Apple iOS 26’s Liquid Glass Design: Apple has once again stirred excitement among its users and tech fans by introducing something fresh and beautiful—the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26. At first glance, this new design looks sleek, smooth, and futuristic, but there’s more to it than just good looks. This change hints at what Apple is planning for the next generation of iPhones, possibly a fully glass-built iPhone that may come out in 2027.
Apple iOS 26’s Liquid Glass Design: A New Look with a Purpose
When Apple launched iOS 26 at WWDC 2025, users noticed a major design shift. Apple calls it Liquid Glass—a transparent, shiny, and flowing look that moves and reacts as you use your phone. While it looks stunning, it feels slightly mismatched with the current iPhones that have flat edges and matte finishes.
But that mismatch is not a mistake. Apple has done this before. In 2013, it introduced flat design before releasing devices with bigger screens and better visuals. Now, the Liquid Glass look is preparing users for what’s coming next—a new type of iPhone that looks and feels more like this software.
What’s Coming: The 2027 ‘Glasswing’ iPhone
If rumours from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman are true, Apple is working on a special iPhone for its 20th anniversary in 2027, codenamed Glasswing. Just like the butterfly it’s named after, this iPhone is expected to have transparent, curved glass on all sides, super thin bezels, and no notch at all.
This new design will finally match the Liquid Glass interface. It’s a return to the harmony we saw in iPhone X (launched in 2017), where the hardware and software worked beautifully together with edge-to-edge glass and smooth corners.
Why Now? And Why Liquid Glass?
Apple has always used software to prepare people for upcoming hardware. In the past, we saw Dark Mode long before OLED screens became common, and rounded icons before curved displays were launched.
Liquid Glass is more than just eye candy. It uses real-time graphics, lighting effects, and reflections that adjust based on how you hold or move the phone. This shows how powerful Apple’s chips have become—and how they’re now ready for devices with more advanced shapes and surfaces.
What’s Special About This Design?
- Translucent materials that shine and reflect light like real glass
- Icons and controls that change based on your movement and background
- Consistent design across all Apple platforms like iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and even tvOS
Apple’s design head Alan Dye explained that Liquid Glass mixes “the beauty of glass with the smoothness only Apple can offer.” It’s clear that Apple is not just giving a design makeover, but also sending a message—get ready for a phone that’s more advanced in both look and feel.
It’s Not Just About Phones
Apple’s design approach is never just about one device. Since Liquid Glass is part of all Apple platforms, it could soon influence Apple Watch, Macs, iPads, and even future AR/VR products. The focus on transparency and real-time interaction could be ideal for devices where the virtual world meets the real one.
How This Affects You
If you’re using an iPhone now, iOS 26 may feel like a big change, even a bit unusual with its glassy animations and curves. But over the next two years, as Apple updates its devices, this design will start to feel normal. By the time the 2027 Glasswing iPhone comes out, it won’t feel like a surprise—it will feel just right.
Final Thoughts
Apple’s Liquid Glass in iOS 26 is more than a fancy new look. It’s a signal of Apple’s future design direction, both in software and hardware. The current iPhones may not yet match the soft, curved feel of this new interface, but the next iPhones will likely change that.
If history is anything to go by, Apple is once again setting the stage early. And when that all-glass iPhone arrives in 2027, it might just feel like the future is finally catching up with the present.
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FAQs
What is Liquid Glass in iOS 26?
It’s Apple’s new design language that uses transparency, curves, and reflections to give a more modern and fluid feel across all devices.
Why does it feel different from current iPhones?
The design looks futuristic and doesn’t fully match the flat-edged iPhones. That’s intentional—it’s made for upcoming devices with curved glass and edge-to-edge screens.
When is the Glasswing iPhone expected?
The Glasswing iPhone is rumoured to launch in 2027 as Apple’s 20th anniversary model.
Will Liquid Glass come to iPads and Macs?
Yes, Apple has rolled out this design across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26.
