Apple's liquid glass imitation: honor's magicos 11 raises eyebrows

Yet another company is chasing Apple’s ghost. Honor’s unveiling of MagicOS 11’s UI – particularly its translucent, ‘glass’ aesthetic – is the latest in a disturbingly familiar trend. It's frankly insulting, and the speed at which these Chinese brands are cloning Cupertino’s design language is alarming.

The imitation game: liquid glass replicated

Android Headlines flagged the similarities early, and the evidence is undeniable. Honor’s teased UI elements – the ‘Magic Capsule’ mimicking the Dynamic Island, the refractive icons – are blatant echoes of iOS 26. It’s not ‘inspiration’; it’s a straight-up copy.

Meanwhile, Google is pushing out Android 17 to Pixel devices, a step forward in its own right, but overshadowed by this relentless pursuit of Apple’s look. The rollout to Pixel phones is a process, a careful calibration – a stark contrast to Honor’s rushed attempt to appear current.

Pixel ahead, honor chasing shadows

Android 17's arrival is significant, a stable release after months of anticipation. But let’s be honest: the focus is elsewhere. Oppo’s ColorOS, with its own iOS-inspired flourishes, has been a thorn in Apple’s side for years. This isn’t innovation; it’s a desperate scramble for relevance.

Honor’s typical summer OS releases are expected, and MagicOS 11 with its new interface should materialize relatively soon. But the question isn't when it arrives, but why they feel compelled to mimic what Apple has already perfected.

The line between ‘inspired by’ and outright copying is blurred, especially with these manufacturers. It’s a tired playbook, and frankly, it’s disrespectful to the design principles Apple has cultivated. I’m not buying a Chinese phone, and I certainly won't be swayed by a superficial imitation. Let's see something genuinely new, something that doesn't rely on Apple's legacy for validation.