Apple is known for its bold choices and radical design changes. While most of them have been really successful, some just didn’t resonate with the users. So much so that Apple had to make amends by either discontinuing the feature or giving people a choice to opt out. Here are a few examples of such Apple design changes.
Liquid Glass
Despite being one of Apple’s boldest UI revamps in years, many users disliked the Liquid Glass look of iOS 26 from day one. The main complaints focus on speed and clarity. Users say the animations feel sluggish, especially on older iPhones, and the constantly changing colours, shapes and shading are more distracting than helpful.
Seeing the backlash amongst users, Apple has given the users an option to choose between a liquid glass or tinted user interface in the recently launched iOS 26.1 update. The clear option is the default liquid glass whereas the tinted option increases the interface’s contrast and reduces transparency.
Butterfly Keyboard
In 2015, Apple introduced the butterfly keyboard mechanism on MacBooks. Its purpose was to make the laptops thinner but the ultra-thin key mechanism made them vulnerable to failure as dust started building up beneath them. Further, the extremely low resistance while pressing the keys made typing really uncomfortable for many users.
The situation kept getting bad to a point where the company had to roll out a repair program. Finally in 2019, with the introduction of the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, Apple went back to a more conventional keyboard mechanism bidding adieu to the butterfly mechanism.
Touch Bar
Touch Bar debuted in 2016 as a star feature exclusive to the MacBook Pro. It replaced the traditional row of function keys with a thin, touch-sensitive strip that adapted to each app. While some users appreciated its versatility, others found it unresponsive from time to time.
In 2021, with the arrival of the redesigned MacBook Pro powered by Apple Silicon, Apple brought back the physical function keys, marking the end of the Touch Bar era. Rumours occasionally surface about a potential return but seems highly unlikely.
MagSafe
First introduced in 2006 with the original MacBook Pro, the magnetic charging connector quickly became a standout feature. It allowed the cable to safely detach if someone tripped over it, preventing the laptop from flying off a table, a simple but clever solution that users adored.
But in the effort to make devices sleeker and more portable, Apple phased MagSafe out, starting with the 12-inch MacBook in 2015 and later replacing it across the MacBook lineup with USB-C charging, leaving Apple loyalists unhappy.
After nearly six years, Apple reversed its decision. With the launch of the 2021 MacBook Pro, and later the latest MacBook Air, the MagSafe made its return, proving that some innovations are worth bringing back.
Photos App
With iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, Apple introduced a major overhaul to the Photos app, aiming to make it more customizable and streamlined. However, many users pushed back, arguing the redesign made the app harder to navigate. Instead of separate tabs and views, the new layout displayed everything on a single page divided into multiple sections.
As complaints continued to grow, Apple began rolling back parts of the redesign, shifting the Photos interface closer to its previous, more familiar layout in subsequent updates. It marked yet another example of Apple rethinking a major UI decision in response to user feedback.
Apple has never backed down from taking bold steps, even if some of them haven’t been a success. Yet in recent years, one thing has become clear: the company is increasingly open to listening and rethinking its approach when users push back. From bringing back familiar features to offering more flexibility, Apple design changes show that innovation isn’t just about moving forward but also about knowing when to take a step back.
