Microsoft Trolls Apple’s Liquid Glass UI — “We Did It First”

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Synopsis

Apple’s new Liquid Glass UI design in iOS 26 sparks nostalgia, criticism, and viral trolling, with Microsoft suggesting it’s just a polished Vista reboot.

Key takeaways

• Microsoft’s viral TikTok suggests Apple copied its 2006 Aero Glass interface.
• Apple’s new UI is being compared to retro software from before the iPhone era.
• The debate reopens old wounds over who pioneered the concept of translucent design.
• Users are split between nostalgia for Vista and admiration for Apple’s physics-based polish.

Apple’s Liquid Glass design: A “Modern” throwback?

At its WWDC 2025 event, Apple described its new Liquid Glass UI — rolling out with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26 — as “delightful,” “elegant,” and “modern.”

But not everyone agreed. While Apple credits VisionOS as its primary design inspiration, the transparent elements immediately reminded many of much older software, like Windows Vista from 2006.

Some even joked that Apple took a step back into the past. Among the loudest voices? Microsoft.

Microsoft trolls Apple with a viral TikTok

Microsoft’s official Windows account wasted no time capitalising on the moment.

In a now-viral TikTok post, it shared a cheeky compilation of screenshots from Windows Vista and Windows 7, captioned: “Just gonna leave this here.”

It wasn’t subtle. It was an apparent jab at Apple’s supposedly “new” UI direction — one that looked suspiciously like Vista’s Aero Glass interface, which featured frosted, translucent window borders long before iPhones were even a thing.

And TikTok lapped it up. The video has racked up 1.5 million views and over 5,000 comments, quickly becoming one of Microsoft’s most-watched clips in recent weeks.

Nostalgia vs innovation

While some users found the trolling hilarious, others saw it as ironic. After all, Windows famously dropped its Aero UI with Windows 8 — a move many now call a mistake.

“OK, now bring it back, and we’ll forgive you for Windows 8,” one user quipped.
“Dropping this style was a mistake,” another added.

But others came to Apple’s defence, pointing out that Liquid Glass is more than just aesthetic flair.

It’s a hardware-accelerated system that incorporates real reflections, physical distortion, dynamic blur, and a feel that mimics the experience of using glass. A user argued:

“Apple made a new real glass software… Windows thinks they copied them when, in fact, they look nothing like them. Guess what? They’ll copy it eventually.”

In this light, Microsoft’s post is less a roast and more a boomerang. Some users are even calling Vista the real imitator, saying its glassy style borrowed heavily from Mac OS X Aqua, which debuted back in 2000.

The corner radius controversy

Adding fuel to the fire, macOS Tahoe 26 has stirred up another heated debate: the corner radiuses.

Critics are obsessed with the exact curvature, comparing it to old UI shapes and arguing that Apple is splitting hairs under the guise of innovation.

It’s a classic example of Apple’s perfectionism turning into a public spectacle — and a reminder that design, even at the pixel level, is now pop culture.

Who really invented the Glass?

This isn’t the first time Apple has been accused of repackaging old tech with new polish. From “Apple Intelligence” to “Center Stage,” critics argue the company rebrands existing ideas and wins on execution and hype.

“It’s not always about being the first to do it but being the one that does it well,” one user noted, summing up what many see as Apple’s secret sauce.

Another comment cut deeper: “It took 8,000 errors, 2,500 viruses, and 700 blue screens to make this video.”

Ultimately, this meme war reflects something more profound — the nostalgia, rivalry, and brand mythology that define tech culture.

Apple’s Liquid Glass might not be revolutionary in concept, but it’s causing a storm that’s part innovation and part déjà vu.

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