A New Era of Aesthetic and Functional Innovation

Apple has launched iOS 26, introducing a groundbreaking design language known as Liquid Glass, marking one of the most significant interface overhauls since the shift from skeuomorphic to flat design in 2013. This new design incorporates a translucent, glass-like material across various iOS elements, including buttons, sliders, media controls, switches, notifications, tab bars, app sidebars, and system experiences like the Control Center, Home Screen, and Lock Screen. Inspired by mixed-reality (AR/VR) devices such as the Apple Vision Pro, the Liquid Glass design hints at a future where iOS might run on smart glasses, a product Apple is reportedly developing.

The design opens up new avenues for personalization, with features like clear icons, glassy widgets, and a glassy typeface for the Lock Screen that supports 3D photos. Users can now customize their icons with light or dark glass, tinted glass, or clear icons, offering a more refined and visually appealing experience. iOS 26 also introduces “Matched Icons,” allowing users to align their icons with their iPhone’s color or an official Apple MagSafe case. This feature leverages the iPhone’s SKU to determine its model and color, ensuring a seamless match with the device or case.

For wallpaper and layout, users are no longer limited to matching their Lock Screen and Home Screen backgrounds. The iOS 26 update allows for greater flexibility, encouraging users to explore creative options through platforms like Pinterest or third-party theming apps. Additionally, the ability to place icons and widgets anywhere on the Home Screen, while still adhering to an invisible grid system, provides a more organized and personalized layout. This feature, first introduced in iOS 18, allows users to leave blank spaces between icons, preserving parts of the wallpaper that they find visually appealing.

Widgets have also received a glassy makeover, with third-party apps like Brass, Color Themes, Screenkit, Themify, Widgetsmith, and Launcher offering unique and customizable options. Widgy, in particular, has emerged as a leading tool for users who want to create and import custom widgets without prior design experience. The app allows users to add elements, adjust colors and effects, and connect data sources, making it easier than ever to personalize the Home Screen. Some designers even sell curated Widgy widget collections on their websites, offering a range of styles and themes to suit different preferences.

The Lock Screen has seen a major transformation with the introduction of Liquid Glass, featuring a dynamic San Francisco typeface that adapts to the image and notifications on the screen. The new Spatial Scenes feature uses computer vision techniques running on a neural engine to give 2D photos a 3D effect, enhancing the visual experience without requiring the latest iPhone model. This means users can take advantage of the feature with older photos or images taken on other devices, making it more accessible than ever before.

Beyond aesthetics, the Liquid Glass design also brings functional improvements. The tinted icons from iOS 18, which initially faced some user complaints, have been refined in iOS 26 to feel more subtle and integrated with the overall design. Users can now use the eyedropper tool to pick the exact color from their wallpaper to match their icons or adjust sliders to tweak the color or opacity, giving them more control over the visual harmony of their device.

With these updates, iOS 26 not only elevates the aesthetic appeal of Apple devices but also enhances user interaction and personalization, setting a new standard for mobile operating systems. As users continue to explore the possibilities of Liquid Glass, the future of iOS customization looks more vibrant and dynamic than ever.