Apple’s iOS 26 update, introduced at the WWDC 2025 event, has sparked controversy not only among users but also among rival technology giants. The “Liquid Glass” interface design, which stands out in the new version, attracted attention with its transparency and reflection effects, but this visual approach quickly became the target of criticism. Following Samsung, Microsoft also shared a post mocking the design.
Microsoft literally mocked Apple
The visual shared by Microsoft on its social media accounts reminded us of Windows Vista’s Aero theme, introduced in 2007. The post used glass-like interface elements from the Vista era, and made a veiled reference to Apple’s Liquid Glass design with the phrase “I’ll leave this here.” The similarity with Vista was brought to the level of direct comparison with this post by Microsoft.
The Liquid Glass design was introduced by Apple as the “user interface of the future”, but it received mixed reactions in terms of user experience. Problems such as text readability, distraction during screen transitions, and loss of focus in some applications were brought to the agenda.
The intense transparency and reflection effects in the interface are criticized by some users for creating visual clutter. Microsoft’s post also indirectly supports these criticisms. Microsoft used the Aero design concept years ago and then gradually abandoned it.
At the time, the company stated that despite the aesthetic appearance, there were some problems in terms of ease of use. In this context, the reference is considered as a reminder against Apple’s re-introduction of a similar approach years later.
There was no response from Apple to Microsoft’s post. So what do you think about this issue? You can share your opinions with us in the comments section below.
