Apple’s Liquid Glass Design from WWDC 25

What’s Actually Useful for Developers and App Owners

Despite the hype, here are a few silver linings we spotted from their announcement:

Updated APIs: Apple’s done a solid job here. The new UI elements are well-integrated into SwiftUI, UIKit and AppKit, so you can start applying the Liquid Glass look without reengineering your entire app.

Icon Composer: This tool is surprisingly powerful. It lets us build layered app icons that adapt to light, dark and transparent backgrounds which is especially handy for our projects here at Cardiff App Developers, where brand consistency across iOS, macOS and watchOS is always a client ask.

Ecosystem cohesion: Liquid Glass makes it easier to unify the look and feel of your app across multiple Apple platforms. That polished experience boosts trust and makes switching between devices feel seamless, a win for usability and brand presence alike

But Let’s Be Honest: The Issues Are Already Showing

While exploring the developer beta, we’ve already hit a few snags worth flagging:

• Readability and Accessibility It’s early days, but some UI elements are way too transparent. Pair that with vibrant wallpapers or content-heavy screens, and you’ve got poor contrast and legibility issues that could alienate users especially those with visual impairments. - do you think Apple has taken a more aesthetic approach to appeal to developing trends without considering the implacations surrounding the customer-experience from both sides?

• Visual Overload Animations and shimmer effects might look slick in a demo, but in real-world use? It can be distracting. We’re already scaling back some of the fancier elements so they support, rather than steal from, the user experience.

• Performance Lag on Older Devices Even newer iPhones are showing frame drops when navigating glass-heavy widgets. And pre-iPhone 12 models? They're really struggling. If your user base includes legacy devices, this is a real concern.

Our Opinion: Refreshing, But Not Revolutionary

There’s no denying that Liquid Glass looks sharp. It injects new energy into a UI that’s felt a bit flat in recent years. But it’s also a style that needs to be handled with care. Too much glass and motion, and you risk confusing or overwhelming users. Not enough, and it becomes a design update with no real impact.

For us, the real value lies in using it intentionally. Not every app needs to look like a crystal sculpture. The goal is to elevate the interface, not drown it in effects.

At Cardiff App Developers, our priority is simple: make apps that look brilliant and work beautifully. That means crafting interfaces that are not only visually stunning but also clear, responsive, and accessible to all users.

What do you think of Apple’s new Liquid Glass UI? Is it a design breakthrough, a glossy distraction, or just a shiny rebrand of an old idea?