根据用户界面设计研究，图标比文字标签更难被用户理解，尤其是在初次接触时1。然而Apple近年来在iOS和键盘设计中逐步推行这一做法。在iOS 18、26、27版本中，Apple用图标替代了"完成"和"取消"等常见文字标签1；在2026年的键盘上，符号也取代了"Tab""Caps Lock"和"Shift"等按键文字标识1。
这种设计趋势虽然节省了屏幕空间，但带来了实际的可用性问题1。一些常见图标本身存在含义重载的问题——例如勾号既可表示提交也可表示待办项，×既可表示关闭也可表示清除，放大镜既可代表搜索也可代表缩放1。这些歧义加重了用户的理解负担。
A critical examination of Apple's recent design trends reveals a growing reliance on icons at the expense of text labels across its platforms. The company has progressively replaced familiar text labels like "Done" and "Cancel" with icons in iOS versions 18, 26, and 27, and extended this approach to keyboards in 2026 by substituting symbols for traditional labels such as Tab, Caps Lock, and Shift.1
The shift toward icon-based interfaces, while economical in terms of screen space, creates practical problems for users.1 Many drivers have inadvertently selected incorrect headlight settings during rainy conditions due to ambiguous and confusing icon designs in vehicle lighting controls, illustrating how unclear iconography can lead to real-world consequences.1 The challenge is compounded by the inherent ambiguity of common icons: checkmarks can signify either submission or a pending task, the multiplication sign can mean either close or clear, and a magnifying glass can represent either search or zoom functionality.1
Research by usability expert Jef Raskin directly contradicts this design direction. Raskin found that "in every study that considered the question, icons were demonstrated to be more difficult to understand than were labels, especially at first viewing."1 This evidence-based conclusion underscores the tension between minimalist design aesthetics and functional clarity in user interface development.1
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