WWDC 2025: Liquid Glass Design & Siri's Absence

Three days ago in Cupertino, California, Apple kicked off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2025), unveiling a suite of new designs and features for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, Apple Vision, and Apple TV, including a groundbreaking design language named Liquid Glass. Notably absent, however, was any meaningful update to Siri. While Apple introduced new Apple Intelligence scenario-based features, core upgrades to Siri were postponed until next year. (For WWDC highlights, you can watch the live stream on YouTube or visit Apple’s official event page.)

I. Liquid Glass: Apple’s Biggest UI Redesign Since iOS 7

The star of WWDC was undoubtedly Liquid Glass, Apple’s all-new design language inspired by visionOS. Set to redefine the look of iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, and tvOS, this marks Apple’s most significant visual redesign since the flat-design revolution of iOS 7 in 2013.
Just like its name, Liquid Glass blends fluid, interactive motion with glass-like transparency and depth. This dynamic, layered UI which once exclusive to visionOS now extends across Apple’s entire ecosystem. Semi-transparent app icons dynamically refract your wallpaper’s colors, while subtle edge lighting creates striking 3D effects. It’s a bold departure from flat design, signaling Apple’s shift toward immersive, spatially aware interfaces.
Some critics argue the aesthetic echoes Windows Vista or early jailbroken iPhone themes, but Apple’s execution elevates it beyond past experiments. However, think twice before installing the developer beta — this might be Apple’s buggiest and most divisive beta release yet.

(Image Credit: Apple)

Beyond expected beta glitches (notification chaos, battery drain, app update failures), the UI’s contrast and readability are a mess. Users report that light wallpapers render notification text nearly unreadable, while the control center’s removal of Gaussian blur turns quick settings into a mess of overlapping icons. While temporary fixes exist (via Settings > Accessibility), the overall readability downgrade is jarring for a company known for its accessibility standards.
Still, this is just Developer Beta 1. Apple has time to refine Liquid Glass into its final, polished form. Despite its rough edges, the design direction is thrilling — a vibrant, dimensional leap beyond flat minimalism. It's worth mentioning that if you appreciate the aesthetic of Liquid Glass, why not pair your phone with a wireless charging station that features similarly elegant design. The SwanScout 708A and SwanScout 708M models boast curved clock designs with a glass-like reflective coating, maintaining visual harmony with your iPhone while delivering efficient three-device wireless charging.

II. New Software, Renaming, and Enhanced Productivity

While debates over Liquid Glass continue, Apple’s practical app updates and streamlined OS naming have earned widespread praise.
1. Simpler Renaming, Clearer Timeline
Apple finally unified its OS version names by adoption year—replacing the old iOS 19, watchOS 12, and macOS 16 and so on with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26 and macOS 26 Tahoe. This logical shift (long requested by users and same to Samsung’s approach back in 2020) instantly clarifies release timelines.
2. Standout App Updates
Apple Games: A new hub consolidates all games, featuring news, friend activity, and shared challenges—leveraging Game Center’s ecosystem for richer social gaming.
Apple Music: Now with lyric translations and pronunciation guides, breaking language barriers for music lovers.
Maps/Wallet/Safari: Incremental but meaningful tweaks (e.g. Upgraded Boarding Passes in Wallet).
3. iPadOS 26: A Productivity Leap
Revamped multitasking is surely the headline of iPad upgrades. iPadOS 26’s flexible window management finally addresses the tablet’s long-standing "pro workflow" gap—proving that refinement (not just innovation) can deliver real value.

Critics often dismiss Apple’s incrementalism, but these updates—though not revolutionary—sharpen the user experience where it matters. Sometimes, "better" beats "brand-new."

III. Apple Intelligence and the Absent Siri

Many may recall the exciting AI features Apple promised at WWDC 2024—cross-app intelligence, contextual memory, and deeper integration—but unfortunately, those remain far from reality. Craig Federighi, Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, explained that core upgrade to Siri was delayed after careful consideration, as it still didn’t meet quality standards.
This postponement is undeniably disappointing. Apple has long taken a cautious stance on AI, with Michael Muchmore of PC Mag bluntly stating that the company is "years behind Google and Microsoft." Indeed, while competitors like Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s Copilot showcase groundbreaking AI advancements, Siri struggles to keep up. Its outdated framework struggles with modern large language models, often relying on ChatGPT for answers. And due to privacy constraints, its computational power remains limited, too.
Investor and consumer sentiment has taken a hit. On the first day of WWDC, Apple’s stock dipped 1.5%, closing 1.24% lower. Once a pioneering voice assistant, Siri now feels like a relic—while rivals push forward, Apple lags. Some may argue that flashy AI features don’t drastically improve daily use, but as an innovator, Apple has to deliver a compelling Siri overhaul next year.
That said, Apple Intelligence isn’t entirely stagnant. WatchOS 26 introduces Workout Buddy, an AI coach that analyzes fitness data and delivers real-time, motivational voice feedback. Other tweaks, like on-screen intelligence enhancements, make devices slightly smarter—but overall, Apple still has much more to prove.

WWDC is still underway, and discussion about new features and designs continue. While there are some shortcomings, Apple has taken bold steps in some areas. Change takes time to adapt to—and remember, this is just a developer beta, not the final product. Let’s give Apple some space to refine things. The real question is: What will the final OS 26 series deliver? We’ll find out soon enough.