Following months of speculation, Apple has finally revealed its major redesign for iOS 26, dubbed ‘Liquid Glass’, and I find myself more eager than ever for the upcoming iPhone 17 Air. Here’s my reasoning.
Liquid Glass creates a seamless integration of iPhone hardware and software
The innovative Liquid Glass design in iOS 26 and other Apple platforms represents a substantial, long-term transition.
As Craig Federighi mentioned during the keynote, this is a once-in-a-decade change for Apple, laying the groundwork for future hardware advancements.
The more I reflect on the new design in iOS 26, the more I anticipate the impending release of one product: the iPhone 17 Air.
This excitement is heightened by the fact that iOS 26 will launch this fall, coinciding with the unveiling of Apple’s new ultra-slim iPhone.
This new model is surely crafted with Liquid Glass in mind.
Designer Sebastiaan de With eloquently summarized his iOS 26 concept, ‘Living Glass’, prior to WWDC:
Philosophically, as Apple, I’d claim this as finally achieving an interface that aligns with the stunning material characteristics of its devices. All surfaces of your devices feature glass screens. This introduces an interface made of a similar material, creating the sensation of the glass coming to life.
This description perfectly captures the essence of the new interface.
With Liquid Glass, iOS 26 aims to fluidly merge your iPhone’s hardware with its software, forming a bond tighter than ever before.
However, this combination might shine most brightly on the ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air.
Why the iPhone 17 Air is the ideal match for iOS 26
As I watched the WWDC keynote, I found myself thinking that the iPhone Federighi used seemed too outdated for the innovative software.
The bulkiness of current iPhones just doesn’t seem to complement Liquid Glass appropriately.
This is, of course, a matter of personal opinion. To me, Liquid Glass appears tailored for devices designed where the display takes center stage, with no competing design elements.
It embodies the dream of a “single slab of glass” design that Jony Ive has long envisioned.
This dream may find its complete form in 2027 with the expected launch of a special ‘all-screen’ iPhone for the 20th anniversary.
I have no doubt Liquid Glass will look stunning on that iPhone and on any future AR-enabled Apple Glasses.
But this year, the iPhone 17 Air seems to be the most fitting embodiment of this vision.
While Liquid Glass will certainly be a welcomed enhancement for all iPhone models, it is the iPhone 17 Air—with its remarkably sleek design—that could provide the most contemporary feel of the future.
When I observe iOS 26 alongside Liquid Glass, I envision a design tailored for lightweight, slim iPhones.
This is precisely what the iPhone 17 Air promises to deliver.
Do you believe iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design heightens the appeal of the iPhone 17 Air? Share your thoughts in the comments!
