Netflix's new interface isn't making everyone happy, and that's saying something. But the company doesn't seem to be planning any changes in the short term.
A few weeks ago, Netflix began rolling out a brand new interface, representing the biggest UI overhaul of its app's homepage in 12 years. If it's not yet available to you, it won't be long, as the platform has opted for a gradual rollout to its subscribers. A stripped-down version is also in the pipeline for older, less powerful devices, whose performance could suffer with the added features.
So far, user feedback on this revamped interface seems mixed. Of course, it's always difficult to adapt to such significant changes after using a service for years. But some of the arguments put forward by critics of the new UI seem entirely valid.
Has Netflix's interface become less user-friendly?
“I've been saying for years that Netflix has the best interface of all the streaming services, and I'm annoyed by the inferior quality of other services. Now, Netflix seems to be copying other services rather than the other way around. Why? Does anyone here really appreciate seeing fewer options on the screen? … You have to scroll endlessly to get through what used to be a single screen of information. I hate it,” says one Reddit user.
And indeed, Netflix now displays less information, leaving most of the screen space for the content the platform wants to highlight (see image at the top of the article). Some users report feeling like they're dealing with a tablet interface on their TV and can no longer quickly choose a program to watch without having to scroll.
Netflix responded to the criticism by assuring that a majority of users prefer the new interface to the old one, according to a survey it conducted. But it didn't say more on the subject. The Hollywood Reporter reports that internal metrics collected do not yet allow it to confirm that user engagement has improved with this updated design. In any case, it will take some getting used to, and it is unlikely that Netflix will reverse its decision for a while.
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