At WWDC 2025, Apple introduced a sweeping redesign of its software ecosystem, headlined by a new visual style called Liquid Glass. Described as Apple’s most ambitious UI update in over a decade, the new design arrives alongside iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26.
“Liquid Glass is the broadest software design update we’ve ever undertaken at Apple,”
— Apple Newsroom
What Is Liquid Glass?
Liquid Glass is a visual design overhaul built around translucent layers, vibrant reflections, and dynamic depth. The interface responds to context, light, and motion, offering a “living” feel across apps and system elements.
From app icons to control panels and widgets, the new UI adopts a frosted-glass look, letting background content subtly show through. This brings focus to the content while making the interface feel immersive and modern.
“Everything feels alive, responsive, and deeply personal,”
— Apple
This new design spans all major Apple platforms and is built for consistency across devices, creating a more seamless user experience.
iOS 26: Full Feature Breakdown
Beyond the design refresh, iOS 26 introduces a wide range of new tools and app improvements. Here’s everything Apple announced:
🟦 System-Wide Changes
- Liquid Glass Interface: Translucent materials, refined iconography, and motion-enhanced layers.
- Unified Design Language: Consistent look and behavior across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch, and Apple TV.
- Faster Animations: Optimized transitions and smoother navigation.
- Privacy Forward: More granular data permissions and transparency controls.
📷 Camera App Redesign
- Simplified Interface: Fewer buttons and more intuitive layouts.
- Liquid Glass Integration: Dynamic backgrounds and smooth transitions.
- Gesture-Based Zoom & Focus: New multi-finger controls for manual settings.
📞 Phone & Messages Enhancements
- Call Screening: AI-powered spam detection and real-time caller info.
- Hold Assist: iPhone waits on hold for you and notifies when a human picks up.
- Message Effects Update: More expressive visual and audio message options.
🌐 Live Call Translation
- Real-Time Translation: Supports FaceTime and phone calls.
- On-Device Processing: Works without sending audio to the cloud.
- Multi-Language Support: Expands support for global users.
🎶 Apple Music
- Live Lyrics Sync: Real-time lyric highlighting synced to playback.
- Interactive Playback UI: Tapping lyrics jumps to the exact time in the song.
- New Music Discovery Tools: Smart curation and playlist suggestions.
🗺 Apple Maps
- Smarter Routing: Adapts in real time based on traffic, road closures, and delays.
- Transit Enhancements: Live arrival updates for buses and trains.
- Custom Landmarks: Save and tag personalized map markers.
🎮 All-New Games App
- Centralized Gaming Hub: See all your installed games, progress, and updates.
- Events & Challenges: Join game-specific events and leaderboards.
- Friend Integration: Track multiplayer invites and activity feeds.
🚘 CarPlay
- Compact UI for Calls: Answer or dismiss without interrupting navigation.
- New Widgets: Calendar, weather, and music shortcuts added to dashboard.
- Improved Responsiveness: Smoother transitions and faster loading.
🧠 Apple Intelligence Features (AI)
- Smarter Siri Suggestions: Context-aware prompts and smarter reminders.
- Photo Categorization: Better on-device sorting and memory creation.
- Text Summarization: Summarize messages, notes, and articles with one tap.
Platform Availability
- Developer Beta: Available now for registered developers.
- Public Beta: Launching in July 2025.
- Official Release: Scheduled for Fall 2025, alongside the next iPhone launch.
User Reactions: Visual Excitement With Some Caution
The Liquid Glass design has generated buzz for its modern, polished appearance. However, early testers note potential readability issues in high-transparency areas, especially against bright wallpapers. Apple is expected to fine-tune accessibility options before the full rollout.
Still, most developers and users welcome the update as a long-overdue modernization of Apple’s interface design.
Final Thoughts
With Liquid Glass and a deep roster of new features, Apple’s iOS 26 and accompanying software releases mark a turning point in how users interact with their devices. Whether it’s live translation, smarter apps, or a more unified look, this update is packed with enhancements that reflect Apple’s focus on personalization, privacy, and elegance.
As public testing begins soon, iPhone and iPad users have much to look forward to later this year.