During the WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple unveiled a big design revamp for iOS 26, the successor to iOS 18. The Liquid Glass redesign takes a lot from visionOS, and adopts a glass-like transparent look for key UI elements. Three apps that have benefited from this new look are Camera, Photos, and FaceTime.
The Camera app streamlines controls
Credit: Apple
The Camera app in particular has been in need of streamlining for a while, and Apple has made an attempt to address it, and the Photos app, which already got a redesign last year, now has a bit more refinement with iOS 26, starting with a new icon, which looks quite a bit like the camera lens from Apple’s good old Aperture for Mac. This is a significant improvement over the rather generic iOS Camera icon that’s been around for a few years.
Apple has also given the Camera app a simplified design, which highlights just the two buttons, one for photos and the other for videos. Tapping these buttons opens up more options, which makes it easier to navigate. When you’re in the Videos tab, you can swipe to access different video modes, and the same thing applies to the Photos tab. You’ll see the Liquid Glass design show up when you’re trying to select video recording modes, for example.
The Photos app builds on that controversial redesign
Credit: Apple
The Photos app also has a few neat changes for iOS 26, building upon the changes in the controversial overhaul the app received last year. The biggest change, other than the Liquid Glass UI, is the positioning of the buttons. Apple has moved the search button to the bottom-right corner of the display, where you can actually tap it without stretching your finger like a yogi. Two other buttons, Library and Collections, are in the bottom-left corner, and all three buttons follow the Liquid Glass design, obviously.
FaceTime moves things around
Credit: Apple
FaceTime also has embraced iOS 26’s Liquid Glass redesign. All the call controls buttons have been moved to the bottom right, which is a welcome change given how big iPhones have become over the years. The FaceTime photo (aka screenshot) button has moved to the top-right, and the buttons fade out once the call begins, but you can tap the screen to access them again.
