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iOS 26 Update With Liquid Glass Design Causes Optical Illusions, Users Claim

iOS 26 Update With Liquid Glass Design Causes Optical Illusions, Users Claim

Users report that some app icons appear "tilted" after installing the iOS 26 update.

Written by Nithya P Nair, Edited by David Delima | Updated: 18 September 2025 14:45 IST

iOS 26 Update With Liquid Glass Design Causes Optical Illusions, Users Claim

Photo Credit: Apple

iOS 26 offers a dedicated Games app and new Visual Intelligence features

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Highlights

iOS 26 is now rolling out to compatible iPhone models
App icons reportedly appear distorted in Liquid Glass design
New iPhone 17 models have been launched with iOS 26

Apple's iOS 26 update was released earlier this week, offering new features, a new Liquid Glass interface, Visual Intelligence tools, a new Games app, and Live Translation. While the Liquid Glass design brings a fresh coat of paint to iOS, it's also sparked criticism amongst several iPhone owners. Users on Reddit and other social platforms are reporting that the new interface, especially in dark mode, is causing eye strain. Some say app icons appear slightly tilted or distorted, creating a disorienting optical illusion which is uncomfortable with prolonged use.

iPhone Users Report Issues With Liquid Glass UI in Dark Mode

As per user reports on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), some iPhone users have complained that the latest iOS 26 update has caused visual discomfort. Many have noted that app icons appear tilted or misaligned, particularly when using dark mode. Some users are calling dark mode an 'optical nightmare'.

One Reddit user pointed out that the frame glow effect on the Home Screen makes the icons look tilted, adding that it's highly distracting and even causes mild dizziness. Another user claims that the app's icons look blurry for them, and contact photos overlap with the contact names. Some are finding issues with excessive animations.

These New AI Features Are Coming to Your Updated iPhone, iPad and Mac

These reports indicate that the iOS 26 update might need some refinements to address accessibility concerns. Apple has yet to officially respond to these complaints, but future updates are likely to bring design tweaks to address these concerns.

Reducing Transparency on iOS 26

Some users are suggesting that reducing transparency helps lessen the visual discomfort caused by the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26. To do this, head to Settings > Accessibility > Display and Text Size and turn on Reduce Transparency. Others recommend switching to colourful wallpapers or using default icon themes to reduce the distortion effect in dark mode.

iOS 26 Released Alongside iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe: Here’s How to Download It

Apple released iOS 26 for iPhone SE (2nd generation) or later models on September 15. The new iPhone 17 series have been launched with the latest version. Besides the new UI, it offers a dedicated Games app, new Visual Intelligence features, new Lock Screen with 3D wallpaper effects and Live Translation feature amongst others. The update also allows users to start a poll in group messages.

iPhone 17

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.30-inch

Processor Apple A19

Front Camera 18-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 48-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 26

Resolution 1206x2622 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

iPhone SE (2020)

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Modern processor
Slim, light, easy to use
Good daylight camera performance
Regular iOS updates likely for many years

Bad
Dated looks and small screen
Single rear camera
Average battery life
Expensive

Read detailed Apple iPhone SE (2020) review

Display 4.70-inch

Front Camera 7-megapixel

Rear Camera 12-megapixel

Storage 64GB

OS iOS 13

Resolution 750x1334 pixels

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Further reading: Apple, iPhone, iOS 26, Liquid Glass Design, iOS 26 Update, iOS

Nithya P Nair

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Nithya P Nair is a journalist with more than five years of experience in digital journalism. She specialises in business and technology beats. A foodie at heart, Nithya loves exploring new places (read cuisines) and sneaking in Malayalam movie dialogues to spice up conversations. More