People are hating on Apple Music’s redesigned black-and-white logo
Apple appears to be replacing Apple Music’s familiar red note icon with a simpler black-and-white design, prompting widespread criticism online. The change matters because the red icon has been a recognisable part of the service for years, and many commenters see the redesign as dull or unnecessary, though some welcome it.
The new icon appeared in iOS 27.2 beta 4, with a white-on-black version for dark mode and options to clear or tint it. Its shape is slightly altered, and Apple has also removed red from home-screen widgets and changed the app’s pink-red tint to blue. The design remains in beta, so Apple could still revise it.
- Apple’s new Music icon drops its signature red.
- The redesign has drawn more criticism than praise.
- The change is still in beta.
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Apple Music is Apple’s music streaming service, where people can listen to songs, albums and playlists through an app. Its red musical note icon has helped distinguish it on Apple devices for years.
App icons and colours can make a service easy to recognise, especially on a busy home screen. A change to a familiar design may attract attention because users see it regularly, though people can disagree about whether a new look is an improvement.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the redesign may see the black-and-white icon as cleaner and more adaptable, especially alongside dark mode and options to tint or clear app icons. Removing the red accent could also make Apple Music feel more consistent with Apple’s wider visual design, while the beta gives the company room to adjust it.
The case against
Critics may argue that the red note has helped people recognise Apple Music for years, so removing it makes the app less distinctive and harder to spot. They may also see the change as unnecessary: a simpler look offers little practical benefit if it feels dull to existing users and strips away a familiar part of the service’s identity.