Apple's major software redesign disappoints chinese consumers

Apple’s latest software redesign, introduced during its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, 2025, has received mixed reviews in China.

The redesign, called Liquid Glass, affects all of Apple’s operating systems, including iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe 26.

However, it has led to criticism from users on social media.

The hashtag “iOS26 Ugly” trended on Weibo as over 20,000 users voiced displeasure, with some reconsidering upgrades.

The backlash underscores Apple’s growing struggle in China amid competition from Huawei, economic pressure, and fewer subsidies.

China’s World Internet Conference also criticized Apple’s lack of AI progress, warning of risks in falling behind competitors.

Despite Apple’s OpenAI partnership, related AI features won’t be available in mainland China, disappointing local tech media.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Apple’s eroding market position in China reflects broader innovation perception issues

The negative reception to Apple’s interface redesign comes amid a significant decline in the company’s competitive standing in China, with shipments falling 25% year-on-year in Q4 2024 1.

Apple has dropped to third place in the Chinese smartphone market with a 17% decline in shipments to 42.9 million units in 2024, while domestic rivals Huawei and Vivo have surged ahead with 46 million and 49 million units respectively 2.

This market share erosion follows a pattern where Apple’s share fell from 20.2% in Q4 2023 to 16.1% in Q4 2024, while Huawei reclaimed the top position with 18.1% market share 3.

The harsh online reaction to iOS 26 suggests that aesthetic design, traditionally an Apple strength, may be joining functionality and features as areas where Chinese consumers find the company falling short compared to local alternatives.

Chinese consumers’ disappointment with Apple’s software updates echoes concerns about the company’s innovation trajectory that have existed for years, with critics noting as far back as 2016 that frequent OS updates were more about marketing than substantial improvements 4.