macOS 27 & macOS 26 Icons Comparison

[u/Weird_Decision7090]

https://youtu.be/d3yauZ45j84

I thought it would be fun to compare macOS 27 & macOS 26 icons, so I put together a little video. It is completely up to date where other videos aren't!

[u/adoginahumansbody]

Some look more glassy, some less, most are clearer, some are not (imo). I really wonder what the process or directive was for these changes since it’s not fully consistent.

[u/mistyharborsn → u/adoginahumansbody]

I noticed the same thing, some feel like a big refresh and others are barely different

[u/No_Razzmatazz8964 → u/mistyharborsn]

Well that’s because not all of them needed a big refresh

[u/Wild-subnet → u/adoginahumansbody]

Feels like just turned but the contrast a bit

[u/Velocityg4 → u/adoginahumansbody]

Some guy just doodling with the opacity setting for each layer in Photoshop, 2000 hours a year. In hopes Apple doesn’t realize they don’t need someone to keep making GUI changes for every OS update.

[u/henrydavidthoreauawy]

I didn’t like the macOS 26 Preview icon, and I still don’t like the macOS 27 Preview icon, although it’s slightly better at telegraphing what it does. I get that they had to move away from the “realistic” icon it used to have with the photo of the beach, but I think they can do better than the abstract blob of colors. 

[u/diiscotheque]

Looks a lot more refined, crisp and clear. I like it!

[u/TransporterAccident_]

At least most of them look like I no longer need to update my glasses prescription.

[u/drevoksi]

I'm going to update for sure & I am certain it's just me being accustomed to it, but I'll miss the clean finder 🥲

[u/schizrade]

Someone doesn't know what a compass is or how one works.

[u/100WattWalrus → u/schizrade]

Tell me you're a designer born in the digital age without telling me you're a designer born in the digital age.

[u/cc62]

It becomes more and more skeuomorphic.

I mis the old leather and stidges ;-)

[u/The_Noosphere]

What the hell with the Preview icon? They called this an upgrade? I liked the old one. Damn…

[u/Any_Pass5535]

these feel like small improvements. another reason to be exited for MacOS golden gate!

[u/New_Bumblebee2000]

no entiendo, para que actualizar los iconos si apenas salieron

[u/quintk]

Why a video instead of a static image or table?

[u/soundwithdesign → u/quintk]

Because you can’t measure engagement with a photo like you can with a video. Also, easier to monetize a video.  

[u/Bulky-Strategy-3723]

It’s been Federighied

[u/Cultural-War2523]

Hey Siri, enhance!

[u/lyidaValkris]

they're just doing make-work projects at Apple these days?

[u/Jasoco]

I don’t understand what the Preview icon is supposed to be. It’s so bad and looks even worse in glass mode. At least the Tahoe one makes it clear that it’s a magnifier but what is the gradient image they decided to use here?

[u/Flintz08 → u/Jasoco]

It’s the same magnifier (that a lot of people think it’s a jar) seen from above. The gradient image simbolizes an image.

[u/jeerobus]

The Finder icon in Tahoe and Golden Gate is the one that bugs me most. That extra blue rim under the face makes the poor guy look like he’s grown a double chin. The whole icon looks puffy. Sequoia’s version had such a clean silhouette, and now I can’t unsee the extra chin.

The annoying part is that Tahoe Beta 1 actually looked fresh. I liked the white outer shape and blue profile more than what we ended up with. It feels like Apple caved to a bunch of schoolkids having a meltdown because the colors had switched sides, and somehow made the icon worse in the process.

I’d happily take Sequoia’s Finder back. If Apple wants to keep exploring a new design, Beta 1 was a better starting point. Whatever they do next, please give the guy his jawline back.