Apple’s next operating system lineup is expected to feature glassy, shiny elements and could be unveiled later today at its 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the redesign will be aptly called “Liquid Glass.”
Gurman, Bloomberg’s Apple insider, predicts that the new design will include “sheen and see-through visuals of a glassy surface.” The toolbars, in-app interfaces, and controls will have “transparency and shine effects.”
He first said that Apple was planning a major visual overhaul of all its operating systems last month. At the time, he said the new, more modern look will be called “Solarium” and be based on the current design for visionOS. Apple’s goal, according to Gurman, is to create a more cohesive user experience across its ecosystem, enabling users to transition between devices without a significant visual shift.
The iPhone has not seen a significant visual redesign since iOS 7, when Apple introduced a flat, minimalist design that replaced the skeuomorphic elements of earlier versions.
Gurman also claimed that the new operating system design is meant to accompany the release of a special 20th anniversary iPhone edition. The device will have “curved glass sides around the entire phone, even at the edges,” as well as “extraordinarily slim bezels and no cutout section in the screen.” This will match the glassy nature of the operating system redesign.
The new iPhone is reportedly internally nicknamed “Glasswing,” a reference to a butterfly with transparent wings. However, the device is unlikely to launch until 2027, and no other new Apple hardware is expected to arrive until autumn as part of a new iPhone release schedule.
New operating system names, but no new AI, Gurman says
Along with a new look, each operating system may adopt a new naming convention based on the year of release, meaning iOS 26 could be coming next. According to Gurman, by naming each system after the following year, Apple hopes to give itself more flexibility to roll out updates that remain timely, especially as it plans to do so more frequently going forward.
The next macOS 26 is expected to be named macOS Tahoe, after Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada, as the lake’s mirror-like reflection of the blue sky and mountains is a nod to the system’s new visuals. There are also rumours that iOS 26 could drop support for the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, and the iPad may be given a more Mac-like interface.
Gurman added that Apple wants all its platforms to have a “futuristic” look to “convince users it’s an AI player and shift the conversation away from the technology itself.” Apple has notably struggled to compete with the likes of OpenAI and Google in the AI arena. The tech giant reportedly won’t be announcing any major AI updates at WWDC.
Nevertheless, rumours indicate that AI will be used to improve battery optimisation, Siri’s conversational abilities, and offer live translation with AirPods. Additionally, third-party developers will be given access to Apple’s models to support new app development.
Looking further ahead, there are also early signals of longer-term AI projects, such as augmented reality glasses and a revamped Health app with a virtual wellness coach, though these are not expected until 2026.
