Upcoming iOS update set to completely change appearance of our iPhone screens

Apple is giving its software design a major shakeup with a new iOS update: iOS 26.

The operating systems across various Apple devices are all getting the same design refresh, bringing more consistency without losing what makes each one unique.

At the center of it all is a brand-new visual element called Liquid Glass: a translucent, responsive material that adapts to your content and surroundings.

It’s sleek, it’s interactive, and possibly Apple’s boldest design shift in years.

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Previously, there were rumors that Apple’s next iOS update would overhaul its software completely.

While the new iOS 26 may not have gone to such extremes, there are still significant changes introduced.

And Liquid Glass is undoubtedly the highlight of the new iOS update.

It is a new visual material that’s translucent, responsive, and behaves a bit like real glass.

That is if real glass also reacted to your scrolling and changed color with your wallpaper.

This new design style brings a sense of depth and movement, reacting dynamically to your device’s environment and content.

Think of it like glass that subtly reflects its surroundings, refracts content behind it, and adjusts depending on light or dark mode.

The redesign affects everything from small interface elements, like switches, buttons, and sliders, to larger parts of the system such as tab bars, sidebars, and even the Lock and Home Screens.

Navigation elements now shrink or expand based on scrolling, creating a sense of focus without sacrificing usability.

For example, in iOS 26, tab bars smoothly tuck themselves out of the way as you scroll through content, only to reappear when you scroll up again.

On iPads and Macs, redesigned sidebars subtly reflect your wallpaper and content, blending form with function.

The technology giant says it was inspired by the immersive qualities of visionOS, used in the futuristic Apple Vision Pro.

Everything feels a little more three-dimensional, and a little more alive.

Even the Mac’s menu bar is now fully transparent, helping the desktop feel larger and more open.

App icons and widgets are also getting the Liquid Glass treatment.

On macOS Tahoe 26, users can choose from new looks for their icons.

You can pick a sleek clear finish, a subtle dark tint, or colorful themes that respond to light and dark modes.

It provides personalization with polish, and it brings more visual consistency across apps and platforms.

For developers, Apple is also providing updated APIs in SwiftUI, UIKit, and AppKit to help apps take advantage of the new look.

They’ll be able to integrate Liquid Glass effects, updated controls, and redesigned navigation patterns without reinventing the wheel.

So while this might be Apple’s biggest visual refresh in years, it’s not about reinventing everything.

Rather, it’s about refining what’s already there.

Given that there are rumors that Apple is about to launch an iPhone Ultra, it will be interesting to see whether Apple will continue this more subtle approach.

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