Apple's Liquid Glass redesign marks the beginning of a new era for the visual identity of the Californian giant's operating systems. Presented at WWDC 2025, this visual language accompanies the leap to iOS 26 and extends across the entire ecosystem, also encompassing iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. For Apple, the goal is clear: to create a more immersive, coherent, and modern experience.
However, the arrival of the Liquid Glass design has not gone unnoticed. The company has faced criticisms and doubts from the user community, as not everyone is convinced by the advantages of the new translucent effects and the return of certain reminiscences of skeuomorphism, mixed with a modern aesthetic based on realistic glass and visual depth.
What is Liquid Glass really?
The concept of Liquid glass seeks to make the interface feel almost tangible, as if interacting through a glass that responds to light and the movement of the device. This redesign introduces transparency layers in menus, bars, and controls, offering sensations of depth that transform the perception of the screen. Apple defines the proposal as “crystalline, fluid, and alive,” with the aim of making the user feel greater closeness and prominence when using their products.
Among the most notable elements of Liquid Glass are the dynamic controls that adapt to context and navigation, redesigned icons with layers and different degrees of transparency and, in general, greater visual coherence across all devices. Furthermore, rounded corners and smooth shapes have been chosen to reflect the hardware's unique language, integrating the aesthetics across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other platforms.
One of the most relevant changes is that, for For the first time, the update has the same number on all platforms (26), leaving behind traditional incremental numbering to align it with the year of publication and strengthen the cohesion of the ecosystem.
User reception and controversy over readability
The arrival of Liquid Glass has not convinced everyone. Many users have shown their discontent in forums and social networks, especially for what they consider a poor readability in elements like excessively transparent notifications, poorly defined edges, and a lock screen where the background and text can blur together. These complaints add to concerns about how the new design affects the battery consumption. See what's new in iOS 26 at WWDC 2025.
The skeuomorphic inspiration of the past partially returns, but the big difference with previous versions lies in the integration of transparencies and depth effects over the entire interface. While some appreciate the revamp and the focus on immersion, others feel that does not compensate for the loss of visual clarity and which can make it difficult to use in varied lighting conditions or for users with accessibility needs.
For now, Apple doesn't allow you to completely disable the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26., a decision that has sparked debate. Although there are options in the accessibility settings to reduce transparency or increase contrast, it's not possible to fully return to the classic aesthetic. The company doesn't rule out future revisions, but, at least initially, it will be necessary to adapt to the new look if it is updated.
Features, compatibility and associated new features
Liquid Glass arrives accompanied by new features powered by artificial intelligence under the umbrella of Apple Intelligence, which offer Smart summaries, accurate translations, and personalized predictive assistance. These functions are mainly run on the device to ensure the privacy, in line with the firm's commitment. You can find more information about how these changes affect security at strengthening security in FaceTime.
The accessibility improvements These allow you to adjust transparency and contrast levels, providing partial solutions for those who don't easily adapt to the new design's aesthetics. Furthermore, the changes aren't limited to the iPhone: CarPlay gets a major visual overhaul, including compact calling and customizable widgets Liquid Glass-style, while iPadOS improves multitasking and macOS refines Spotlight and call and message management.
The adoption of an annual and aligned numbering On systems like iOS 26, macOS 26, and watchOS 26, it helps simplify the update experience and reinforces the perception of a cohesive ecosystem. This ensures that apps, widgets, and navigation flows have a consistent look, regardless of the device used.
Why has Apple opted for Liquid Glass and version unification?
The shift toward a unified design reflects Apple's strategy to enhance continuity and interoperability across devices. Aesthetic and functional integration makes all platforms feel like part of the same environment, easing the transition between iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or Apple Vision Pro. From menus to widgets, they all follow the same visual and behavioral lines, reinforcing the perception of a seamless ecosystem.
The unification of the numbering with the number 26, instead of maintaining the traditional incremental sequence, has the purpose of synchronize the software with the release yearThis simplifies development for programmers and communication with users, while projecting an image of continuous innovation across the entire product line. For more details, see the impact on other systems with Liquid Glass.
Liquid Glass and the new operating systems represent an ambitious proposition: offering a fresh look, integrating more AI, and providing a cutting-edge user experience that combines visual innovation with functionality. Although it hasn't convinced everyone, Apple's commitment marks a decisive step toward more immersive interfaces, seeking to differentiate itself in an increasingly competitive market and respond to innovative ways of interacting with technology.
