Apple’s UI Design: 6 Times They Got it Right
Apple is renowned for its sleek hardware design, but its UI design is no less impressive. The company’s software often reflects the same traits as its physical products: fun, sophisticated, and beautifully executed. Here are six times when Apple got its UI design just right.
01. Distraction Control in Safari
Apple’s new "Distraction Control" feature in iOS 18 allows users to block elements they don’t want to see in Safari, including ads. The feature also comes with a fun disintegration animation that recalls Thanos’s finger snap in the Avengers. To access it, go to the Smart Search field in Safari, tap the Page Menu button, and then tap Hide Distracting Items.
02. Tap to Cash Apple Pay Animation
Apple Cash boasts a range of nice visual design touches, including a neat card parallax animation that emulates the shininess of a real card. When users send or receive money via Tap to Cash by holding two iPhone or Apple Watches together, the confirmation animation is just as delightful.
03. Priority Notifications Bounce
The liquid bounce effect when a priority notification arrives on iOS is another touch that adds to the general smoothness and sleekness of the user experience. This subtle detail shows that software design is as important as hardware design for smartphones.
04. Dynamic Island
The amusingly named Dynamic Island made its debut with iPhone 14 Pro and has since expanded to all new iPhone models. It might have seemed like a gimmick at first, but it’s proved to be genuinely useful for multi-tasking, providing quick access to information and controls, and allowing users to see things like timers, music, and estimated delivery times while doing other things.
05. Text Animations
Apple’s text animations in iMessage add a new way to express emotion in messaging without having to search for and interpret the appropriate emoji. Users can tap the "i" button above the keyboard and choose from styles including shake, nod, explode, ripple, and jitter.
06. Apple Fitness UIs
The UI design of Apple’s fitness widgets is gorgeous, making it a pleasure to use. While some users might feel they need to wear their Apple Watch on their ankle to get reliable health stats, the UI design is undeniably attractive.
Conclusion
Apple’s UI design continues to evolve, and rumors suggest that the iPhone homescreen could get a major revamp in iOS 19. With its focus on user experience and attention to detail, Apple’s UI design often gets it just right, making its software as enjoyable to use as its hardware.
FAQs
Q: What is Apple’s Distraction Control feature?
A: Apple’s Distraction Control feature in Safari allows users to block elements they don’t want to see, including ads, and comes with a fun disintegration animation.
Q: What is Tap to Cash Apple Pay?
A: Tap to Cash is a feature that allows users to send or receive money via Apple Pay by holding two iPhone or Apple Watches together, with a confirmation animation that is just as delightful.
Q: What is Dynamic Island?
A: Dynamic Island is a feature that made its debut with iPhone 14 Pro and has since expanded to all new iPhone models, providing quick access to information and controls, and allowing users to see things like timers, music, and estimated delivery times while doing other things.
