The concept of improved legibility and reduced overhead has its advantages, yet many challenges remain. Apple is known for its iterative approach to product development, carefully introducing features that prioritize user benefits. Instead of pioneering technologies, such as touch screens and digital music players, Apple focuses on refining existing ideas with an emphasis on usability.
However, since Steve Jobs’ passing, the mobile industry, much like personal computing, has reached a plateau without someone at the helm to invigorate innovation. There are exciting features arriving with iOS 26 that aim to aid daily user experiences. However, I find it difficult to agree with the notion that Material 3 design lacks appeal.
It’s vibrant, customizable, and utilizes movement effectively, offering qualities that I believe Apple’s Liquid Glass fails to capture. While Apple does not have to emulate Google, they seem to be straying from a successful design path in several areas. As a designer, I perceive Material 3 as slightly less sophisticated, particularly given the vast array of UI variations across different Android manufacturers, like Samsung versus LG.
I recognize that LG may be on the right track, though initial implementations can appear rough. Nevertheless, certain design elements, such as font stretching in context menus, are glaring missteps. Additionally, dark mode has room for improvement, as dimming requires further refinement.
Beta versions should primarily focus on addressing development issues rather than tweaking foundational design systems, which should be thoroughly tested before release. The fact that we might expect several years of trial and error for a proper design overhaul suggests that the product isn’t ready for prime time. In essence, while LG aims for uniformity across Apple’s devices, achieving true usability remains challenging.
The focus should be on enhancing the user experience rather than letting technical challenges hinder design potential. Even with the current limitations, they represent a step toward cohesive UI standards across Apple products.
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