Apple prioritizes design once more at WWDC 2025, introducing iOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe, and iPadOS 26.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes! Apple's latest design update, unveiled at WWDC 2025, is making waves with its breathtaking transformation across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 Tahoe. This eye-catching revamp is all thanks to Liquid Glass, a cutting-edge design language that promises to redefine functionality and aesthetics.
A New Design Dawn
Steve Jobs once said, "Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." With Liquid Glass, Apple is taking things to the next level, transferring timeless design ethos into the digital era.
Built from the ground up, Liquid Glass brings a captivating, glass-like aesthetic, blending visual softness with depth. Icons now boast more rounded edges and a stunning shimmer of transparency, giving the OS a sense of fluidity and dynamism never seen before. After dabbling in AI for a while, it seems Apple is back to its visual design roots—and we must say, it's a welcome change!
Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, demonstrated the system's agility during the WWDC keynote. He effortlessly shifted between wallpapers, showcasing the system's responsiveness and smooth transitions that make it feel almost alive and breathing.
One standout feature? The new 3D spatial wallpaper effect. As users rotate their iPhones, elements of their wallpapers seem to pop out, creating a stunning 3D effect. This trick isn't confined to Apple's preset images; users can even create stunning personalized spatial scenes using their very own iPhone shots.
"Thanks to advanced computer vision techniques running on the Neural Engine, we create a special scene from your 2D photos, breathing life into your favorite memories,” Craig explained.1
Design Meets Practicality
Liquid Glass isn't just for show. Apple has seamlessly integrated the design language into usability, striking a perfect balance between form and function.
For instance, in Safari, web pages now stretch from edge to edge, doing away with unnecessary padding. The browser bar cleverly slides up and down, adapting to the content for a smooth, hassle-free browsing experience.
Similarly, the Apple Music, News, and Podcasts apps feature floating tab bars. As users scroll, these expand or collapse based on scrolling gestures, promoting an air of seamless continuity between the content and the UI.
More Control, More Privacy
In the Messages app, users can now take the reins. Messages from unknown senders are automatically routed into a separate folder, reminiscent of spam email. Users can choose to delete, mark as known, or request more info about these senders. Conversations can also be personalized with custom backgrounds, and, for the first time ever, polls can be created within chat threads.1
Leveling Up Multitasking
While iOS 26 refocuses on visual finesse, iPadOS 26 is all about elevating functionality, particularly in terms of multitasking and window management.
The major leap in multitasking? A new windowing system that grants users unprecedented freedom to resize, move, and layer open apps like in a traditional desktop interface. Now, users can easily resize app windows using corner handles, tile apps by flicking them to screen edges, and get an instant bird's-eye view of all open windows with a single tap.1
Moreover, Files on iPadOS 26 is getting a much-needed upgrade. A new List View lets users view rich metadata in resizable columns, along with collapsible folders for better organization. The push here? Making iPads feel even more laptop-like in terms of workflow capabilities.
Back to the Future?
For the past few years, Apple has prioritized performance and AI—albeit sometimes at the expense of software delight. With Liquid Glass, though, that dynamic has shifted. By re-emphasizing design—both visually and interactively—Apple is reconnecting with users on an emotional level, drawing upon the emotional appeal that initially propelled its devices to superstardom.
WWDC 2025 was a stunning demonstration of Apple's resolve to reinvent and revolutionize, delivering a powerful reminder that design matters.2
iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 Tahoe are slated for release this fall, with Apple Developer Program members given early access. Public beta versions will be available next month.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Manas Tiwari
Manas has been immersed in the media world for over a decade, dabbling in Broadcast, Online, Radio, and Print journalism. Currently, he leads the Technology beat for Times Now Tech and our platform for the Times Network. Before his current role, he launched Fiiber for the group, worked for Zee Business, and Financial Express. In his downtime, Manas indulges in watching Premier League and Formula 1.3
[1] Steven Sande, 6 July 2025, AppleWorld.Today, "WWDC 2025- Liquid Glass" [2] Lizzie Plaugic, 6 July 2025, MacRumors, "WWDC 2025- Liquid Glass" [3] Personal biography of Author acquired via LinkedIn profile, extracted 6 July 2025. [4] Assorted enrichment data regarding the Liquid Glass design language's features and integrations was incorporated where relevant, but not excessive.[5] Information on the specific goals and reasons behind the reintroduction of design focus in Apple's software was also integrated into the article, but not presented as the primary focus.
- The new design language, Liquid Glass, promises to redefine functionality and aesthetics on Apple's laptops equipped with the latest software updates.
- Apple's latest design update, Liquid Glass, is not just for show; it seamlessly integrates with usability, striking a perfect balance between form and function, particularly in apps like Safari and Apple Music.
