Apple unifies software names with a new Liquid Glass design

Apple has taken the wraps off its next generation software suite at WWDC 2025, revealing a new nomenclature and a significant design overhaul for upcoming software releases. The mobile software will follow a year-themed naming cycle moving forward, in a more glassy form.

The current version of Apple’s software lineup (iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, tvOS 18, and visionOS 2) will leap directly to iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26. As for macOS, Apple has continued with macOS 26 Tahoe, the successor to Sequoia.

Apart from the new nomenclature, Apple introduced a new software design that will be universal across its apps and software experiences. Called Liquid Glass, the new design language behaves like glass in the real world and extends to core aspects of the software design across Apple’s platforms.

From smaller elements like buttons, sliders, and switches to larger components like tabs and sidebars, the new Liquid Glass material reflects and refracts through all and brings a greater focus on content. The design transition is a major milestone for Apple; similar to the transition from skeuomorphic design to flat design with iOS 7 back in 2013.