Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has unveiled its new OriginOS 6, and tech watchers everywhere are playing a fun new game: Spot the difference from iOS 26. Spoiler — there isn’t much to spot.
The update, revealed this week, proudly showcases all the “original” design elements that Apple introduced months ago under its Liquid Glass aesthetic — rounded icons, translucent folders, frosted panels, and wallpapers that shift like Apple’s Spatial Scenes. In a demo video, the resemblance is so uncanny that one might wonder if Vivo’s design team accidentally left an iPhone plugged into their reference monitor.
Vivo, of course, insists it’s all just a coincidence. According to the company, OriginOS 6 was “inspired by water” and promises “every swipe, scroll, and tap flows like never before.” Which is an interesting choice of words, considering Apple’s entire Liquid Glass branding already leans heavily on that same fluid metaphor. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Apple’s design team must be absolutely glowing right now.
The new interface includes what Vivo calls its “Liquid Glass clock” (because why not take the name too?), a translucent Control Center, and squircle icons that might make even the most loyal Android user do a double-take. Add in parallax wallpapers and soft lighting effects, and OriginOS 6 feels less like a new Android skin and more like iOS 26 wearing sunglasses and speaking Mandarin.
To Vivo’s credit, the company does occasionally make subtle tweaks — mostly by rearranging what it borrowed. But as far as originality goes, this is about as “inspired” as tracing over a masterpiece and signing your own name at the bottom.
