The latest iOS Safari has issues, but some can be resolved.
It's high time for Safari to evolve... No, not in this direction!
It can be frustrating when a user interface lacks consistency. The slightly irritating UI feedback when tapping the arrows is another issue. There is no clear indication of which button was tapped. For example, when pressing “forward”, the Liquid Glass element jumps without showing which side was selected.
A larger problem exists with drop-down menus. A Liquid Glass panel displays all options without separators. When tapping, there is no indication of where the touch landed, requiring users to hope for accuracy until the desired content loads.
Some settings can be adjusted.
Fortunately, Safari offers customization in the Settings app. Navigate to Apps -> Safari and find the Tabs options.
To revert to the iOS 18 address bar and navigation buttons at the screen's bottom, choose the Bottom option. This does add a significant interface at the bottom.
The classic appearance with the address bar at the top and the navigation bar at the bottom may seem more balanced. Select the Top option to test it.
While in settings, select “In Background” in the Open Links menu. This prevents Safari from switching views when opening links in new tabs, which is done because the current tab is still needed.
Regarding fixes, iOS 26.1 offers an option to make Liquid Glass more tinted and opaque for improved legibility if the translucent elements are hard to see. This will reduce some of its shine.
Overall, the update seems misguided.
In 2025, it's surprising that Safari lacks a visible "New tab" button. Mobile Chrome has a "+" button next to the address bar, a standard feature across operating systems like iPadOS, macOS, Windows, and Android.
A minimalist approach might be appealing. Safari aims for a swipe-first interface, a viable method given smartphone interaction. Swiping on the address bar to switch tabs, swiping to the right opens a new tab.
In iOS 26 Safari, the "All Tabs" button is in the lower-right, while the "New Tab" button is in the lower-left after accessing the tabs. The "New Tab" interface element is on the left for tapping but requires a right swipe, which is unusual.
Tapping to create a "New Tab" requires multiple taps on opposite screen ends. It's as if Apple discourages accidental tab creation.
Also, "Open in New Tab" should default to opening in the background since users typically choose this to keep the current tab open.
Do you use Safari on your iPhone, or have you considered switching to Chrome, Opera, or another default browser?
A larger problem exists with drop-down menus. A Liquid Glass panel displays all options without separators. When tapping, there is no indication of where the touch landed, requiring users to hope for accuracy until the desired content loads.
Some settings can be adjusted.
Fortunately, Safari offers customization in the Settings app. Navigate to Apps -> Safari and find the Tabs options.
To revert to the iOS 18 address bar and navigation buttons at the screen's bottom, choose the Bottom option. This does add a significant interface at the bottom.
The classic appearance with the address bar at the top and the navigation bar at the bottom may seem more balanced. Select the Top option to test it.
While in settings, select “In Background” in the Open Links menu. This prevents Safari from switching views when opening links in new tabs, which is done because the current tab is still needed.
Regarding fixes, iOS 26.1 offers an option to make Liquid Glass more tinted and opaque for improved legibility if the translucent elements are hard to see. This will reduce some of its shine.
Overall, the update seems misguided.
In 2025, it's surprising that Safari lacks a visible "New tab" button. Mobile Chrome has a "+" button next to the address bar, a standard feature across operating systems like iPadOS, macOS, Windows, and Android.
A minimalist approach might be appealing. Safari aims for a swipe-first interface, a viable method given smartphone interaction. Swiping on the address bar to switch tabs, swiping to the right opens a new tab.
In iOS 26 Safari, the "All Tabs" button is in the lower-right, while the "New Tab" button is in the lower-left after accessing the tabs. The "New Tab" interface element is on the left for tapping but requires a right swipe, which is unusual.
Tapping to create a "New Tab" requires multiple taps on opposite screen ends. It's as if Apple discourages accidental tab creation.
Also, "Open in New Tab" should default to opening in the background since users typically choose this to keep the current tab open.
Do you use Safari on your iPhone, or have you considered switching to Chrome, Opera, or another default browser?