Apple does a U-turn on changes in the Photos app

The original Photos app design on iPadOS 18 (Photo: Apple)

Apple has made a significant change to its Photos app in iOS 18, backing away from controversial design choices that faced significant backlash. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in his Power On newsletter that this reversal, while not unprecedented for the tech giant, highlights the importance of user feedback and the potential risks of overly ambitious app redesigns.

The initial iOS 18 Photos app introduced a new carousel interface and reorganized layout, which many users found confusing and counterintuitive. In response to widespread criticism, Apple has now removed the carousel, streamlined the photo grid, and made several other adjustments to improve usability.

This U-turn comes at a crucial time, as Apple prepares to launch the iPhone 16 with iOS 18 pre-installed. By addressing user concerns early on, Apple demonstrates its commitment to delivering a positive user experience and avoids the potential PR fallout of releasing a widely disliked feature.