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Liquid Glass Takes Over: Why Apple Focused on Aesthetic Over Functionality at WWDC 2025

  • Writer: Sean G
    Sean G
  • Jun 27
  • 2 min read


At WWDC 2025, Apple unveiled Liquid Glass, a sweeping aesthetic redesign across its entire ecosystem—iOS 26, macOS Tahoe, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS. With translucent, glass-like layers, dynamic blur, and depth-rich visual effects, Apple’s design team led by VP Alan Dye called it their “broadest software design update ever”.


Inspired by the visual language of visionOS, Liquid Glass brings a renewed skeuomorphic touch—rounded controls, frosted panels, and light-responsive transparency—that makes the entire interface feel fluid and alive. The visual polish extends from icons and tab bars to Control Center and Sidebars, reflecting real-world light and reacting to movement.


Despite the rumored trend toward AI, Apple opted to center the update around design, signaling their belief that a harmonious, beautiful UI can elevate everyday experiences — even without dramatic new features.


Liquid Glass Apple
The Appeal: A Digital Masterpiece

  • Visual Unity: Liquid Glass unifies Apple’s OS line-up under one polished design aesthetic, a move that eludes purely functional updates (theverge.com).

  • Skeuomorphic Revival: The design nods to pre-flat era styles, yet remains modern—with glassy textures and elegant translucency (techradar.com).

  • Real-time Depth Effects: Elements respond to changing light, motion, and context, adding a layer of tactile richness (apple.com).


⚠️ The Criticisms: Style vs. Substance

  • Readability Concerns: Designers and users report that transparency can obscure vital UI elements—Control Center updates in beta show Apple listening, increasing opacity to improve clarity (theverge.com).

  • Accessibility Trade-offs: Comments across Reddit and Wired highlight potential issues with contrast and visibility—especially in low-light or on older devices .

  • Incremental Not Transformative: Critics argue that, though polished, Liquid Glass is more a visual tweak than a functional leap—its elegance may not justify older-device performance costs (theverge.com).


Liquid Glass marks Apple’s renewed focus on emotional design—proving aesthetics are still at the forefront of user experience. Its real-world light effects hint at a future where software feels less flat and more sensory. Yet, Apple must balance beauty with usability, particularly by ensuring legibility and performance across all devices .

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