Apple has a new Liquid Glass design coming to iOS 26, macOS 26, and every other software platform.And whether you love it, hate it, or are indifferent, Apple’s new design seems like a major win in several key ways.Software redesigns are risky, but Apple accepted the challenge Whenever software gets redesigned, it’s a risky move.
Apple knows that from last year’s big Photos app revamp, which many users were not a fan of.Because of the risks associated with big changes, I wasn’t sure we would ever see the arrival of a new iOS overhaul.Yet Apple saw fit to tackle not only iOS, but also macOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS with this year’s Liquid Glass redesign.
Talk about a tall task.Somehow though, based on what Apple has shown publicly, I think Liquid Glass could be a huge win for the company and its users.With iOS 26 and its companion releases, Apple has managed to craft a new design that checks four important boxes.
Four ways iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design succeeds iOS 26 is still in beta and will no doubt change before its release date.However, just based on what Apple has shown publicly, I’m calling it a win.Apple’s new Liquid Glass design achieves four things.
It’s simultaneously: Fresh and fun, giving Apple’s products a ‘new’ shine Still very familiar, not too jarring for users Unifying of various products for a better cross-platform experience And it preps for future hardware in the works That’s a lot to pull off with one redesign, but I think Apple’s done it.Whether or not Liquid Glass is an objective improvement over prior designs, I’ll leave others to answer.Everyone has their own opinion.
But undoubtedly the new design provides a fresh, new look and feel for Apple products that’s nice to have.Yet at the same time, everything still works similarly to how it did before.There’s little about the new design that requires a fresh learning curve, unlike iOS 18’s Photos app.
Apple has also unified its various platforms in a big way.Ecosystem has long been a strength for Apple, and with the Liquid Glass design, moving between different products will feel more seamless than ever.Finally, this design was no doubt crafted with future hardware in mind, too.
What better match for Liquid Glass than a pair of Apple Glasses? Or an iPhone that’s all screen? In one impressive swing, Apple looks to pull off a huge win with its new design.Let’s check back in September to see how the masses really respond.What are your thoughts on Apple’s new Liquid Glass design in iOS 26? Let us know in the comments.
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