Apple Showcases Third-Party Apps Embracing Liquid Glass Design
Apple has recently updated its Liquid Glass Design Gallery to highlight how third-party developers are integrating the company’s new design language across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26. This update offers a comparative look at app interfaces, juxtaposing their previous iOS 18 designs with the refreshed iOS 26 versions, thereby illustrating the transformative impact of the Liquid Glass aesthetic.
Embracing the Liquid Glass Aesthetic
The Liquid Glass design, introduced with iOS 26, is characterized by its glossy, transparent elements that add depth and fluidity to the user interface. This design philosophy aims to create a more immersive and cohesive visual experience across Apple’s ecosystem. By updating the Design Gallery, Apple underscores the widespread adoption of this aesthetic by third-party developers, showcasing its versatility and appeal.
Highlighted Applications
The updated gallery features a diverse array of applications that have embraced the Liquid Glass design, including:
– AllTrails: A popular app for outdoor enthusiasts, AllTrails has revamped its interface to incorporate the transparent and layered elements of Liquid Glass, enhancing map readability and user navigation.
– Carrot Weather: Known for its quirky personality, Carrot Weather now boasts a sleeker interface with smooth transitions and dynamic lighting effects, aligning with the Liquid Glass aesthetic.
– Fantastical: This calendar app has adopted the new design language to offer a more fluid and visually engaging scheduling experience.
– Kroger: The grocery chain’s app now features a refreshed interface that utilizes the depth and transparency of Liquid Glass to improve the shopping experience.
– SketchPro: A tool for digital artists, SketchPro has integrated the new design to provide a more immersive and responsive creative environment.
– Trello: The project management app has updated its interface to reflect the Liquid Glass design, offering a more cohesive and visually appealing user experience.
– Le Monde: The French news outlet’s app now features a cleaner and more dynamic interface, enhancing readability and user engagement.
Developer Insights
Apple’s note accompanying the gallery update emphasizes the collaborative effort between the company and developers:
> In the latest edition of our new design gallery, find out how teams of all sizes are taking advantage of the new design and Liquid Glass to create natural, responsive experiences across Apple platforms.
This statement highlights the adaptability of the Liquid Glass design across various app categories and developer scales, from independent creators to large organizations.
Design Evolution
The transition from iOS 18 to iOS 26 marks a significant evolution in Apple’s design philosophy. The Liquid Glass design moves away from the flat aesthetics of previous versions, introducing layered, reflective surfaces that resemble glass. This shift adds shine and depth to toolbars, controls, and app interfaces, aiming to create a more immersive and cohesive visual experience across devices. ([macobserver.com](https://www.macobserver.com/news/apple-redesigns-ios-with-liquid-glass-interface-in-ios-26/?utm_source=openai))
System-Wide Adoption
Apple’s commitment to the Liquid Glass design extends beyond third-party apps. The company has been systematically updating its own applications to align with this new aesthetic. For instance, the Apple Store app recently received a full Liquid Glass redesign, featuring a cleaner icon, a refreshed bottom bar, and subtle visual tweaks that match the broader design changes introduced in iOS 26. ([macobserver.com](https://www.macobserver.com/news/apple-store-app-adopts-full-liquid-glass-design-in-latest-update/?utm_source=openai))
Similarly, the Shazam app has been updated with a new Liquid Glass design, offering a sleeker interface and faster navigation. The update includes a revamped bottom toolbar and a refreshed app icon that matches Apple’s new design language. ([macobserver.com](https://www.macobserver.com/news/shazam-gets-a-new-liquid-glass-redesign-on-ios/?utm_source=openai))
User Customization
Recognizing that design preferences vary among users, Apple has introduced customization options in iOS 26.4 to allow users to tone down certain aspects of the Liquid Glass design. The update includes a new Reduce Bright Effects setting and improvements to the existing Reduce Motion option, providing users with more control over the visual intensity of the interface. ([macobserver.com](https://www.macobserver.com/news/ios-26-4-update-brings-2-new-customization-features-to-tone-down-liquid-glass/?utm_source=openai))
Conclusion
Apple’s updated Liquid Glass Design Gallery serves as a testament to the widespread adoption and versatility of its new design language. By showcasing a diverse range of third-party applications that have embraced this aesthetic, Apple highlights the collaborative effort between the company and developers to create a more cohesive and immersive user experience across its platforms.
