iOS apps get bigger the more you use them

A new operating system is coming. iOS 26 promises many changes, the most noticeable being the “liquid glass” feature that has been all over Twitter and LinkedIn. It’s not very usable in many contexts, but one could argue it is another step in Apple’s attempt to make interfaces consistent across phones, tablets, computers, headsets, and TVs. I’m not a fan, but no one asked me.

Realistically, the two devices I use most are my phone and laptop. I’m crossing my fingers, hoping that there aren’t too many changes to either of these experiences. It did get me thinking… what if there were a more substantial change to a core primitive, like apps getting larger the more you use them?

It’s a fun idea, but horrible for usability. It makes recalling common apps difficult (unless the app is so big it takes up half your screen). If this is the case, finding other, less common apps would also be a challenge. In addition, it’s a massive departure from the clean, organized layout we’ve come to love from Apple. I don’t see a world where they build this, though it ccould be a fun mod.

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