Apple’s Liquid Glass design is paving the way for AR glasses

During the highly anticipated WWDC 2025 event, Apple revealed a transformative new software design called Liquid Glass. This innovative visual interface offers a sneak peek into the company's expected augmented reality (AR) glasses, set to launch next year. The connection between Liquid Glass and the upcoming AR glasses stems from its design, which heavily echoes that of the Vision Pro VR headset. Liquid Glass is a fitting name, as it likens each smartphone window to a piece of transparent, reflective glass. While its initial beta version presents a streamlined appearance, Apple is still refining the opacity features. Although the Vision Pro headset, priced at $3,500, did not achieve substantial commercial success, its user experience design stands out. By layering virtual windows over the user's actual surroundings, Apple aims to minimize the disorienting effects commonly associated with prolonged virtual reality use. To remain competitive against offerings like Meta’s Ray-Bans and Google’s renewed smart glasses, Apple must venture into the realm of lighter hardware solutions. The company’s hallmark is its sleek and modern aesthetics—an advantage over competitors, save for the infamous 'notch' design flaw. According to insights from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the anticipated AR glasses will be equipped with cameras, microphones, and speakers. Additionally, Siri is expected to play a significant role, facilitating tasks such as phone calls, music playback, live translations, and providing navigational assistance. Users can anticipate seeing notifications, images, and various overlays on the display. For the AR glasses to be successful, Apple needs to ensure that these notifications seamlessly integrate into the user's environment, avoiding intrusive elements that could obstruct vision while on the move. While details about the forthcoming Apple AR glasses remain scarce, it’s likely that the Liquid Glass design will be a defining feature.