Liquid Glass
 |
| Developer(s) | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Initial release | June 9, 2025 |
| Operating system | iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, watchOS |
| Type | Design language software |
| Website | developer |
Liquid Glass is a graphical user interface and design language developed by Apple as a unified visual theme across its iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS operating systems. It was first announced on June 9, 2025, at the 7th annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Liquid Glass features a more fluid and glass-like interface being introduced in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, and watchOS 26.[1]
Principles
[edit]Apple describes Liquid Glass as a dynamic material that combines the "optical properties of glass with a sense of fluidity".[2] According to Apple's updated Human Interface Guidelines, apps made with Liquid Glass should showcase hierarchy between the content and controls, harmony across interface elements and devices, and consistency across various window sizes and displays.[3]
The new material automatically changes around its environment by reflecting and refracting light in a way that would resemble glass. The digital substance is transparent, which contrasts with the outer highlights of the shape it takes.[4]
Implementation
[edit]Liquid Glass is being used in older iOS 18 components such as text, sliders, toggles, alerts, panels, sidebars, search fields, buttons, menus, and toolbars, and well as replacing the old frosted glass design.[3]
Liquid Glass can also be found in the default apps, in the home screen,[5] and other third-party apps. The design is said to be influenced by the Aqua interface of macOS, real-time gaussian blurring in iOS 7, the motion in iPhone X and the Dynamic Island in the iPhone 14 Pro, and the glass-like UI of visionOS.[6]
Reception
[edit]Reception of the design was mostly positive, however concerns of readability of the interface were raised.[7] Moreover, many critics and social media users noted that it had design elements associated with previous design aesthetics such as Frutiger Aero and Windows Aero, which was popularized by Windows Vista.[8][9][10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Cunningham, Andrew (June 9, 2025). "Apple's macOS 26 Tahoe has new Liquid Glass look, customizable folders, and more". Ars Technica. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ "Liquid Glass". Apple Developer Documentation. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ a b "Human Interface Guidelines". Apple Developer Documentation. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ "Meet Liquid Glass - WWDC25 - Videos". Apple Developer. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ Peters, Jay (June 10, 2025). "Apple's Liquid Glass was a wild change to my iPhone". The Verge. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ "Meet Liquid Glass - WWDC25 - Videos". Apple Developer. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ Rogers, Reece. "'Beautiful' and 'Hard to Read': Designers React to Apple's Liquid Glass Update". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ "All the key updates for Apple iOS 26, as seen at WWDC 2025". www.hardwarezone.com.sg. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ Pierce, David (June 9, 2025). "Apple's Liquid Glass redesign doesn't look like much". The Verge. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ "iOS 26 liquid glass: Here's why Windows Vista jokes are trending". Hindustan Times. June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
External links
[edit]- "Apple introduces a delightful and elegant new software design". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
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