iOS 27 will reportedly come with changes to the iPhone’s interface. Those changes aren’t expected to be as major as iOS 26, but they could still reveal a lot about Apple’s priorities under new design leadership.
iOS 27 will bring ‘tweaks to the interface,’ per report
Over the weekend, Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter offered an update on iOS 27 development.
After mentioning AI and bug fixes as big priorities for Apple, Gurman added:
Apple also is planning some tweaks to the interface, though nothing as extensive as last year’s Liquid Glass introduction.
While I don’t think anyone was expecting UI updates as significant as iOS 26 brought, the presence of interface changes in iOS 27 is interesting nonetheless.
The way iOS looks and works does typically change in small ways from year to year. So change alone isn’t a rarity.
However, whatever “tweaks” iOS 27 makes to Liquid Glass and the rest of the iPhone UI will be important for one reason: they’ll be the first notable changes since a major design leadership shakeup.
iOS 27: The first showcase for Apple’s new design leader
Last December, it was reported that Apple’s VP of Human Interface Design, Alan Dye, was leaving the company for Meta.
Steve Lemay, a 26-year Apple veteran, has taken the mantle of design leadership.
CEO Tim Cook said: “Steve Lemay has played a key role in the design of every major Apple interface since 1999. He has always set an extraordinarily high bar for excellence and embodies Apple’s culture of collaboration and creativity.”
Early reporting said there was celebration within Apple concerning the change.
And iOS 27 will be the first big chance we’ll have to see Lemay’s expanded influence at work.
I’m a fan of Liquid Glass overall, but there are small fixes I’d love to see applied. My issues tend to involve form harming function. For example:
- tab bars disappearing upon scroll
- playback bars in Music and Podcasts hiding key controls
Whatever interface tweaks are coming, they’ll likely reveal where Lemay’s priorities differ from the former design head.
And based on Lemay’s history, and endorsements I’ve seen from other Apple designers, I’m excited for what iOS 27 may bring.
What Liquid Glass changes do you want to see in iOS 27? Let us know in the comments.
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