By Key Points
- Apple’s Liquid Glass design is coming to 5 platforms this year
- Rolling out across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26
- Real-time rendering reacts to movement and light
- Apple updates APIs so developers can adapt apps now
Apple is shaking up the look of its entire ecosystem with a bold new design language: Liquid Glass. The update, which introduces shimmering, transparent glass-like elements, will debut later this year across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26.
Liquid Glass is coming to all of Apple’s software. Image: Apple
Calling it their “broadest design update ever,” Apple’s VP of human interface design Alan Dye explained that Liquid Glass is a unified aesthetic meant to deliver a consistent experience across devices.
Apple just introduced its new “Liquid Glass” design language. A sleek, translucent aesthetic that feels more dynamic and responsive. Rolling out across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, tvOS 261, and visionOS 26, it creates a unified, next-gen look across all Apple… pic.twitter.com/vpwU9TaVxu
— Chris (@QGinfinite) June 9, 2025
How Liquid Glass transforms the Apple experience
Liquid Glass takes inspiration from the company’s visionOS design language, blending soft edges, reflective qualities, and dynamic responsiveness. The design will feel alive — adapting to light, movement, and touch in real time.
On iOS 26, users will first notice the new look on the lockscreen. Swiping up reveals a shimmering glass edge. The dock, camera menus, control buttons, sliders, and navigation elements will all sport the new treatment.
A lot of glass-like effects and animations are coming to iOS 26. Image: Apple
Key system apps like Camera, Photos, Safari, FaceTime, Apple Music, Apple News, and Apple Podcasts are already being updated to embrace Liquid Glass.
apple just introduced “Liquid Glass” design in iOS.
it’s beautiful, futuristic… and completely unreadable.
what are we doing here? 😵💫 pic.twitter.com/ybw8SIxtqh
— Kalash (@amikalash) June 9, 2025
This update follows closely on the heels of Apple’s AI-powered features announcement at WWDC 2025, showing how Apple continues to blend form and function across its ecosystem.
Beyond its aesthetics, Liquid Glass uses real-time rendering to enhance interactivity. As users swipe, scroll, or tilt their devices, the glass elements react dynamically — giving the interface a sense of depth and motion.
Developers will soon gain access to updated APIs, enabling them to adopt Liquid Glass effects within their own apps before the official launch later this year.
Apple’s new “liquid glass” design language is reviving Windows Vista and KDE design language from 20 years ago lol
We’ve come full circle pic.twitter.com/XhewtN99u0
— Purpskurp (@Purpleskurp) June 9, 2025
macOS Tahoe 26 embraces full transparency
On the desktop, macOS Tahoe 26 is getting a similar makeover. The dock, sidebars, toolbars, and even the menu bar will incorporate Liquid Glass design cues.
Apple’s aim is to make the macOS interface feel more open and immersive. The fully transparent menu bar is one standout change, visually extending the usable space of the display.
This marks a significant shift from Apple’s long-standing iOS 7-era flat design. Introduced in 2013, that minimalist aesthetic has largely remained unchanged for more than a decade. Liquid Glass breaks that mold, introducing a more tactile and visually rich style.
macOS Tahoe 26 has lots of Liquid Glass elements, too. Image: Apple
Apple has a long history with glass-inspired UI, dating back to the Aqua theme first seen in iMovie 2 (2000) and more broadly in Mac OS X 10.0 (2001). The recent Big Sur update also leaned into transparency and depth, but Liquid Glass takes these ideas further by making them dynamic and system-wide.
Interestingly, Apple isn’t the only tech giant to embrace transparency. Microsoft introduced Aero Glass in Windows Vista (2007) and continues to evolve its Fluent Design language in Windows 11, which includes 3D and transparent effects.
Meanwhile, the tech world is also witnessing fascinating innovations — from humanoid robots delivering packages to Razer’s Phantom Collection RGB lighting up gaming setups. As new design languages and technologies emerge, the user experience across devices is evolving rapidly.
Additionally, with growing concerns about how AI platforms store conversations, transparency — both in visual design and in data practices — is becoming a key theme in the broader tech industry.
With Liquid Glass, Apple is not just refreshing its UI; it’s setting the stage for a more interactive, immersive digital environment. The update promises not only a fresh look for familiar apps but also a major opportunity (and challenge) for app developers preparing to adopt the new style.
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