Apple has recently confirmed the rollout of the Liquid Glass design for iOS 26 and its other operating systems. This significant redesign is part of Apple’s strategy to gear up for future products, such as a foldable iPhone, foldable iPad, and AI/AR smart glasses. The new see-through UI is especially advantageous for the smart glasses, which will overlay digital components onto the real environment.
By launching Liquid Glass ahead of time, Apple seeks to acclimate users to the design and enhance it based on feedback before these innovative devices arrive on the market. Speculation indicates that the foldable iPhone might be unveiled as early as September 2026, aligning with the launch of the iPhone 18 series, followed by the foldable iPad a year later. Nevertheless, analyst Jeff Pu suggests that both foldable devices could make their debut concurrently, with production lines having been in the New Product Introduction phase since January 2025.
