This could be the best smartphone of 2026, provided it doesn’t break Apple’s Liquid Glass

I really hoped the Android world got over Apple’s clearly style-over-substance Liquid Glass UX redesign sooner. We almost universally agree that it looks like something plucked from 2007-era Microsoft, and that’s before we even get to the accessibility headaches. So imagine my surprise when I booted up the new Oppo Find X9 Ultra and was greeted by a near-carbon-copy of the latest iPhone.

What’s even more strange is that, while recent versions of ColorOS on devices like the OnePlus 15 or Oppo Find The pill-shaped elements and overly curved quick settings may not be to my taste, but they’re at least as defensible as the aesthetic choices. I have no objection at all to transparency.

But with my Ultra review unit running ColorOS between versions 16.0.5 and 16.0.7, it seems Oppo has flipped the switch on the full-glass effect. The worst part is that I can’t find any way to turn it off. It’s also telling that many of the ColorOS apps — photos, videos, weather — haven’t been updated to match. This feels less like a cohesive redesign and more like a stripped-down layer applied on top, without much deeper integration outside of a few specific cases.

But what really makes my head hurt is that Oppo and OnePlus have already invested heavily in creating something special with ColorOS. I’m not alone in enjoying recent iterations for their tasteful design and genuinely useful features. This often strikes a good balance between Google’s luxurious Material 3 expressiveness and a more practical, grounded UX. The camera app is a perfect example: simple enough for a quick snap, but with advanced controls just a toggle away. Now, borrowing Apple’s design language, there are fewer options visible at any given time.

What’s worse, the Find X9 Ultra is a phone that has a strong identity of its own. It positions itself as a powerhouse for gamers and multitaskers, thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip instead of the MediaTek silicon in the rest of the Find X9 lineup. Oppo has also gone big on the camera hardware, with a 3x zoom 200MP sensor and a 10x 50MP periscope lens that makes for a really attractive photography package. It has even leaned on its Hasselblad partnership to reinforce those key credentials. In short, this is a device that goes far beyond the mainstream.

Where Liquid Glass fits into that philosophy is beyond me; If anything, it actively hinders the phone from performing so well. Let me talk about the cameras, fast performance and premium build. Instead, I’m thinking about Apple-inspired UI options. Yes, it looks like Apple can capture the attention and help brands capture the same premium mindshare that ultra handsets seek to capture.

But once again, I’m left wondering why major Android brands that produce truly world-class hardware aren’t as confident in their ability to design equally compelling software. They’re not copying Apple’s approach to camera or chassis design, so why follow the UI?

The marketing logic is equally baffling. Anyone who really cares about liquid glass is probably already in Apple’s camp and will buy an iPhone regardless. They don’t want imitations, even if the hardware is objectively better. Android brands have been falling into that trap for over a decade. People aren’t just buying Apple for the looks – they’re buying the ecosystem, the blue bubble, and the whole “it just works” narrative.

In truth, this disappointment predates Oppo’s latest copy-and-paste moment. Android brands have long been taking cues from the iPhone — from removing the headphone jack to experimenting with their own on Dynamic Island. The prevailing wisdom seems to be that if Apple does it, it’s at least safe to follow — even if it’s not particularly smart.

I appreciate that the smartphone market is tougher than ever and risk aversion is often necessary just to survive. Some people may also like Oppo’s new design, and it probably deserves some praise for keeping up with the latest UX trends. But there is still value in having a clearly recognizable brand, and the distinctive look is what makes Android worth choosing over the iPhone.

Say whatever you want about the Pixel and Materials or the Galaxy and One UI, but their distinctive blend of hardware and software keeps them instantly recognizable and worth buying for their own reasons. Even from the front, an experienced smartphone fan can pick them out from a lineup. OnePlus and, more recently, Oppo held a similar aura, but decisions like this are diluting the huge effort put into brand building.

If you try too hard to look like an iPhone, don’t be surprised when people forget who you are. I’ll leave it there and get back to enjoying the Find X9 Ultra’s excellent hardware.