Remember back in school when a friend asked to borrow your homework, promised to “change it up a bit,” and then turned in a copy exactly identical to yours? Well, Vivo seems to have pulled the same move with its latest software update, OriginOS 6—and the tech world has definitely noticed.
Apple unveiled its sleek new ‘Liquid Glass’ design language with iOS 26 earlier this year, one of its boldest visual overhauls in ages. And judging by the look of OriginOS 6, Vivo saw it and thought,“Hey, we’ll have what they’re having.”
In its demo video, OriginOS 6 proudly shows off rounded, semi-translucent ‘glass’ buttons and folders, notifications with a frosted-glass look, squircle app icons, and wallpapers with a 2D-to-3D effect akin to Apple’s new design style. And although Vivo’s marketing copy took the effort of using watery metaphors instead of glass ones, the similarities are far too uncanny to pass off as mere coincidence. One could even say that the similarities are crystal clear (pun very much intended). At this point, Tim Cook should ask for royalties!
To be fair, design trends often ripple across the industry. Flat design, dark mode, and minimalism all began with one platform before spreading elsewhere. Interestingly, some have also noted many parallels between Apple’s new Liquid Glass aesthetic and the “Aero Glass” interface from Windows Vista released in 2007. Digging the rabbit hole deeper, some Apple fans claim that even Vista’s design expanded on Apples’ Aqua theme language from way back. So, who’s the original and who’s the copy? We may never know! Will the real Liquid Glass please stand up? Highly unlikely!
While the past is open to debate, Vivo’s new design leaves little room for denial. Though they have not yet clarified, if this update is an inspiration or plain imitation or even an attempt to surpass the original design, the resemblance is right there—and the timing is just a little too convenient.
In the ever-evolving world of smartphone design, imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery… or simply the clearest sign of influence. And people can love Apple or they can hate it, but they cannot deny its influence.
