Why People Hate the iOS 18 Version of Apple Photos
Redesigns of anything can prompt a negative reaction initially, and UI design is no different. A major change to the layout of an app can make something you’ve been using comfortably for ages suddenly feel confusing and unfamiliar.
The New Layout: More Cluttered and Convoluted
With that in mind, I thought initial criticism of the Apple Photos app redesign in iOS 18 would blow over once people got used to it. But it hasn’t. Two months on after the release in September, not a day goes by without dozens of people taking to social media to complain about how much they detest the new layout.
The main issue is that the new layout is more cluttered and convoluted compared to iOS 17. A lot of the change was focused on putting Apple Intelligence at the centre of photo management – to simplify things in theory, although some will argue that Apple felt obliged to follow the lead of Google and Samsung in this area.
New Features, But Also Unwanted Irritations
There’s a new scrollable interface, smart collections that automatically group photos by topic, and it’s easier to search for photos using natural language. But, as with most implementations of AI, there are also unhelpful and just plain random irritations, such as unwanted auto-generated albums and collections, and some people say the removal of traditional tabs is making it harder to find things.
User Feedback: A Mixed Bag
Apple has already made some tweaks, removing the highlights carousel and bringing back pinch-to-zoom. It will also restore full-screen playback for video. But some are still not convinced. “Apple, I hope you are listening, the new updates in the Photos app suck. Navigating my photo gallery is a disaster now. Not all change is progress,” one person wrote on X this week.
However, some have welcomed the app redesign. The key to making it work seems to be the customisation. If you go to the bottom and click customise, you can remove the panels you don’t want. People ideally don’t want that hassle. But this is like bloatware – removing all the redundant features is a hassle that the user doesn’t want to have to sort out for themselves.
Conclusion
The iOS 18 version of Apple Photos has been met with a mixed reaction from users. While some have welcomed the new features and customisation options, others have been left feeling confused and frustrated by the changes. It remains to be seen whether Apple will continue to make tweaks and improvements to the app, or if users will eventually adjust to the new layout.
FAQs
Q: Why did Apple change the Photos app?
A: Apple changed the Photos app to put Apple Intelligence at the centre of photo management, making it easier to search and organise photos using natural language.
Q: What are the main issues with the new layout?
A: The main issues are that the new layout is more cluttered and convoluted, with unwanted auto-generated albums and collections, and the removal of traditional tabs making it harder to find things.
Q: Can I customize the new layout?
A: Yes, you can customize the new layout by going to the bottom and clicking customise, where you can remove the panels you don’t want. However, this can be a hassle for some users.
Q: Will Apple continue to make changes to the Photos app?
A: It is likely that Apple will continue to make tweaks and improvements to the Photos app based on user feedback and criticism.
