Apple doubles down on Liquid Glass for iOS 27
Apple will retain its Liquid Glass user interface as a permanent design element across its platforms despite mixed user reactions and ongoing optimization challenges.
The commitment signals a long-term strategic shift comparable to the iOS 7 redesign in 2013, with the company planning gradual refinements rather than fundamental changes. The design architecture, developed over several years, originated during visionOS creation for Apple’s mixed-reality headset, according to Mark Gurman’s “Power On” newsletter at Bloomberg.
Liquid Glass enables transparent, overlapping UI elements intended to create spatially dynamic interfaces. The presentation works effectively on iPhones and iPads but faces readability issues on larger Mac displays and compact Apple Watch screens. Critics highlight text legibility problems when transparent elements overlap with icons or other components.
Apple has introduced minor adjustments in response. A recent iOS beta includes options to reduce glass effect intensity, indicating the company’s intent to improve usability while maintaining the core concept, Bloomberg reported.
The project retains support from Apple’s design organization and executive leadership. No opposition from key designers has emerged, and the departure of Alan Dye—a central figure in Liquid Glass development—to Meta has not altered the company’s direction, according to the report.
The long-term approach mirrors Apple’s handling of the iOS 7 overhaul, which underwent years of detailed adjustments following its initial release. Current information suggests evolutionary improvements will continue across multiple software generations rather than revolutionary changes.
Apple described visionOS as a spatial operating system integrating digital content into physical environments when announcing its Vision Pro headset in 2023.