Apple Unveils iOS 26 and Liquid Glass Design at WWDC 2025

WWDC 2025 marked a pivotal moment for Apple, unveiling iOS 26 with the most dramatic design transformation since 2013. The new Liquid Glass interface introduces a shiny, translucent, and reflective aesthetic that adapts dynamically to light and content, creating a visually immersive experience that feels like interacting with real glass.

This design overhaul extends across Apple’s ecosystem, including macOS 26 (codenamed Tahoe), iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26, all adopting the Liquid Glass theme. Apple also shifted its naming convention to use the year, reflecting a more unified and forward-looking branding strategy.

One standout addition is the dedicated Games app, designed to centralize gaming on Apple devices. It offers a launcher, achievement tracking, leaderboards, and social features like "Play Together" and "Challenges," fostering a more connected and competitive gaming community.

watchOS 26 introduces a redesigned interface with Liquid Glass visuals, a wrist-flick gesture, and an AI-powered Workout Buddy to enhance fitness tracking. Apple TV’s update includes a sleek interface, quick profile switching, and a new karaoke feature, enhancing family entertainment experiences.

iPadOS 26 brings Mac-like capabilities to the tablet, including a powerful Preview feature with markup tools, Apple Pencil integration, and flexible image export options. visionOS 26 supports new accessories like the Logitech Muse stylus and PlayStation VR2 Sense controller, expanding AR/VR interaction possibilities.

Apple also enhanced AirPods with studio-quality audio recording and camera remote control, while CarPlay gains widgets, live activities, and improved messaging features like tapback responses and pinned conversations, improving in-car connectivity and convenience.

Additional updates include travel-friendly features in Apple Wallet, polls in iMessages, lyrics translation and pronunciation, and Maps learning your commute patterns, all designed to enhance everyday usability and personalization across Apple’s ecosystem.

Despite these advances, Apple continues to face pressure to catch up in AI capabilities and address ongoing legal challenges related to its App Store. However, the bold design and feature updates in iOS 26 and related platforms demonstrate Apple’s commitment to evolving user experience and ecosystem integration.