Apple’s next operating system lineup will feature glassy, shiny elements, the tech giant announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9. The redesign, which was detailed in rumors earlier in the week, is aptly called “Liquid Glass.”
Mark Gurman, Bloomberg’s Apple insider, predicted that the new design would include “sheen and see-through visuals of a glassy surface.” The prediction was proven true on Tuesday, with Apple showing off toolbars, in-app interfaces, and controls with “transparency and shine effects.”
Gurman first said that Apple was planning a major visual overhaul of all its operating systems last month. At the time, he said the new, more modern look will be called “Solarium” and be based on the current design for visionOS. Apple’s goal, according to both Gurman and Apple SVP Software Engineering Craig Federighi, is to create a more cohesive user experience across its ecosystem, enabling users to transition between devices without a significant visual shift.
The iPhone has not seen a significant visual redesign since iOS 7, when Apple introduced a flat, minimalist design that replaced the skeuomorphic elements of earlier versions.
Gurman also claimed that the new operating system design is meant to accompany the release of a special 20th anniversary iPhone edition. The device will have “curved glass sides around the entire phone, even at the edges,” as well as “extraordinarily slim bezels and no cutout section in the screen.” This will match the glassy nature of the operating system redesign. Apple has not revealed this anticipated device as of Monday.
The new iPhone is reportedly internally nicknamed “Glasswing,” a reference to a butterfly with transparent wings. However, the device is unlikely to launch until 2027, and no other new Apple hardware is expected to arrive until autumn as part of a new iPhone release schedule.
New operating system names, but little new AI
Along with a new look, each operating system will adopt a new naming convention based on the year of release, with the next being iOS 26. By naming each system after the following year, Apple hopes to give itself more flexibility to roll out updates that remain timely, especially as it plans to do so more frequently going forward, Gurman said.
The next macOS 26 is named macOS Tahoe, after Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada, as the lake’s mirror-like reflection of the blue sky and mountains is a nod to the system’s new visuals. iOS 26 will drop support for the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, and the iPad will be given a more Mac-like interface with a more flexible window setup.
Gurman added that Apple wants all its platforms to have a “futuristic” look to “convince users it’s an AI player and shift the conversation away from the technology itself.” Apple has notably struggled to compete with the likes of OpenAI and Google in the AI arena. The tech giant announced only incremental changes to AI features at WWDC on Monday, such as bringing visual intelligence to the entire iPhone and developers being able use on-device AI for their apps.
Rumours indicate that AI will be used to improve battery optimisation, Siri’s conversational abilities, and offer live translation with AirPods. Additionally, third-party developers were given access to Apple’s models to support new app development.
Looking further ahead, there are also early signals of longer-term AI projects, such as augmented reality glasses and a revamped Health app with a virtual wellness coach, though these are not expected until 2026.
TechnologyAdvice staff writer Megan Crouse contributed to this article.
