After spending an afternoon exploring Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language on my iPhone, I have to say—I don’t hate it. But I also think it needs a bit more refinement before it truly shines. Apple unveiled Liquid Glass at WWDC 2025 for all its devices, and it’s instantly recognizable by its sleek, glassy aesthetic. App icons, tab bars, and even the text magnifier hover-over feature now have a liquid-like, translucent appearance that creates a floating effect over your lock screen wallpaper or text.
The concept is that the “glass” layer allows you to see what’s beneath, giving a sense of depth and translucency. It’s a clever idea that’s beautifully executed in the iOS 26 developer beta, which is currently available. Apple’s signature attention to detail is evident, with subtle flourishes that make the design feel polished—yet, the overall look can be a bit jarring at first glance.
To illustrate this, I compared my lock screen from iOS 18 with the one on my iPhone 16 Pro running the iOS 26 beta. The differences are striking. Even on a grayscale home screen, the transparent and shiny effects make everything look more fluid and bubbly. Once I added back some color, the new design’s playful, glassy icons really stood out.
The Control Center, however, feels a bit cluttered at the moment. Its transparency, paired with the Liquid Glass aesthetic, makes it seem busier and less organized. I hope Apple will introduce more opacity options to improve readability.
The Clock app provides a great example of the finer design details. The bottom tab bar is now rounded, and switching between tabs features an animated water droplet that shifts smoothly across the bar—an elegant, water-inspired effect. Holding the droplet allows you to drag it, adding an interactive touch. The alarm toggle button has also become more oval-shaped, complementing the overall fluid theme.
Other notable updates include the redesigned keyboard, the expanded spacing between settings categories, and the bending effect seen under the URL bar in Safari, all showcasing how Liquid Glass influences various system elements. Even system prompts have a new look, echoing the translucent, liquid style.
Initially, I wasn’t a fan of the bold changes—surprising, since I usually embrace UI updates. But after a few hours with the beta, my perspective is shifting. The Liquid Glass design is growing on me. My iPhone still functions as expected, though I have some small gripes about spacing and readability. I believe Apple will continue to refine these elements before iOS 26 officially launches this fall.
Overall, Liquid Glass is an ambitious and visually stunning redesign that promises to bring a fresh, modern feel to iOS. With some tweaks, it’s poised to become a defining feature of Apple’s interface in the years to come.
