Possible First Look at iOS 26? Former Apple Designer Imagines a “Glassy” New Style
Apple might be getting ready to shake things up with a fresh look for iOS. A new set of concept images by Sebastiaan de With, a former Apple designer, shows what the next big update, possibly iOS 26, could look like.
These renders aren’t official, but they’re getting attention because de With used to work with Apple, so there’s a good chance he knows what kind of direction the company might take.
The new design is being called “Glassy,” and the images show a sleek and modern style. It looks like Apple might be going for something that feels more real, like you could almost touch it. Instead of being flat and simple, the interface in these renders has depth, soft shadows, and blurry backgrounds that give it a layered feel.
De With’s vision takes inspiration from the idea of giving digital things a more physical feeling. He isn’t trying to bring back the old skeuomorphic look from early iPhones, but instead, he imagines something new that still feels alive and rich.
The designs use light, reflections, and gentle transparency to make apps and menus feel more immersive. As you move through the system, it might look like light is bouncing off glass or soft shadows are forming under buttons and windows.
“It’s not about bringing back old ideas, it’s about moving forward with more emotion and depth.”
Even though this isn’t coming from Apple directly, it still carries weight. Sebastiaan de With has worked closely with Apple’s design team in the past, so it’s possible his ideas are influenced by what’s happening behind the scenes. That doesn’t mean these images show exactly what we’ll get, but they give us a good guess at where things might be going.
People are now waiting to hear something official from Apple. Until then, these renders give fans something to get excited about. If Apple does go with a design like this, iOS 26 could feel more alive, more natural, and definitely more fun to use. The digital world might finally start feeling just a little more like the real one.
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