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Liquid Glass is the translucent, dynamic material at the center of iOS 26’s redesign, but the update changes more than how surfaces look. It also reshapes navigation, search, toolbars, alerts and controls. For developers, standard interface components can take on much of the new appearance after an app is rebuilt with the current SDK; custom interfaces still need deliberate review.
What Liquid Glass is—and what changes for iPhone users
Apple describes Liquid Glass as a material that reflects and refracts what is underneath it in real time, while changing dynamically to help keep content prominent. The design appears across the Lock Screen, Control Center, app icons, controls and navigation. Apple’s description is a design aim, not a measured finding that the interface improves usability or comprehension. Apple’s iOS 26 feature guide
The important distinction is between the visual material and the interface behavior around it. A translucent bar changes how controls relate visually to content; a floating or minimizing bar also changes how much space is available as someone scrolls. Apple’s listed changes include:
- Tab bars: On iPhone, the tab bar floats above content and can shrink while scrolling, then expand when needed.
- Navigation and toolbars: Bars can morph as people move between views or access tools.
- Search: In several Apple apps, Search is positioned near the bottom of the iPhone screen.
- Menus and alerts: Text-editing and formatting options can appear in an expanded vertical context menu; alerts can expand in place from the button that triggered them.
- App icons: Icons gain layered, light, dark, tinted and clear appearances.
These changes affect where controls appear and how they share space with content. The available Apple materials do not provide quantified results for task completion, satisfaction or comprehension.
#1 Best Overall
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
What changes for app developers
Apple’s WWDC25 SwiftUI and UIKit sessions describe updates to tab views, split views, navigation bars, toolbars, presentations, search and controls. Standard components can adopt much of the new design when an app is rebuilt with the current SDK; the transition is not necessarily a project to redraw every screen by hand.
SDK version matters
Apple’s WWDC25 Platforms State of the Union says, “When run on iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe, apps built with Xcode 16 will have an unchanged user interface, keeping their current design.” The same session describes standard controls receiving the new design when rebuilt with Xcode 26. UIKit engineer Sanaa put the change this way: “Your apps get this new appearance as soon as you recompile with the new SDK.” These are statements from Apple’s WWDC25 materials; check the documentation for the SDK and OS you target before applying them to later releases. Platforms State of the Union — WWDC25 · Build a UIKit app with the new design — WWDC25
Rank #2
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Standard components and custom UI need different treatment
Apple’s SwiftUI and UIKit sessions show that standard navigation, tab, toolbar, presentation and control components receive updated looks or behavior. If your app already relies on these components, inspect the rebuilt app before deciding what needs custom work. Apple presents Liquid Glass as appropriate for controls and navigation, not as a universal replacement for every background or visual effect. A custom view may suit the material, or it may be clearer and more distinctive without it. Build a SwiftUI app with the new design — WWDC25
Apple also advises using standard components and avoiding hard-coded metrics when relying on system layouts, so shapes and sizes can adapt. This is particularly relevant when bars float, minimize or change in response to navigation.
Rank #3
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Do apps need to be redesigned for Liquid Glass?
Not necessarily. An app built with the new SDK can inherit much of the updated appearance through standard framework components. That does not mean every app is finished automatically: custom views, brand-specific styling and layouts that depend on fixed dimensions warrant a review. Start by rebuilding and inspecting the standard-component screens, then decide where targeted changes are needed rather than applying translucency everywhere.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to test in a Liquid Glass interface
Because translucent surfaces sit over changing content and some controls can recede or move, review the experience in context—not just against a static mockup. These checks are practical implementation guidance, not evidence that Apple’s defaults fail accessibility requirements.
Rank #4
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
- Legibility: Check text, icons and controls over the range of content that can appear behind translucent surfaces.
- Hierarchy: Confirm that people can still identify the primary action and understand navigation when a tab bar minimizes or a toolbar changes.
- Layout adaptation: Verify that system-sized shapes and controls work without assumptions based on hard-coded dimensions.
- Accessibility options: Test the Liquid Glass appearance preferences and accessibility options for reducing transparency or motion available in the target OS. Apple’s adoption guidance mentions these choices but does not establish a particular contrast outcome or guarantee for every interface. Adopting Liquid Glass
- Icons: Provide accessibility labels for icons, as Apple’s guidance recommends.
Apple’s UIKit session says the material is best experienced on the device and with the input method being designed for. When practical, test on a real iPhone as well as in development tools; Apple does not specify a required model for this purpose. Build a UIKit app with the new design — WWDC25
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