Apple's 2026 operating systems will be unified and see a major visual upgrade called the Liquid Glass design language.

With iOS 26, Apple unveiled a unified design language with translucent elements that mimic the look of real-world glass. Here's how it compares to iOS 18.

However, more than any update since iOS 6, Liquid Glass puts skeuomorphism at the center of Apple’s visual identity. Skeuomorphism, or skeuomorphic design, is a visual style for digital interfaces that primarily uses real-world objects as references.