capabilities.

The modifications suggest a strategic pivot in how Apple manages its design language post-launch. By acknowledging the reception of the 2025 update and implementing tangible changes, the company is attempting to stabilise user adoption of the new visual identity across its entire ecosystem.

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