Once a decade, Apple does something that mobilizes its entire userbase in a fit of pixelated rage: It redesigns its software and debuts that new design. The updated look is called Liquid Glass, and it’s predictably controversial.

Every year, iOS is one of the star attractions of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote. It's our first official look at new features and other changes that are coming to iPhones in the fall. The 2025 WWDC keynote was no exception, and the most immediate change is to the iOS naming system.

"It combines the optical qualities of glass with a fluidity only Apple can achieve, as it transforms depending on your content or context," Dye said. Apple WWDC 2025: Live updates

Apple announced Liquid Glass on Monday for all of its devices at WWDC 2025. Perhaps the most noticeable thing about it is that app icons, tab bars, and even the text magnifier you’ll see when you hover over words feel, well, liquid-y and glassy.

I actually like most of them. Fine, the new 'Liquid Glass' design language is arguably in a similar vein to Windows Vista, but it's nice to see iOS get a bit of a refresh, as it's felt a little stale for a while now.

Apple said it's bringing Visual Intelligence, its AI-powered image analysis tech, to the iPhone screen in iOS 26.

The new design is rumored to match its upcoming 20th anniversary iPhone, featuring curved glass and slim bezels.

With iOS 26, which was announced by Apple at WWDC 2025, Apple plans to take the iPhone’s satellite capabilities even further, now with weather forecast updates. Although this feature wasn’t part of the WWDC 2025 opening keynote, Macworld found evidence of its existence in the iOS 26 beta code, which is now available to developers.