‘Beautiful’ and ‘Hard to Read’: Designers React to Apple’s Liquid Glass Update

Apple’s translucent design update for iOS 26, called Liquid Glass, is now available to developers, with a public beta scheduled for next month. The refresh—Apple’s first major interface overhaul in 10 years—makes app icons, buttons, menus, and pop-ups look like they are made of frosted glass, with blurred background colors peeking through.

The sweeping software changes are not just for iPhones. This glassy look—inspired by the operating system in the Vision Pro headset—will eventually roll out to the entire suite of Apple devices, from smartwatches to iPads.

Puckett’s initial reaction to the revamp is more positive than Whitcroft’s. He thinks the shift away from flatness is the right design move. “I’m excited that Apple is reintroducing feelings to their digital surfaces, creating interfaces that shimmer, bend, and breathe.” Puckett hopes this ignites a larger design trend of more expressive, experiential software.

Now, the hard part for developers begins: incorporating this new look. As Yu works on building Apple apps, he also appreciates the “beautiful” new aesthetic but is anxious about the feasibility of matching this vibe as a small team. In general, Yu remains unsure about how well Apple’s new suit is going to fit.

“Apple is doing a great job in trying to pull us forward somewhere. It’s very brave to do this. I just don’t know if the direction is the right place,” he says. “If anyone can do it, Apple can do it. I’m just scrambling to make our designs work.”