For years, Apple’s sleek design has been a magnet for the Android world. Since 2007, device makers like Samsung, which famously lost a patent lawsuit over iPhone features, and Xiaomi, once called China’s Apple, have often looked to Cupertino for design cues. They’ve borrowed ideas for software, hardware, and the overall user experience. But this time, Vivo didn’t just take inspiration. Its latest interface, OriginOS 6, copies Apple’s iOS 26 shamelessly.
Vivo’s New Look: A Familiar Sight on Android
Only a month ago, Apple unveiled iOS 26. This update brought new functions and a visual redesign that truly changed things. The new look, dubbed “Liquid Glass,” used glass effects, transparent layers, and soft, rounded corners. It made the interface feel incredibly smooth, almost organic. What few expected was for Vivo to debut its OriginOS 6 just days later. It looks exactly like a photocopy of Apple’s new style.
Social media quickly jumped on this, and for good reason. Just one look at Vivo’s new system shows it’s far more than just “inspiration.” The floating, translucent clock, the rounded icons with soft shadows, the semi-transparent folders, and the dock with its glass reflection are all practically identical to iOS 26.
Even the animated backgrounds remind users of Apple’s “Spatial Scenes.” These backgrounds move and react when you tilt your device. It all has that unmistakable “Apple on the outside, Android on the inside” feel. This is as clear as it is controversial.
The Fine Line Between Inspiration and Imitation
It’s true that in digital design, trends can spread fast. Apple often sets the standard, and many Android makers naturally pick up parts of its visual language. However, in this particular instance, Vivo crossed the line between drawing inspiration and blatant copying. OriginOS 6 doesn’t just remind you of iOS 26; it directly imitates it. This decision has real consequences.
First, Vivo risks losing its own brand identity. When a company uses a style that isn’t truly its own, it suggests a lack of confidence and clear direction. Second, it invites constant, unflattering comparisons with Apple. That’s a battle the imitator rarely wins.
The Hidden Challenge of “Liquid Glass”
Beyond what looks good, there’s a serious technical challenge to consider. iOS 26’s glass effects and transparencies are more than just pretty decorations. They are carefully optimized so they don’t slow down the phone or drain the battery. If Vivo can’t match this balance, their attempt at “modernity” could turn into a headache for users. We might see slow animations or phones running out of power too quickly.
It’s easy to copy a visual style. It’s much harder to reproduce the smooth, consistent user experience that Apple has perfected over many years. This situation also shows how much Apple’s design choices continue to guide the entire market. Whenever Apple introduces a big new look, the rest of the industry adjusts. We saw this with the notch, then with the flat edges of the iPhone 12, and now with the “Liquid Glass” language. The real difference lies in how subtly other manufacturers put their own spin on these ideas. Vivo, unfortunately, took the easiest route: a direct copy of what works, without bringing anything new to the table.