At the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple has pulled back the curtain on iOS 26, a bold and sweeping refresh of the iPhone’s operating system. Touted as one of the most visually transformative updates in over a decade, iOS 26 introduces a brand-new design language called Liquid Glass, promising to not only enhance the look and feel of Apple’s devices but also to bring consistency across its broader ecosystem.
The full reveal is scheduled for Apple’s WWDC keynote event, held June 9 at its headquarters in Cupertino, California.
A Shiny New Interface: Meet Liquid Glass
At the heart of iOS 26 is Liquid Glass, a new visual design concept that gives the user interface a sleek, glossy, and semi-transparent look. Apple describes it as a material that both reflects and refracts its surroundings, producing a dynamic effect that adapts as users move through the operating system.
This change affects nearly every corner of the iPhone interface—from app icons and toolbars to widgets and control panels. Elements now appear more fluid, with polished finishes and layers of transparency that mimic the feel of sculpted glass. The update reaches the Home Screen, Lock Screen, and system apps, making this Apple’s most substantial aesthetic shift since it abandoned skeuomorphism in favor of flat design with iOS 7 in 2013.
Apple isn’t stopping with just a visual makeover. The company believes this design will lay the foundation for future iPhone hardware as well. Tech analyst Mark Gurman shared on X that the update hints at Apple’s 2027 iPhone vision—one expected to feature all-glass bodies, paper-thin bezels, and no visible screen cutouts. In that sense, iOS 26 may be an early glimpse into what the future iPhone will look and feel like.
Extending the Look Across All Apple Devices
While iOS 26 takes center stage, the Liquid Glass design language won’t be limited to iPhones. Apple plans to roll out similar updates across iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Although each platform will maintain its own functional identity, the design elements—transparency, rounded highlights, and reflective visuals—will be consistent throughout.
The idea is to create a seamless experience for users transitioning between Apple devices. Whether switching from an iPhone to a Mac or to the Vision Pro headset, users will see fewer visual discrepancies and feel more continuity. Even the app icons are being refreshed to match this aesthetic, with reports indicating new rounded shapes and glassy highlights that align with the broader design approach.
Tools for Developers to Embrace the Change
To help developers align their apps with the new design philosophy, Apple is releasing a new set of APIs specifically for Liquid Glass. These tools will allow third-party app makers to adopt the same visual materials used by Apple’s own apps, ensuring a cohesive experience throughout the App Store.
This move is reminiscent of Google’s Material 3 for Android, which similarly provided developers with tools to maintain consistency across platforms. By offering more flexibility and deeper integration with the system’s visuals, Apple is encouraging developers to make their apps feel as native and polished as possible.
Refreshed Apple Apps and Smarter Navigation
In addition to the system redesign, Apple’s own apps are getting a major facelift. Apple Music, Podcasts, and News are among the core apps that have been visually updated to match the new aesthetic. These apps now feature interfaces that curve and contour around the rounded edges of the device, delivering a more comfortable and immersive user experience.
One of the more noticeable UI changes is the floating tab bar, which now hovers just above the app content. It adapts to user behavior by shrinking while scrolling through content and expanding again when users navigate upward. This not only enhances visibility but also makes the screen feel less cluttered.
Sidebars and navigation bars across the OS have also been tweaked to echo this floating, minimalistic style, signaling a broader change in how Apple wants users to interact with content.
A Glimpse at Apple’s Long-Term Vision
While iOS 26 is primarily a software update, its design direction speaks volumes about Apple’s broader ambitions. The Liquid Glass visuals appear to be in sync with the hardware redesigns that are rumored for the 2027 iPhones, suggesting that the company is carefully syncing its design evolution across both hardware and software.
By rolling out these visual upgrades now, Apple is preparing its massive global user base for what’s to come—a new generation of sleek, all-glass devices where the software interface and hardware design merge seamlessly.
Design Over AI—for Now
Although much of the buzz at WWDC 2025 is centered on design, Apple is expected to touch on AI developments during its keynote. However, analysts including Gurman note that Apple will likely lag behind competitors like Google and Microsoft in terms of advanced AI capabilities.
That said, Apple seems to be playing to its strengths—prioritizing aesthetics, polish, and user experience. The introduction of iOS 26 underscores Apple’s commitment to design excellence, even as the tech world pivots toward artificial intelligence.
The WWDC 2025 keynote begins at 10:30 PM IST (1 PM ET / 10 AM PT) on June 9, streamed from Apple Park. In addition to iOS 26, Apple is set to preview updates to its other platforms, including macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS—all of which will incorporate the new Liquid Glass design principles.
