It appears that the controversy surrounding Apple's Liquid Glass design in iOS 26 has been somewhat overblown. While it's true that adoption rates for the update are lower than usual, with some reports suggesting that only around 16.6% of all devices running iOS 26 are actually being used, this seems to be due more to technical issues rather than a genuine dislike for the design itself.
One key issue is that Statcounter, a website that tracks device adoption rates, has been incorrectly reporting the number of iOS 26 devices in use due to changes made by Apple to Safari's user agent string. This means that the data being reported is not actually representative of how many people are using each version of iOS.
However, if we look at our own traffic data and other metrics, we can see that iOS 26 is still being adopted at a relatively healthy rate - around 76% of iPhone pageviews in December 2025 were coming from devices running iOS 18, rather than iOS 26. This suggests that while the adoption rate may be slower than usual, it's not necessarily due to a widespread dislike for the Liquid Glass design.
In fact, one could argue that the slow adoption rate is more a reflection of the fact that Apple is making significant changes to the operating system in order to support newer hardware and improve security. While these changes may be jarring for some users, they are ultimately necessary for the company's long-term success.
So, if you're an iPhone user who skipped the early versions of iOS 26 due to concerns about Liquid Glass, there's good news: Apple has provided options to help mitigate the design's impact. The company has added a "tinted" option for Liquid Glass in iOS 26.1, which increases the interface's contrast and opacity to make it more legible. There are also additional controls available in Safari settings that can be used to customize the browser's appearance.
Ultimately, while Liquid Glass may not be everyone's cup of tea, it's clear that Apple is committed to making its operating system a great experience for all users - even those who don't like its design choices. If you want to stay up to date with the latest security patches and features, it's time to take the plunge and upgrade to iOS 26 - even if you're not a fan of Liquid Glass.
One key issue is that Statcounter, a website that tracks device adoption rates, has been incorrectly reporting the number of iOS 26 devices in use due to changes made by Apple to Safari's user agent string. This means that the data being reported is not actually representative of how many people are using each version of iOS.
However, if we look at our own traffic data and other metrics, we can see that iOS 26 is still being adopted at a relatively healthy rate - around 76% of iPhone pageviews in December 2025 were coming from devices running iOS 18, rather than iOS 26. This suggests that while the adoption rate may be slower than usual, it's not necessarily due to a widespread dislike for the Liquid Glass design.
In fact, one could argue that the slow adoption rate is more a reflection of the fact that Apple is making significant changes to the operating system in order to support newer hardware and improve security. While these changes may be jarring for some users, they are ultimately necessary for the company's long-term success.
So, if you're an iPhone user who skipped the early versions of iOS 26 due to concerns about Liquid Glass, there's good news: Apple has provided options to help mitigate the design's impact. The company has added a "tinted" option for Liquid Glass in iOS 26.1, which increases the interface's contrast and opacity to make it more legible. There are also additional controls available in Safari settings that can be used to customize the browser's appearance.
Ultimately, while Liquid Glass may not be everyone's cup of tea, it's clear that Apple is committed to making its operating system a great experience for all users - even those who don't like its design choices. If you want to stay up to date with the latest security patches and features, it's time to take the plunge and upgrade to iOS 26 - even if you're not a fan of Liquid Glass.
16.6% adoption rate for iOS 26 is kinda low tho... 
think we can do better than that! 
stats say the average user upgrades to new OS every 2-3 years, so why not make that a smooth transition? 
i mean, Apple's always about innovation & pushing boundaries... Liquid Glass might be a bit much for some, but it's all part of progress, right? 
did you know 76% of iPhone pageviews in Dec 2025 were from iOS 18? 
that's actually a pretty healthy adoption rate if u ask me! 
! People were hating on it so hard at first, but now that Apple's fixed some of the issues, it's looking pretty fire 
! I mean, sure, it's a bit different from what we're used to, but like, isn't that the point? It's all about innovation and trying new things 
. And let's be real, 76% of iPhone pageviews are still coming from iOS 18... that's not gonna change anytime soon 
! I think Apple's just making some changes to keep us on our toes 
.
. People are hating on it because they're not used to change, you know? But if you take a step back and look at the bigger picture, I think Apple's making some real moves here. Those changes to Safari and security patches are gonna be huge for the company's future 
. So yeah, if you're still on iOS 18 (lol what are you even doing with your life 
), maybe it's time to level up and get with the times 
. I mean, I get it if you don't like the Liquid Glass design, but 76% of iPhone pageviews in Dec '25 were from iOS 18? That's still a decent adoption rate 