During WWDC 25, Apple announced a drastic renewal for all Apple devices. The software updates will introduce a completely new interface for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV.
With effect from iOS 26, iPados 26, Macos Tahoe, Watchos 26 and TVOS 26, Apple heralds a new era. Since iOS 7, the design, design and looks of the software has remained more or less the same, but after twelve years that will finally change.
Apple’s largest iPhone update ever
For years it has been rumored that Apple would like to renew the interface of its platforms, but such a design change is not easy to implement. After all, users have to get used to a new design and if it is too drastic it works to the disadvantage of Apple. Yet the company is now ready for the largest iPhone update ever!
iOS 26, iPados 26, MacOS 26, Watchos 26 and TVOS 26 get a new look. This is immediately reflected in the style of symbols, menus, apps, windows and system buttons. New icons, fonts, user interface elements and more is also used.
Biggest innovation since iOS 7
The new interface is the biggest renewal since iOS 7 from 2013. At the time, iOS 7 introduced a drastic redesign of the iPhone software with new icons, fonts, user interface elements and more.
The current design is now about 12 years old. Of course it has been renewed little by little in recent years, but major changes in the field of design have failed. The symbols, menus, apps, windows and system buttons are basically still the same as iOS 7.
The access screen, home screen and control panel has changed considerably in recent years. In this way it has become more personal and provided with widgets and shortcuts. However, this relates more to functionality, while the design determines more what the elements will look like.
Liquid Glass: a new technique
The new design is inspired by the depth and dimensionality of Visionos and uses the powerful progress that Apple has made in the field of hardware, silicon processors and graphic technologies. The new Technology Liquid Glass is translucent and looks just like real glass. The color of the surrounding content is reflected on it and the technology also adapts to light and dark environments.
Liquid Glass stems from close collaboration between the designers and technicians from Apple and uses real -time rendering techniques to respond dynamically to movement. This provides a lively look that makes iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV even more pleasant to use.
This beautiful new technology is applied to the smallest elements that you use every day – buttons, controllers, text and media controls – and also to the larger ones, such as the tabbeams and navigation columns with which you navigate in apps. The technology is also applied to system elements such as the access screen, the home screen, the control panel, notifications and much more.
Inspired by Visionos
The new interface is loosely based on Visionos and is characterized by glassy, transparent elements, rounded buttons and floating menus. This emphasizes the simplicity, which is good for the user experience. The way of operating for some apps has also been taken into account. For example, various apps have become more minimalist and options are hidden behind extra menus. For example, you can see that immediately in the new camera app for iPhone and iPad.
New app designs
Regelers, task beams and navigation buttons within apps have been renewed. These were first designed for rectangular displays, but now they fit perfectly with the round corners of modern hardware and app windows. For example, hardware, software and content are better coordinated. Regelers consist of liquid glass and form a separate functional layer that is placed above apps.
If you need more options or want to navigate to another part of an app, the controllers automatically adapt. You can also group them so that you have the right regulators at hand more easily.
Tabbeams and navigation columns have also been renewed with the same approach. In iOS 26, tabbeams become smaller when you scroll, so that you see the content better and the navigation options remain in the picture. If you then scroll up again, the tabbeams get bigger again.
In iPados and MacOS you go even more in apps such as Apple TV thanks to the new navigation columns. They distort the underlying content, while reflecting the content and background around it. This way you always have an idea of the context.
Apps such as camera, photos, safari, facetime, Apple Music, Apple News and Apple Podcasts have a completely new look because of the new design.
Camera app with new design
An app where the new design comes into its own is the completely redesigned camera app for iPhone. In recent years, Apple has added various new functions including night mode, photographic styles, camera controls, spatial photos, film mode, etc. These were always stuck and eventually it became unclear. Apple has now tackled this with a completely new design for the camera app.
The design of the camera application has become calmer with more space for the camera image. At the top, the buttons remain visible to flash, shared photo library and live photos.
At the bottom, only the shutter button, choice between video or photo, changing lenses and a shortcut for recently taken photos can be found. Swipe to the left or right on the video/photo button to switch between the different modes or tap the button to open an extra menu with all camera options.
Available on all platforms
In recent years, Apple has done its best to coordinate the interface of its platforms, but they didn’t really have a universal look. By using the same design language on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch, switching between devices feels much more natural.
All buttons, menus and icons now have the same appearance, so you don’t have to get used to another interface. This visual approach makes the interface lighter, more contemporary and more consistent on all Apple devices.