Apple Unveils New Software Design, Leveraging Liquid Glass
Apple has unveiled its most comprehensive software design update yet, introducing a new visual style across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 261. At the core of this redesign is a new material called Liquid Glass, a translucent, dynamic interface layer that reflects and refracts its surroundings, adapting fluidly to content and context.
Key features include:
- Liquid Glass: A new material that mimics real glass, reacting in real time with highlights and color shifts based on ambient content, enhancing clarity and focus throughout the user interface.
- Unified design language: The redesign spans all Apple platforms, harmonizing aesthetics while preserving platform-specific identities.
- Updated UI elements: Buttons, sliders, tab bars, sidebars, and controls have been reimagined to feel more organic and modern, often morphing or shrinking dynamically to prioritize content.
- Enhanced system experiences: The Lock Screen, Home Screen, and Dock are updated with layered Liquid Glass elements, improving both visual appeal and functionality.
- Developer tools: Apple has released updated APIs for SwiftUI, UIKit, and AppKit to help developers easily adopt the new design elements.
The design takes cues from visionOS, emphasizing dimensionality and depth, and leverages Apple’s hardware and graphics advancements. It enhances user experience by making interactions feel more intuitive, immersive, and personal, all while preserving the familiarity Apple users expect.