Apple just dropped iOS 26 yesterday at WWDC25 and grabe, the internet is literally on fire right now. Half the tech world is losing their minds calling it the most beautiful iPhone makeover since sliced bread, while the other half is roasting Apple harder than lechon at a Filipino family reunion. We’re talking about Apple’s biggest design overhaul in over a decade – they’re calling it “Liquid Glass” and it’s either pure genius or a spectacular train wreck depending on who you ask.
Here’s the real tea: Apple didn’t just update their software, they completely flipped the script on how every single one of their devices will look and feel. From iPhones to Macs to Apple Watches, everything’s getting this new translucent, glass-like interface that’s supposed to make your apps “feel natural and alive.” But with early beta testers already posting videos of messy, confusing overlays and some serious legibility issues, we’re about to break down whether this Liquid Glass thing is actually worth the hype or if Apple just served us another overhyped update na walang lasa.
The Liquid Glass Revolution: What the Hell Is It?
Okay, let’s get straight to the point – Liquid Glass design is Apple’s fancy new way of saying “we made everything see-through and shiny.” Think of it as the digital equivalent of those frosted glass panels you see in modern condos, except this one supposedly “reflects and refracts its surroundings” like some kind of high-tech magic mirror. Apple’s design team basically looked at their Vision Pro interface and said “Ito na! Let’s put this visionOS vibe on everything we make.”
The iOS 26 interface now features what Apple calls “translucent materials” that create this sense of depth through multiple layers of digital glass. When you scroll through apps, tab bars shrink and expand fluidly. Menu overlays now blur and bend the content behind them while still showing hints of your wallpaper. Even your app icons can go full-on transparent if you choose the new “Clear” customization option – though honestly, that looks pretty weird in practice.
But here’s where it gets interesting, mga kapatid – this isn’t just an iPhone thing. Apple went all-in and unified every single platform under this Liquid Glass umbrella. Your iOS 26 phone, iPadOS 26 tablet, macOS 26 computer, watchOS 26 smartwatch, and even tvOS 26 streaming box are all getting the same translucent treatment. For the first time ever, switching between your Apple devices won’t feel like jumping between completely different design languages. Whether that’s actually a good thing… well, that’s where things get spicy.
The Good: Why People Are Going Crazy for This Design
Not gonna lie, when this Apple design update works properly, it’s absolutely stunning. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman – who’s usually pretty critical of Apple – straight up called this redesign “unbelievably cool,” and early beta testers are posting videos praising the “satisfying” animations and visual effects. When you see the iOS 26 features in action on a clean background with good lighting, it genuinely looks like something from the future.
The user experience improvements are actually pretty smart too. Those floating tab bars that shrink when you scroll? Genius move – you get more screen real estate for your content while keeping navigation within easy reach. Safari now lets web pages flow from edge to edge, giving you way more viewing space without losing functionality. The Camera app got a major cleanup that removes distractions so you can focus on actually taking photos instead of hunting through menus. Even the Lock Screen is smarter now, with the time automatically adapting to fit around your wallpaper photos.
But here’s the real kicker – this is the first time in Apple’s history that every single device speaks the same design language. Your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV all feel like they’re part of the same family now. No more jarring transitions between different interface styles when you switch devices. Para sa mga Apple ecosystem fanatics, this unified approach is like hitting the design lottery. The consistency makes everything feel more polished and professional, especially if you’re someone who bounces between devices all day for work or entertainment.
The Bad: Why Some Users Think Apple Lost Its Mind
Okay, time for some real talk – iOS 26 criticism is coming in hot and heavy, and honestly? Some of it’s pretty valid. The biggest Liquid Glass problems everyone’s complaining about involve readability issues that would make your lola squint harder than reading fine print on a medicine bottle. Joshua Topolsky, former co-founder of The Verge, pointed out that there are legibility problems even in Apple’s own presentation slides, which is basically like failing your own homework assignment.
The internet is already flooded with videos showing how these translucent widgets and menu overlays turn into a hot mess when you’ve got busy wallpapers. Imagine trying to read white text floating over a colorful sunset photo with multiple glass layers reflecting and refracting everything – nakakahilo! One particularly brutal tweet from a user said “I am sorry apple fanboys but this is actually terrible and I think you know it,” and honestly, when you see some of these early beta examples, it’s hard to argue.
Then there’s the version numbering drama that has people absolutely losing their minds. Apple decided to jump straight to iOS 26 instead of the expected iOS 19, and the internet collectively lost its cool. Comments are flying everywhere with people asking “how dare Apple name it 26 and not 25” since we’re literally in 2025. The early developer beta is also showing its rough edges – several tech reviewers have noted that while the concept looks pretty in controlled demos, real-world usage reveals kinks that need serious ironing out before the public beta drops next month. Para sa mga early adopters, this might be one update worth waiting for the bugs to get fixed first.
Apple Intelligence Gets Smarter (Finally)
Alright, let’s talk about the Apple Intelligence iOS 26 upgrades because this is where Apple is actually trying to catch up with the AI game instead of just making things shiny. The biggest new AI features iPhone users are getting is live translation during phone calls and text messages – as in, you can literally have conversations with someone speaking a different language and see real-time translations on your screen. Para sa mga OFW families, this is actually a game-changer for staying connected across language barriers.
Apple is also opening up the floodgates with their Foundation Models Network, which basically means third-party apps can now tap directly into Apple’s AI brain. Think of it as Apple finally saying “okay fine, you can use our smart stuff too.” The new Image Playground gets a ChatGPT boost, so you can now turn your contact’s poster into different artistic styles just by describing what you want. Plus, Genmoji is getting wild – you can combine two regular emojis to create some frankenstein hybrid emoji that probably shouldn’t exist but absolutely will.
Read next: iOS 18: Apple’s Big Swing at Ultimate iPhone Awesomeness
But here’s where it gets interesting – Apple is bringing Google Gemini as an alternative to ChatGPT, which is basically admitting they need backup dancers for their AI show. The new Generative Shortcuts feature promises to make creating automations way easier using natural language instead of that confusing Shortcuts app interface we all pretend to understand. However, let’s keep it real – Apple’s still playing catch-up here. While Android users have had many of these AI features for months, Apple’s finally rolling them out with their signature “we invented this” confidence. Better late than never, pero sana they can actually deliver on the promises this time.
App Makeovers That Actually Matter
Let’s cut through the marketing noise and talk about the iOS 26 app updates that will actually change how you use your iPhone daily. The Camera app got the biggest glow-up with a seriously simplified interface that ditches all the clutter for a clean, streamlined experience. Instead of hunting through multiple menus, everything’s now accessible with simple swipes – video and photo modes are right there, and all your quality settings are finally in one place. Para sa mga content creators, this is actually a big deal since you can focus on the shot instead of fighting with the interface.
Now here’s where Apple did something rare – they actually admitted they screwed up. Craig Federighi basically said “many of you missed using tabs in the Photos app,” which is corporate speak for “we know the iOS 18 Photos redesign was a disaster.” The iPhone apps redesign brings back the beloved Library and Collections tabs that everyone was crying about when they disappeared. Library shows your recent photos while Collections houses all your albums and favorites – basically, they’re giving us back the Photos app we actually wanted to use.
The Messages and Phone apps are getting some solid upgrades too. Messages finally gets polls (about time, considering every other messaging app has had this for years) and the ability to set custom background images for individual conversations. The Phone app is getting a complete makeover with a new unified view that brings together your recent calls, voicemails, and favorite contacts in one spot – no more bouncing between different tabs like a pinball. Plus, they’re adding “Call Screening” that will automatically answer unknown numbers to get their name and reason for calling, then display that info before your phone actually rings. Hindi na kailangan mag-guess kung sino yung tumatawag na hindi mo kilala!
The Version Number Drama That Has Everyone Confused
Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room – the iOS 26 naming situation that has the entire internet scratching their heads like they’re solving calculus. Apple literally said “screw logic” and jumped from iOS 18 straight to iOS 26, completely skipping what should have been iOS 19. Craig Federighi dropped this bombshell during the keynote like it was no big deal, but social media immediately exploded with confused users asking “wait, what happened to iOS 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25?”
Here’s Apple’s reasoning behind their new Apple software numbering strategy: they want the version number to reflect the majority of the year when people will actually be using the software. Since iOS 26 launches in September 2025 but most of 2026 is when users will be running it, they went with 26. It’s basically the same logic car manufacturers use – you can buy a 2026 Toyota Tacoma that starts shipping at the end of 2025. Sounds reasonable in theory, pero the execution has people absolutely losing their minds.
The public reaction has been… intense. Comments are flying everywhere with people posting things like “how dare Apple name it 26 and not 25” since we’re literally living in 2025 right now. Some users are calling it confusing and unnecessary, while others think Apple is just trying to make their software sound more futuristic than it actually is. The really wild part? This unified numbering now applies to everything – iOS 26, macOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26 – which means Apple completely threw out years of established numbering patterns. Para sa mga long-time Apple users, this feels like waking up one day and finding out your favorite tindahan suddenly changed its name and address without warning.
What This Means for Your iPhone Experience
Let’s get real about iOS 26 compatibility because not everyone’s getting invited to this Liquid Glass party. The full experience with all the Apple Intelligence features requires iPhone 15 Pro or newer, which means if you’re still rocking an older device, you’ll get the visual updates but miss out on the AI magic. Basic iOS 26 support extends to iPhone 12 and later, but the fancy translation features and advanced Siri capabilities? Sorry, pero you’ll need to upgrade your hardware to join that club.
Here’s the timeline that actually matters: the developer beta dropped yesterday (June 10, 2025), the public beta is coming next month, and the final release will hit this fall as a free update. But here’s some unsolicited advice – based on the early feedback showing legibility issues and interface glitches, you might want to wait for the public beta or even the final release unless you enjoy living dangerously with potentially buggy software.
The real-world iPhone update benefits are going to depend heavily on how you actually use your phone. If you’re someone who switches between multiple Apple devices throughout the day, the unified design language will make everything feel more seamless. Content creators will love the simplified Camera app, and people dealing with international calls will find the live translation genuinely useful. But if you prefer high contrast interfaces or have vision issues, those translucent Liquid Glass elements might actually make your iPhone experience worse instead of better. Para sa average user, this update is more about visual changes than groundbreaking functionality – it’s pretty, but it won’t suddenly transform how you use your phone on a daily basis.
Bottom Line: Should You Care About iOS 26?
Here’s my completely unfiltered iOS 26 review: this is Apple’s most ambitious visual overhaul in years, but it’s also their most polarizing iPhone software update in recent memory. When Liquid Glass works perfectly in ideal conditions, it genuinely looks stunning and futuristic. When it doesn’t – which seems to be happening a lot in the early beta – it becomes a usability nightmare that makes basic tasks unnecessarily complicated.
If you’re a hardcore Apple ecosystem user who owns multiple devices and loves being on the cutting edge, you’ll probably eat this update up. The unified design language across all platforms is genuinely impressive, and the live translation features could be game-changers for international communication. Content creators will appreciate the cleaner Camera interface, and the returning Photos app tabs fix one of iOS 18’s biggest mistakes. But if you’re someone who values function over form, has accessibility needs, or just wants your phone to work without visual distractions, this might be the update to skip.
Para sa future ng Apple’s ecosystem, iOS 26 represents a massive bet on visual consistency over individual platform optimization. Apple is clearly positioning itself for a world where all their devices feel like parts of the same organism rather than separate products. That’s either brilliant long-term strategy or a risky gamble that sacrifices each platform’s unique strengths for the sake of visual unity. My honest recommendation? Wait for the public beta, read the real-world reviews, and maybe let other people beta test this glass house before you move in. Because right now, iOS 26 feels more like a beautiful concept car than a reliable daily driver – impressive to look at, pero hindi pa ready for everyday use.
