One of the first changes iPhone users will notice in iOS 26, which Apple plans to release this fall, is app icons. For the first time since iOS 7, all system app icons have been redesigned, and this update is part of Apple's effort to unify the entire UI with a visual style it calls "Liquid Glass."
Previously, Apple rendered icons differently for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS. For example, the Mac had a more 3D feel, while watchOS had circular shapes, but with a different feel than visionOS. However, with iOS 26, all platform icons will be unified under a single design language. All icons share the signature squircle shape, a shape that's a cross between a square and a circle, and the same shape will be applied to the Mac.
The new icons feature edge highlights and blur effects using a glass layer, and some icons even feature dynamic directional lighting that subtly changes as you move your device. Reflected lighting applied to the edges of the icons and a sense of depth implying concave or convex shapes create a more refined and premium feel than before. Circular objects within app icons have been positioned further inward to adhere to the new guidelines, providing a more visually stable look.
Some users are welcoming these changes, saying they resemble the design sensibility of the iOS 6 era. They say it harkens back to the delicate and realistic designs of the past, while also marking a return to a more in-depth approach to graphics, departing from the simple flat style adopted after iOS 7. Many have noted improvements to the camera, clock, and book icons. Conversely, some users have pointed out the blurry rendering and inconsistency of certain icons, suggesting that there is still room for improvement.
