Apple just unveiled its new design language, Liquid Glass, at WWDC 2025. It’s a big deal for iOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, and other versions. The goal is to make content stand out by using transparency.
What’s Liquid Glass all about?
Imagine a screen that looks like glass. That’s what Apple is going for. The top toolbar and menus will be see-through, so you focus on what matters.
A blast from the past
But here’s the thing: this idea isn’t new. Microsoft did something similar with Windows Vista almost 10 years ago. It was called Aero Glass, and it made windows look like, well, glass.
Some folks on social media were quick to point this out. A parody account, @JonyIveParody, even tweeted a screenshot of Windows Vista with the caption “Introducing Liquid Glass.” It got nearly 2 million views in just a few hours.
Microsoft’s Aero Glass: the original
So, what was Aero Glass all about? It was part of Windows Vista’s graphical interface, which later showed up in Windows 7. It added some fancy visual effects, like transparency and a 3D look to window borders.
Introducing Liquid Glass #WWDC25 pic.twitter.com/rI4RN8yLuY
— ᴺᴼᵀ Jony Ive (@JonyIveParody) June 9, 2025
It’s not like Apple is copying Microsoft or anything, but it’s curious that they’re introducing something that’s been done before. Maybe they think they can do it better?
What’s next?
We’ll have to wait and see how Liquid Glass plays out. Will it be a game-changer, or just a fancy new coat of paint? One thing’s for sure: the tech world is always looking for the next big thing, and sometimes that means looking back at what’s been done before.