Here’s a closer look at the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26 on the iPhone

Apple said yesterday that iOS 26 was its biggest update to the look and feel of the iPhone since iOS 7, with the same visual design language used across all the company’s devices.

It’s certainly a pretty dramatic change, depending on how far you want to take the look. For example, in addition to the ‘tint’ options we got in iOS 18, there’s a new ‘Clear’ option to make all our app icons monochrome glass – which you can see above …

Like tint, I have to wonder how many people will actually use it, but it’s certainly an interesting look at what happens when you dial up the glass look to the max!

As before, you long-press on a blank part of the Home screen to bring up an Edit button top-left, then hit Customize to bring up this menu:

Select Clear, and that’s what you get.

But you don’t have to change the default look to see the glass elements. Here’s a look at some Apple app icons with the new subtle 3D effects – starting with how they appear in the dock:

On the Home screen:

And in folders:

It doesn’t appear that Apple brought any third-party developers into the fold for the first developer beta, as other icons look to be unchanged.

Notifications have a frosted glass look:

The Camera app has a simplified default UI, with just Photo and Video options:

Tapping and holding lets you access the rest:

At the top, there’s a simple settings display, showing the current ones:

Tapping this then expands it into a tappable control panel:

Other apps take the same approach, of things expanding as you need them.

Tab bars floating over content of course have a consistent look across apps.

Of course, this is only the first developer beta, and much may change – but what are your first impressions of the look? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Keep track of your essentials with the Apple AirTag 4 Pack, the ultimate tracking solution for your belongings. With over 5,972 ratings and a stellar 4.7-star average, this product has quickly become a customer favorite. Over 10,000 units were purchased in the past month, solidifying its status as a highly rated Amazon Choice product.

For just $79.98, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your items are always within reach. Order now for only $79.98 at Amazon!

Help Power Techcratic’s Future – Scan To Support

If Techcratic’s content and insights have helped you, consider giving back by supporting the platform with crypto. Every contribution makes a difference, whether it’s for high-quality content, server maintenance, or future updates. Techcratic is constantly evolving, and your support helps drive that progress.

As a solo operator who wears all the hats, creating content, managing the tech, and running the site, your support allows me to stay focused on delivering valuable resources. Your support keeps everything running smoothly and enables me to continue creating the content you love. I’m deeply grateful for your support, it truly means the world to me! Thank you!