Enter iOS 26 on iPhone 17 Pro.

Unveiled at WWDC 2025 and launched alongside Apple’s most advanced hardware yet, iOS 26 introduces Liquid Glass — a revolutionary design language that transforms how users interact with their devices. It’s gaining widespread attention for good reason: Liquid Glass isn’t just a visual refresh — it’s a fundamental rethinking of interface materials. It enables designers, developers, and users to experience software that’s more expressive, contextual, and delightful while remaining instantly familiar.

Liquid Glass : A Translucent Future

A Living, Breathing Material

Unlike static interface elements that remain unchanged regardless of context, Liquid Glass is designed to behave like real glass in the physical world. This translucent material reflects and refracts its surroundings, while dynamically transforming to help bring greater focus to content, delivering a new level of vitality across controls, navigation, app icons, widgets, and more.

Liquid Glass uses real-time rendering and dynamically reacts to movement with specular highlights. This means every button, slider, tab bar, and control feels responsive and alive. The material’s color adapts intelligently based on surrounding content and seamlessly transitions between light and dark environments. This type of dynamic adaptation allows not only for visual beauty but also functional clarity. This means users no longer experience jarring transitions or context-less interfaces — instead, every element communicates its purpose through subtle visual feedback and environmental awareness.

Universal Design Across All Platforms

Whether you’re using an iPhone 17 Pro, iPad Pro, Mac, Apple Watch, or Apple TV, Liquid Glass provides a consistent visual language. For the very first time, the new design extends across platforms — iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26 — to establish even more harmony while maintaining the distinct qualities that make each unique.

This cross-platform consistency is critical for users who work across multiple Apple devices throughout their day. All of these systems now speak the same design language, creating seamless transitions and reducing cognitive load. Users can move from iPhone to Mac to iPad without relearning interface paradigms, and developers can create apps that feel native everywhere with minimal platform-specific customization.

Why Designers, Developers, and Users Should Care

For designers and developers, Liquid Glass provides a powerful new toolkit for creating engaging, contextual experiences. For instance:

• Build interfaces that dynamically adapt to content and user context

• Leverage SwiftUI, UIKit, and AppKit APIs designed specifically for Liquid Glass

• Create controls that morph and transform based on user needs

• Design apps that maintain visual consistency across all Apple platforms

• Utilize translucent materials that reflect user wallpapers and surrounding content

For end users, Liquid Glass creates a more focused, delightful interaction model that reduces visual clutter while enhancing functionality. Interface elements intelligently give way to content, expanding when needed and contracting when focus shifts elsewhere. The new design features an entirely new material that combines the optical qualities of glass with a fluidity only Apple can achieve, as it transforms depending on content or context.

Key Features: Understanding Liquid Glass Design

iOS 26’s Liquid Glass introduces several transformative design elements that redefine the iPhone experience:

Dynamic Controls and Navigation

• Controls are crafted out of Liquid Glass and act as a distinct functional layer that sits above apps, giving way to content and dynamically morphing as users need more options or move between different parts of an app.

• Tab bars intelligently shrink when scrolling to focus on content, then fluidly expand when needed

• Controls, toolbars, and navigation have been redesigned to fit perfectly concentric with the rounded corners of modern hardware and app windows — establishing greater harmony between hardware, software, and content.

• Example Use Case: A user is browsing photos in the Photos app. As they scroll through their library, the tab bar elegantly contracts to maximize screen real estate for viewing images. The moment they scroll back up or need navigation options, the tab bar fluidly expands with smooth, glass-like transitions.

Intelligent Context Awareness

• Materials that reflect and refract surrounding content and wallpapers

• Automatic adaptation between light and dark environments

• Real-time specular highlights that respond to user movement

• Example Use Case: A designer switches between reviewing a bright marketing document and a dark code editor. Liquid Glass interface elements automatically adjust their opacity, color, and contrast to maintain readability and visual harmony in both contexts without manual theme switching.

Enhanced Lock Screen and Home Screen

• The time on the Lock Screen is now crafted out of Liquid Glass and fluidly adapts to fit elegantly behind the subject of photo wallpapers.

• App icons and widgets built from multiple layers of Liquid Glass with specular highlights

• Greater personalization with light, dark, tinted, and clear appearance options

• Depth and dimensionality that create visual hierarchy

Developer-Friendly Implementation

• Updated APIs for SwiftUI, UIKit, and AppKit

• Built-in Liquid Glass materials and controls

• Easy adoption path for existing apps

• Consistent design language across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS

Real Design Value

By adopting iOS 26 with Liquid Glass, users and developers can:

• Experience interfaces that feel more spatial, layered, and immersive

• Reduce visual clutter while maintaining full functionality

• Enjoy seamless consistency across all Apple devices

• Create apps that feel cutting-edge and modern with minimal effort

• Benefit from interfaces that intelligently adapt to context and content

Whether you’re a power user who values visual refinement, a developer building the next generation of iOS apps, or simply someone who appreciates thoughtful design, Liquid Glass delivers an interface language that’s both beautiful and functional.

The Philosophy Behind the Design

“At Apple, we’ve always believed in the deep integration of hardware and software that makes interacting with technology intuitive, beautiful, and delightful,” said Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of Human Interface Design. “This is our broadest software design update ever.”

The Liquid Glass design language represents more than a visual update — it’s a philosophical shift toward interfaces that respect user attention while providing powerful functionality. By using Liquid Glass materials and updated controls, developers have the opportunity to refresh the design of their apps to make every user interaction even more intuitive and delightful.

On the iPhone 17 Pro specifically, Liquid Glass takes full advantage of the device’s capabilities: the stunning Super Retina XDR display with 3000 nits of peak brightness makes translucent materials shine, while the A19 Pro chip enables the real-time rendering and fluid animations that bring the design to life. The combination creates an experience where hardware and software feel inseparable.

System-Wide Integration

Liquid Glass extends throughout iOS 26, touching virtually every system experience:

• Camera and Photos: Updated controls that morph based on shooting mode and content

• Safari: Tab bars and toolbars that intelligently adapt to web content

• FaceTime: Interface elements that refract video feeds while maintaining control visibility

• Apple Music: Navigation that responds to album artwork and playback state

• Control Center: Modular controls built entirely from Liquid Glass materials

• Notifications: Translucent cards that respect wallpaper aesthetics while ensuring readability

The Trade-Offs: Challenges with iOS 26’s User Experience

While Liquid Glass represents a bold step forward in interface design, it’s important to acknowledge the real-world challenges users have encountered since the iOS 26 launch:

Liquid Glass Learning Curve

• The translucent aesthetic has proven divisive among longtime iOS users

• Some users find the design prioritizes aesthetics at the expense of usability and functionality

• The dramatic departure from previous iOS design language requires adjustment time

• Not everyone appreciates the constant reflections and refractions in their interface

Dark Mode Issues

• Users complain that the slight glow around icons in dark mode is distracting, and in some cases, dizzying

• Several comments noted icons look blurry or “tilted” in dark mode, like they’re falling over

• The Liquid Glass material behaves differently in dark environments, which some find disorienting

• Some users have called it an “optical nightmare” in certain lighting conditions

Inconsistent Implementation

• The keyboard isn’t unified across apps — Apple-made apps have the updated aesthetic while third-party apps use the old keyboard

• This disconnect when switching between apps can be jarring and break the sense of cohesion

• Developers are still catching up to implement Liquid Glass materials properly

Initial Performance Concerns

• Battery life degradation and device overheating in the first 24-48 hours after updating

• System slowness or reduced responsiveness during the indexing period

• While Apple states these are temporary as the system indexes files and downloads assets, they impact the initial experience

Older Device Compatibility

• Performance on older phones like the iPhone 11 is hit or miss, with some users reporting “weird bugs” and terrible performance

• Liquid Glass’s real-time rendering demands can tax older hardware

• Users with devices at the compatibility threshold may want to exercise caution

The common thread among both critics and supporters is that Liquid Glass is a massive change requiring adjustment time. As one user noted, those who tested it during beta were initially shocked but have gradually come around. The design “continues to get better as you use it,” suggesting the learning curve may be worth pushing through for most users.

Final Thoughts

In a world where smartphone interfaces have largely stagnated around flat, static design paradigms, iOS 26’s Liquid Glass provides a powerful foundation for dynamic, contextual, and delightful interactions. Its translucency, real-time responsiveness, and cross-platform consistency make it a no-brainer for anyone who values thoughtful design and seamless user experiences.

The combination of revolutionary hardware like the iPhone 17 Pro and software purpose-built to showcase its capabilities represents a genuine leap forward in mobile interface design. This isn’t just a new coat of paint — it’s a complete reimagining of how interfaces should behave, adapt, and delight.

To learn more about iOS 26 and Liquid Glass, visit:

• iOS 26 Official Design Page

• Apple Design Resources

• iPhone 17 Pro Official Page

Ready to experience interfaces that feel alive? It’s time to discover iOS 26’s Liquid Glass.

In today’s development landscape, context switching is the silent productivity killer. Whether it’s jumping between your IDE, browser tabs, and project management tools, or constantly breaking flow state to update a ticket status, developers lose precious time — and mental energy — navigating clunky interfaces.

That’s where JiraTUI comes in.

Built for developers who live in the terminal, JiraTUI is a lightweight, command-line interface that brings full Jira functionality to your fingertips without ever leaving your development environment. It’s gaining traction for good reason: JiraTUI isn’t just another tool — it’s a workflow multiplier. It enables developers, DevOps engineers, and technical teams to manage projects with unprecedented speed and focus.

What Makes JiraTUI So Powerful?

Speed and Efficiency

Unlike the web-based Jira interface that requires multiple page loads, endless clicking, and navigation through nested menus, JiraTUI is built for velocity. Commands execute in seconds, not minutes. Creating a task, updating a status, or searching through your backlog becomes as fast as typing a few keystrokes.

JiraTUI uses familiar command-line patterns, making it instantly accessible for terminal-native developers. Its lightweight architecture means no more waiting for heavy web pages to load or dealing with browser memory bloat. This type of interaction allows not only for speed but also seamless integration into your existing workflow. This means developers no longer need to break concentration, switch windows, or lose track of their work just to log a bug or update a sprint task.

Configurability and Flexibility

Whether you’re managing microservices, coordinating sprint work, or tracking bugs across multiple projects, JiraTUI adapts to your workflow. Unlike rigid web interfaces, JiraTUI is highly configurable — you can customize command shortcuts, preferences, and settings to match your exact needs.

JQL (Jira Query Language) support is built-in, allowing you to create complex, saved searches for instant access to precisely the tasks you need. This configurability is critical for developers who work across multiple projects, teams, and workflows. All of your most important queries are just a command away, and developers can partner with project managers to create efficient ticket management without sacrificing development velocity.

Why Developers and Technical Teams Should Care

For developers, JiraTUI provides better focus and faster task management without leaving the terminal. For instance:

• Create tickets while debugging without context switching

• Update task status as you commit code

• Search and filter tasks using powerful JQL queries

• Manage comments and collaboration directly from the command line

• Link related tasks and track dependencies without opening a browser

For DevOps and technical leads, JiraTUI creates a streamlined workflow that reduces friction in the development process. Task management isn’t an interruption — it’s integrated directly into the development environment. This command-line approach enables developers to maintain flow state while staying connected to project tracking, reducing the mental overhead of project management.

Key Features: What You Can Do with JiraTUI

JiraTUI brings the full power of Jira to the terminal with these core capabilities:

Advanced Search and JQL Support

• Execute complex JQL queries instantly from the terminal

• Save frequently-used searches for one-command access

• Filter by status, assignee, priority, labels, and custom fields

• Example Use Case: A developer needs to see all high-priority bugs assigned to them in the current sprint. Instead of navigating through web UI filters, they run a saved JQL command and see results in seconds.

Full Task Management

• Create new tasks with all relevant fields (title, description, priority, labels)

• Update existing tasks including status transitions, assignees, and due dates

• Manage task relationships and dependencies

• Example Use Case: While working on a feature, a developer discovers a blocker. They create a linked blocking issue without leaving their terminal, assign it, and continue working — all in under 30 seconds.

Collaboration Features

• Add, view, and delete comments on tasks

• Track team discussions without browser tabs

• Keep communication contextual and accessible

Real Developer Value

By adopting JiraTUI, development teams can:

• Eliminate context switching between IDE and browser

• Reduce time spent on administrative task management by up to 70%

• Maintain flow state and focus during development work

• Integrate project tracking seamlessly into terminal-based workflows

Whether you’re working on a distributed microservices architecture, managing an agile sprint, or coordinating bug fixes across teams, JiraTUI gives you the speed and simplicity to manage Jira without breaking stride.

Final Thoughts

In a world where developer productivity is paramount and context switching costs are real, JiraTUI provides a powerful foundation for terminal-native project management. Its simplicity, speed, and low barrier to entry make it a no-brainer for developers looking to reclaim focus and velocity in their workflow.

To learn more or get started, visit the official JiraTUI page: https://jiratui.sh/

Ready to revolutionize your Jira workflow? It’s time to embrace the terminal.