When Apple took the stage at WWDC 2025 to unveil its new Liquid Glass interface for iOS 26, it didn’t just reveal a design overhaul—it lit the internet on fire.
And not necessarily in the good way.
From Legacy to Liquid: Would Steve Jobs Approve?
It didn’t take long for X (formerly Twitter) to flood with instant reactions. One post, now viral, declared: “Steve Jobs would have fired everyone.” Brutal? Yes. But it captured a growing sentiment among longtime Apple loyalists who still revere Jobs’ obsessive focus on simplicity and elegance.
In fact, I couldn’t help but think back to the Jobs era myself. As someone who’s seen the evolution from skeuomorphism to flat design, and now this layered translucency, it raises a question: Are we watching Apple refine its aesthetic—or lose the very essence that once made it iconic?
What Exactly Is Liquid Glass?
For those who missed the keynote, Liquid Glass is Apple iOS’s boldest design shift since iOS 7. Think sleek, shimmering layers that subtly react as you navigate your device. It’s clearly inspired by the immersive UI of the Apple Vision Pro, and comes just in time for the 20th-anniversary iPhone launch later this year.
Apple framed it as a design that “brings joy and delight,” aimed at merging emotion with interaction. And visually? It’s dazzling. But practically? That’s where the debate starts.
The Internet Reacts: Joy, Confusion, and… Windows Vista?
While some applauded the innovation, many users were quick to draw comparisons to Windows Vista’s Aero design—a beautifully flawed concept from the mid-2000s. Side-by-side images of Vista and Liquid Glass were making the rounds within minutes.
Even respected tech reviewer Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) shared a concern that many developers echoed: “I’m a bit concerned with readability.”
It’s a valid point. Beauty is great—but not at the cost of clarity.
What It Means for Developers
Design changes of this magnitude aren’t just visual tweaks—they ripple across the entire app ecosystem. That’s why Apple is rolling out updated APIs to help developers adapt their apps for iPhones, iPads, Watches, Macs, and even Apple TV.
And this is where IT Services by Arrow PC Network come in. For businesses and developers navigating this major shift, having a trusted IT partner—like Arrow PC Network—to ensure apps are optimized for the new UI is more essential than ever.
Whether it’s fine-tuning enterprise apps or helping teams transition to a iOS 26-ready environment, Arrow PC Network stands ready with scalable solutions and deep Apple ecosystem expertise.
Design or Distraction?
Ultimately, this isn’t just about fonts or icons. It’s about what Apple wants to become in the post-Jobs, AI-driven age. The Liquid Glass design is clearly a leap into the future—ambitious, risky, and unapologetically different.
But for a company built on the mantra of “it just works,” that leap has to land perfectly.
Will the public warm up to Liquid Glass after the initial shock fades? Or will iOS 26 become Apple’s version of Vista—visually bold, but emotionally disconnected?
With the public beta coming in July, we won’t have to wait long to find out.
