iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design Could Signal Future Bezel-Free iPhone

[MacRumors]

Apple's divisive new Liquid Glass design language in iOS 26 could be hinting at a major hardware redesign coming to future iPhones, reckons veteran app developer Craig Hockenberry of The Iconfactory.

In a blog post published this week titled "Liquid Glass. Why?", Hockenberry argues that unlike the transition from iOS 6 to iOS 7, which addressed a genuine need for simplified interfaces, no one outside Apple was clamoring for "more fluid glass in our designs."

Recalling Apple's unveiling of Liquid Glass during WWDC, the developer reflects:

Of particular note during the introduction is how much time they spend showing off glass blocks and talking about the physical effect itself. While not addressing the most important question: "why do we need this?"

And I'm pretty sure the answer is "we don't." The answer is "Apple does."

Notably, Hockenberry suspects Liquid Glass is preparing developers for major upcoming hardware changes further down the line. While updating his apps for iOS 26, he says he noticed a clear pattern in Apple's design requirements: "You never want a control or container that touches the edge of the screen."

The requirement reminds Hockenberry of iOS 11's safe area insets, which seemed pointless at the time – until 2017's iPhone X later introduced the notch and a home indicator in lieu of a Home button. Hockenberry believes the similar requirement in Liquid Glass is Apple laying groundwork for devices with "wraparound" screens, "where the screen disappears seamlessly into the physical edge" using flexible OLED technology.

It's a plausible theory, given recent reports about Apple's plans for the iPhone's milestone anniversary in 2027. Korean publication ETNews has claimed Apple is developing "four-edge bending" displays that would wrap around all sides of the device, creating a truly bezel-free design.

Bloomberg and The Information have corroborated similar rumors, describing Apple's 20th anniversary device as a "mostly glass, curved iPhone without any cutouts." If Hockenberry is correct, iOS 26's edge-conscious design rules could well be preparing for Apple's most ambitious iPhone redesign yet. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design Could Signal Future Bezel-Free iPhone

 

[surfzen21]

That's kinda awful TBH.

Either it becomes ridiculous because it has a case or its constantly slipping out of your hand and breaking.

 

[jonnysods]

I had wondered if there was going to be a change in the iPhone design to help this make a bit of sense. Having said that, watching the rapid design changes in the betas tells me that it may not be as well thought out as this article states.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Why? To what benefit?

 

[Marty80]

Oh man I am still counting down the days to the launch iPhone 17 pro max to replace my 12 pro max. After the long wait, I’am now reading this article and just noticed the word of the day on my homescreen which is not making it easy for me.

 

[wikiverse]

That's kinda awful TBH.

Either it becomes ridiculous because it has a case or its constantly slipping out of your hand and breaking.

Nah. This is TRUE innovation. The curved, out-ward facing corners on an iPhone have always been wasted real estate, covered by cases, that was just begging for more screen space.

Aside from the fact that Samsung already tried the Galaxy Edge, and then stopped because it was pretty useless and mostly annoying, the all- glass design is just bad design.

And 'liquid glass' design is also just bad design.

I feel like a broken record at this point, but objects are designed to be seen OR seen through. Never both. It's why we use whiteboards with coloured markers and don't write on windows with white markers.

 

[SexExpert]

I've read the article ten times and fail to see a connection where the iPhone being bezel free necessitates the Liquid Ass design overhaul. Not saying it won't happen, but I don't see how they're connected.

Can't wait for apps with UI elements right on the edge of the phone that are a massive pain in the ass to use.

 

[iToph]

The next big thing will be 3d display without glasses. Mark my words, you red it here in this post first. That's a way more likely use case for liquid design. so many new features go towards real 3d.

 

[youteonduty]

the idea is to come up with a modern design and look which will eventually put more load on the older phones, resulting in an upgrade which is a good thing !

 

[MayaUser]

the structure needs frame..so this is impossible..even samsung tried an so called walk-around with edge displays but still frame/bezel

 

[dimon2242]

Hello phantom taps

 

[Rradcircless]

the idea is to come up with a modern design and look which will eventually put more load on the older phones, resulting in an upgrade which is a good thing !

My iPhone 11 eats liquid glass for breakfast 🤷‍♂️ and it was dying at the point I bought the then new 16 Plus.

 

[Kissmo1980]

I can see how people dislike Liquid Glass - personally I prefer it to the flat design. I still miss the skeu... whatever you spell that word....
It is close to Aqua a bit... has something that remind me of the good old Mac OS Snow Leopard days


Anyway, having a full slab of glass is something I cannot imagine as a safe device, as I can see this being hit and cracked constantly.
Most of the hits the phone takes happen on the side.

I cannot see either any correlation between liquid glass and having a whole glass device.
I don't see the need for a glass display another liquid glass???.... they can just display the stuff... it's glass!
It's like asking a politician to BS people.... They do that by default.

 

[Slo Pesci]

Most annoying iPhone user complaints, "bring back the mini" and "omg still 60hz".

But how hilarious would it be if Apple released a bezel-less phone before giving their normal phones 120hz 😂

 

[Oestreich Dieter]

That's kinda awful TBH.

Either it becomes ridiculous because it has a case or its constantly slipping out of your hand and breaking.

I dont put cases on my iPhones. I do attach a low profile finger grip on the back, so I never drop my iPhones either.

 

[RobertALewis]

The bezels are too thin now. The amount of times I find my screen "unresponsive" only to realize a part of my hand that is holding the phone has folded around front and is just a mm over the bezel and touching the screen is maddening. And I know I am about to get hit with "you're holding it wrong", to which I say, it's the same way I have held it since iPhone 3G. Also, if a design is so delicate it can only be held in one exacting manner, it is a poor compromise of a design.

 

[neotint]

“Edgeless” screens: Again the big question is… why? What problems does this solve? I remember using an “edgeless” Samsung Galaxy years ago and it made tapping certain things frustrating unresponsive on UI that scrolled. A user couldn't tap a clickable UI element on the edge. Like “liquid glass” gimmicks we don’t need more wonky UX. So frustrating. But more significantly the first thing most people do, especially active people, is slap a good protective case on their phone as as soon as they buy a new phone. Why? Because the “gorgeous” design of the phone is slippy, and it’s so expensive and core to daily life it needs to be more rugged. Why doesn’t Apple solve for that?

If tech journalists focused more on user experience and actual human needs in their reviews and raves we would have better products instead of companies chasing shiny gimmicks because so many tech bloggers and journos know next to nothing about HCI, IxD, and UX in general.

 

[rymc02]

Why? To what benefit?

I feel like Apple stopped asking this question a while ago. The gold Apple Watch, the MacBook Touch Bar, The Butterfly Keyboard, Vision Pro, new rumors of an HomePod with a Screen, a swinging robot arm thing. All while completely ignoring the things people kept asking for like a competent Siri for one.

 

[adrianlondon]

Once they invent Grippy Glass* then this will be a great idea.

* You saw it named here first. I'll sue ...

 

[artifex]

Oh man I am still counting down the days to the launch iPhone 17 pro max to replace my 12 pro max. After the long wait, I’am now reading this article and just noticed the word of the day on my homescreen which is not making it easy for me.

View attachment 2538934

Do it for your animal friends, who are so looking forward to it.

 

[ItsASpider]

Apple was already running behind even mid-end offerings when the notch was introduced, then kept that notch at a gigantic size for multiple years before finally switching to a punch hole, which ended up being the biggest punch hole we've seen on a phone in a decade that, as of today, they have yet to shrink down.

But sure, Apple will soon have an all-screen iPhone...

 

[2low_tech]

I'm not a developer, but this seems logical to me. Get the apps ready 2 years out from a major hardware change.

 

[m4mario]

The real use of liquid glass is AR glasses. Until then, it's a shiny new UI with next-gen fluidity and transparency effects.

 

[ZeromusZeromus]

Uh won’t liquid glass without bezels just mean my hands will get wet????

 

[bluecoast]

Agree with the linked article.

I’d imagine they Apple are not going to go the way of the curved display galaxy edge of a few years back.

But rather something where the join of the screen to the chassis appears seamless - but not necessarily curved.

And incidentally who would make this ceramic chassis - along with the ceramic screen?

Corning undoubtedly.

And didn’t Apple announce a year or so back, that they’d made a billion dollar joint venture investment with Corning to develop new ceramic materials?

Hmmm.