iOS 26 and Liquid Glass bring a new design language and feature set to iPhones.
Credit: Apple / Mashable Photo Composite
With iOS 26, Apple is betting big on its new Liquid Glass design language. According to Mashable’s Christian de Looper, it’s essentially a system-wide facelift: software elements layer and shimmer like real glass, giving apps and widgets a sleeker, more natural look. In his view, it’s not just cosmetic either — controls in apps like Safari and Camera feel more streamlined, putting the essentials front and center without unnecessary clutter.
De Looper notes that the lock screen is where Liquid Glass really shines. Notifications, widgets, and the clock all adopt translucent and colored glass effects, while new spatial scenes add a subtle 3D parallax effect. Combined with a full-screen music mode that puts album art front and center, he argues the lock screen feels fresher and more immersive than it has in years.
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