Apple Introduces "Glass Design" in Major Operating System Overhaul After 12 Years

"The Most Extensive Design Overhaul Ever"
Introduction of Glass-like 'Liquid Glass'
Expanded Screen and Continuous User Experience

The software installed on Apple devices such as the iPhone and iPad is undergoing a major transformation for the first time in 12 years. The translucent design called "Liquid Glass," inspired by glass, will be introduced across all areas including the lock screen, sidebar, and buttons.

On June 9 (local time), Apple held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) at its headquarters in Cupertino, California, and announced the newly updated software that will be available starting this fall. Apple stated that it will apply the new Liquid Glass design to its devices. Liquid Glass is a design that combines the optical properties of glass with a sense of fluidity. Features such as the lock screen, sidebar, and buttons are all visually rendered as translucent. This marks a significant departure from the somewhat rigid design used until now.

For example, on the lock screen, the "time" display, which was previously fixed at the top and partially obscured the screen, will now appear as translucent and move dynamically. This eliminates any obstructed areas, creating the effect of an expanded screen. In the case of notifications, unlike before when the background was covered, the background will now remain visible. All notifications will be rendered as translucent.

Alan Dye, Vice President of Human Interface Design at Apple, explained, "If iOS7, released in June 2013, introduced a clean design and smooth animation effects, it is now time to move to the next stage," adding, "This software design update will be applied to the broadest range of areas in history."

Liquid Glass will be applied not only to the iPhone, but also to the iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and the mixed reality (MR) headset Vision Pro?across all Apple devices.

In addition, Apple announced that it will unify its previously separate operating systems?iOS18, iPadOS18, watchOS11, and visionOS2?under the name iOS26, corresponding to the release year. Apple will begin releasing the new operating system starting in October, when the new fiscal year begins.