Apple Unveils iOS 26 with Bold “Liquid Glass” Redesign

The UBJ Desk

The UBJ Desk

— 2 min read
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Apple Unveils iOS 26 with Bold “Liquid Glass” Redesign

At WWDC 2025, Apple unveiled iOS 26, introducing its most substantial design shift since the flatter aesthetic of iOS 7. The centerpiece? A "Liquid Glass" interface that transforms UI components—icons, tabs, keyboards, controls—into floating, translucent layers that adapt to color and motion.

The Liquid Glass design features real-time blurring, transparency, and light refraction effects. Across iOS, iPadOS, macOS Tahoe, watchOS, and tvOS, UI elements now appear as if suspended in glass—mirroring what sits beneath them to maintain context and visual harmony.

Bold calls now shimmer on the lock screen, app dock, control center, and tab bars. Interface elements reshape dynamically—for instance, tab bars shrink while scrolling and expand on stop. Even text magnifiers and iconography take on a smooth, fluid feel .
While many praise the aesthetic finesse, early testers report it can feel chaotic in areas like Control Center or Settings, where overlapping visuals may reduce readability .

Many in design circles acknowledge the innovation:

  • Allan Yu (Output): "It's hard to read some of it… made it too transparent."
  • Josh Puckett (Iteration): Sees potential, noting Apple will likely fine-tune for clarity ahead of public release.
    Still, some caution the effects may distract from content—reminiscent of Windows Aero's visual flair .

In a surprise move, Apple renamed its version sequence: iOS 26 now reflects the upcoming year rather than iOS 19. This aligns naming across all Apple platforms—macOS Tahoe 26, iPadOS 26, etc.—signaling a harmonized, cross-device design overhaul.

iOS 26 isn’t just about looks:

  • Phone App: Introduces call screening and auto-hold, plus unified views for favorites, recents, and voicemail.
  • Messages: Adds custom backgrounds, polls, typing indicators for group chats, and a personal touch with Image Playground visuals.
  • Live Translation: On-device AI enables real-time translation in Messages, FaceTime, and calls—without compromising privacy.
  • Apple Intelligence: Genmoji now mixes emojis, Visual Intelligence helps with in-app context like identifying objects and extracting details, and Shortcuts gain AI-driven enhancements.
  • Camera app: Streamlined UI with only key options (Photo, Video) visible, expanded upon swipe .
  • Safari: Tab bar floats seamlessly over content, enhancing immersion.
  • Apple Music: Features AutoMix transitions and translations for lyrics and choral pronunciation guides.
  • Apple Maps: Smarter routing with alerts and personalized updates.
  • New Games App: Centralizes gaming, Arcade access, and friend activity in one hub.

iOS 26 Beta 1 is available to developers now; a public beta follows in July, with a full rollout expected this fall. Notably, support ends for A12 chip devices—these iPhones (e.g., XS, XR) won’t get the update.
Apple’s Human Interface team and developer API packages aim to help third-party apps adopt Liquid Glass consistency across platforms.

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