Apple is ushering in a new era, and tipped as the biggest overhaul in recent memory, iOS 26 is the big one. Gone is the classic numbering system, and iOS 19 is out. Instead, future iOS updates will be named after specific years, starting with iOS 26 launching later in 2025.
WWDC 2025 promised to deliver, and while not everyone was impressed by what Apple has been cooking up in its development kitchen, there's no denying the reveal has got everyone talking.
The big one is the Liquid Glass update, which gives everything a glossy new look, offers more screen space than before, and includes tab bars shrinking when you scroll down before re-expanding when you scroll up. There's a translucent look that's designed to reflect and refract what's behind it while also adapting tint for light and dark modes depending on your iPhone.
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Pitched as the biggest change to Apple UI since iOS 7 ditched the skeuomorphic look, Liquid Glass is proving to be a divisive one. Various tech bros have waded into the conversation, with product designer Allan Yu saying it's 'hard to read'. As reported by Wired, Yu said: "It's hard to read some of it. Mainly because I think they made it too transparent." He suggests that Apple bump up the blur or adjust the background to make on-screen designs pop more. Elon Musk has also shared his thoughts, and even though it's not known what device the world's richest man uses, he's previously spoken about his admiration for iPhone and iPad. Giving us a typically blunt response, Musk simply said 'cool' as he shared a post from Apple CEO Tim Cook about Liquid Glass.
Not everyone agreed with Musk's musings, as one critic wrote: "Man, how’s that cool? Seriously. Is that what you’d expect from a $3T company?
“Maybe the fan boys? But a person that build huge rockets into space cares about this and think it’s cool? I wish you’d be more consistent with your values and approach … but you do you."
Another complained: "It is just transparency repackaged as a ‘new invention’ and sold to stupid people at a premium."
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A third said: "I don't know man. I could never get into the iOS. I mean this doesn't seem that great. I could probably get a theme on Android that does the same. And it's just not me, there is a reason 80% of the market is Android."
Someone else joked: "NASA Shill GenX ft.1981 🇺🇸🇫🇷🇮🇱🇺🇦 @Stephen_Agnew · 13h I can’t help but notice that Apple’s new design language is inspired by ‘glass’, which means that Apple’s new design language is literally windows. We’ve come full circle, gents. 😝🤷🏻♂️."
It's clear the jury is still out on Liquid Glass, but with a lack of innovation on the Apple Intelligence front alongside no real updates on the long-delayed Siri 2.0, some are accusing Apple of hiding its missteps under some fancy new wrapping.
Love or loathe Liquid Glass, at least Apple is going with a unified design across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Vision Pro, and Apple TV.