iOS 27 will reportedly come with changes to the iPhone interface. These 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 “interface improvements,” according to the report
Mark Gurman’s Weekend Turn on newsletter offered an iOS 27 development update.
After citing AI and bug fixes as big priorities for Apple, Gurman added:
Apple also plans a few interface improvements, though nothing as sweeping as last year’s Liquid Glass introduction.
While I don’t think anyone expected such significant UI updates as iOS 26 brought, the presence of interface changes in iOS 27 is still interesting.
The way iOS looks and works usually changes slightly from year to year. So the change itself is not a rarity.
However, whatever “improvements” iOS 27 makes to Liquid Glass and the rest of the iPhone’s user interface will be important for one reason: they’ll be the first major changes since a major design shakeup.
iOS 27: First preview of Apple’s new design leader
Last December, it was announced that Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of human interface design, was leaving the company for Meta.
Steve Lemay, a 26-year Apple veteran, took over 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 reports indicated that there was celebration at Apple regarding the change.
And iOS 27 will be the first big chance we’ll have to see Lemay’s extended influence at work.
Overall, I’m a fan of liquid glass, but there are small fixes I’d like to see implemented. My problems tend to involve the form breaking feature. For example:
- tab bars disappearing when scrolling
- playback bars in Music and Podcasts hiding controls
Whatever interface tweaks are in the offing will likely reveal where Lemay’s priorities diverge from past designers.
And based on Lemay’s history and the recommendations I’ve seen from other Apple designers, I’m excited about what iOS 27 can bring.
What Liquid Glass changes do you want to see in iOS 27? Let us know in the comments.
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