How Android and iOS copy features from each other is pretty inevitable at this point. At WWDC 2025, we got more of that. What’s interesting to me is how Android 16 QPR1 and iOS 26 are getting new design languages in the same year.
Liquid Glass vs. Material 3 Expressive
Liquid Glass is Apple’s new design language across iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS, and visionOS. It’s translucent and “behaves like glass in the real world.” At first glance, it just looks like a blur effect, but the sense of depth — due to physical layering — it subtly conveys looks interesting and is worth a closer look. There’s also a stretchiness to elements that looks gooey.
What’s more notable than the new visuals you see is how Apple redesigned common components system-wide. This major redesign gives Apple a chance to rethink things like bottom bars and menus. It looks to go further than Material 3 Expressive.
For example, all bottom bars appear to be replaced by floating pills and — as needed — FABs (floating action buttons) at the right. The idea is to show more content. When Google was exploring something similar, the issue I found was how much more content would you get to really see in switching from a bottom bar. At best, it’s a sliver at the bottom, left, and right edge. In going translucent, Apple’s approach has the illusion of surfacing more visible content than there really is.
Another example is how “alerts appear from where you tap” instead of spanning the entire width of your screen.
Additionally, “context menus expand into an easily scannable list.”
Apple wants to “make something purely digital feel natural and alive.” Just from today’s keynote, there’s a coldness to iOS 26 and Liquid Glass compared to Material 3 Expressive and its color theming.
One last thing I’d note is how Apple made a point of saying how the goal is to be “more personal and puts greater focus on your content, all while still feeling instantly familiar.” That last line is quite important for mature operating systems used by a billion+ users. In that regard, Google (at least on Pixel) is taking a bigger swing with M3 Expressive.
iOS Call Screening + Hold Assist vs. Pixel Call Screen + Hold for Me
Like Call Screen on Pixel, “Call Screening” will silently answer unknown numbers to get their name and reason for calling, with the lockscreen showing a UI while this is happening. Afterwards, your phone will ring with that response noted.
Meanwhile, “Hold Assist” (versus Hold for Me) will “keep your spot in line while you wait for a live agent.” It works by automatically detecting hold music, with “Hold This Call?” appearing as an option. Audio will be muted until a person comes to the phone.
iOS Visited Places vs. Google Maps Timeline
Apple Maps is getting a Google Maps Timeline-like feature with “Visited Places.” Your iPhone will detect when you’re at restaurants, shops, etc., with the ability to “Search Places You’ve Been.” It looks to be more focused on specific locations than a minute location timeline. Apple touts end-to-end encryption.
iOS Highlight to Search vs. Android Circle to Search
Apple’s take on Circle to Screen is integrated into the existing screenshot workflow/button combination. Capture controls appear at the top, while the bottom is home to Image Search, while you can “Highlight to Search.” It can tap into Google Search and third-party apps like Etsy or Pinterest, while you can use it to quickly send an image + prompt to ChatGPT. If you capture event details, there will be an “Add to Calendar” shortcut that automatically extracts information.
Miscellaneous
Digital ID: Like Google Wallet, Apple will let you create a Digital ID based on your US passport. It can be used at supported TSA checkpoints, inside apps, and in-person for age and identity verification.
Camera: With its new Liquid Glass design language, Apple took the opportunity to redesign system apps. Camera has gotten much simpler, with a Video and Camera switcher that’s reminiscent of Pixel Camera. You swipe left/right on that to get more modes instead of how Pixel shows them in the row above.
Apple Music pinning: Like YouTube Music
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