Apple's unveiling of the new Liquid Glass design language at WWDC 2025 marks one of the biggest shifts in its software aesthetic since the introduction of flat design with iOS 7 in 2013. This time, Apple is drawing inspiration from the immersive, fluid visuals of visionOS, originally developed for the Apple Vision Pro, and extending that ethos to iOS 26, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS.
Key Features of Liquid Glass:
-
Translucent, glass-like interface: The UI is designed to resemble physical glass — refractive, reflective, and dynamic based on context and content.
-
Responsive materials: UI elements now have a sense of depth and movement, adjusting based on app usage, focus, and user environment.
-
Consistent design language: Whether you're on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, you'll experience the same visual feel, which Apple says will enhance continuity and ease of use across devices.
Design Philosophy:
According to Alan Dye, Apple's VP of Design, the Liquid Glass concept “transforms depending on your content or even your context,” introducing adaptive UI behaviors—something potentially enabled by AI-driven interfaces in tandem with Apple Intelligence.
Craig Federighi called it the "broadest design update ever," indicating not just cosmetic changes but deeper UX overhauls including improved navigation, interactions, and more immersive transitions.
Compatibility Concerns:
Apple hasn't yet released specifics on hardware support. Based on previous rollouts:
-
Older devices may receive a toned-down version of Liquid Glass (reduced transparency, static backgrounds).
-
Newer devices, particularly those with M-series chips or A18 and above, will likely unlock the full visual potential of this design.
This approach mirrors past transitions where older iPhones didn’t support all effects due to GPU limitations (e.g., iOS 7’s parallax effects were restricted).
Strategic Significance:
-
Apple is aligning desktop, mobile, wearable, and spatial computing into one coherent design vision.
-
Liquid Glass might also be laying the groundwork for future AR interfaces, where spatial UI concepts are vital.
What to Expect Next:
-
iOS 26 public beta is likely to drop in July 2025, with the full release in September alongside the iPhone 17 series.
-
Developers will begin updating their apps with Liquid Glass design guidelines soon, with WWDC sessions and documentation already made available.
In short, Apple is not just refreshing the look of its software — it's redefining how users interact with it across every device. The aesthetic is more than visual; it’s contextual, adaptive, and firmly future-facing.
