Is it Liquid Glass or Windows Vista redux? 

During WWDC, Apple debuted a major redesign for its software, including iOS and macOS. But Microsoft users tuning into Monday’s keynote experienced some déjà vu, and pointed out the similarities between Apple’s refresh and Windows Vista, an OS from nearly 20 years ago.

Apple’s “Liquid Glass” redesign aims to creates a translucent and polished user interface. Windows, toolbars, and buttons are transparent, “making the display feel even larger,” while bringing icons to life through dynamic color reflections, the company says. 

(Credit: Apple)

Although the redesign is meant to be new and fresh, some old-school Windows users experienced flashbacks. Apple’s approach looks and sounds very similar to the Windows Vista “Aero” interface, which also adopted a glass-like transparent design when it debuted in 2007.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

“Apple’s Liquid Glass = Windows Vista Aero 2.0,” one user on X/Twitter said. “This is nostalgia slathered in Cupertino polish.”

“Time is really a flat circle,” another user said. 

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Aero stood for “Authentic, Energetic, Reflective, Open.” Its transparency design element persisted into Windows 7, but Microsoft retired the Aero interface with Windows 8 and 10. 

To be fair, Apple’s redesign looks far more modern, and was designed for mobile devices, including the iPad and iPhone, not just PCs. Some observers also expect Cupertino’s approach will be better since Apple is promising all the design elements can dynamically change in real-time, whereas Microsoft’s Aero interface was more static.

Apple plans on releasing public betas for iOS, macOS, and iPadOS next month before an official release later in the fall. 

Apple Unveils Liquid Glass, a New Design Language

Get Our Best Stories!

Love All Things Apple?

Sign up for our Weekly Apple Brief for the latest news, reviews, tips, and more delivered right to your inbox.

By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Thanks for signing up!

Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!

About Michael Kan

Senior Reporter

I’ve been working as a journalist for over 15 years—I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017.

Read Michael’s full bio

Read the latest from Michael Kan