Apple prepares dual software rollout addressing user concerns while moving forward with the next update cycle.
Apple is poised to release iOS 26.1 to the public on Monday, November 3, following more than a month of beta testing, with the first developer beta of iOS 26.2 expected to arrive as soon as the following day, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The iOS 26.1 update, while modest in scope, directly addresses one of the most contentious aspects of Apple's latest mobile operating system: the Liquid Glass visual redesign introduced at WWDC 2025.
Liquid Glass Gets a Tinted Option
The centerpiece of iOS 26.1 is a new toggle allowing users to adjust the appearance of Liquid Glass, Apple's transparent interface overhaul that sparked considerable debate among iPhone users. The update will offer users a choice between a "Clear" option with more transparency and a "Tinted" option that provides greater opacity.
The modification comes after users voiced concerns about readability and performance lag caused by the Liquid Glass animations. Apple introduced the tinted setting in the fourth beta of iOS 26.1, demonstrating the company's willingness to respond to user feedback while maintaining its design vision.
Eight New Features and Improvements
Beyond the Liquid Glass adjustment, iOS 26.1 includes several additional features designed to enhance user control and functionality:
- Enhanced Lock Screen Controls: Users can now disable the swipe-left gesture to open the Camera app from the Lock Screen through a new toggle in Settings, providing greater customization for those who frequently trigger the camera accidentally.
- Refined Alarm Interface: The Clock app introduces a "slide to stop" control for alarms and timers, replacing the large stop button that users could inadvertently tap. This change follows Apple's decision to significantly increase the button size in iOS 26, which apparently led to usability issues.
- Music Navigation Upgrade: Apple Music users can now swipe on the music player to switch between songs, streamlining the listening experience.
- Apple TV Rebranding: The update lays groundwork for Apple's announced rebranding of Apple TV+ to simply Apple TV, featuring a more colorful app icon as part of what Apple describes as a "vibrant new identity."
- Expanded Apple Intelligence: The AI features now support eight additional languages: Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese.
- Broader AirPods Translation: Live Translation on AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3 now works with Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Chinese (Traditional and Simplified).
- Security Enhancement Overhaul: Apple has revamped its Rapid Security Response feature into "Background Security Improvements," allowing automatic downloads and installations of stopgap security patches between full iOS updates.
iOS 26.2 Beta on the Horizon
Following Monday's iOS 26.1 release, Apple plans to launch the first developer beta of iOS 26.2 on Tuesday, barring any last-minute delays, Gurman reported. The beta should accompany similar releases for Apple's other platforms.
While Gurman indicates there might not be "major new features" in the initial beta, the update cycle could bring important additions over time. Apple has committed to releasing US passport support in Apple Wallet before year's end, though it's unclear whether this will tie to iOS 26.2. The company has also promised end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging in future software updates.
Based on previous release patterns, iOS 26.2 is expected to launch to the public in December.
A Response to User Concerns
The rapid turnaround from iOS 26.1's public release to the iOS 26.2 beta launch underscores Apple's commitment to maintaining its aggressive update schedule while addressing user feedback. The Liquid Glass controversy, in particular, demonstrated how visual changes to iOS can generate significant user response, prompting Apple to offer flexibility without abandoning its design direction.
As iPhone users prepare for Monday's update, the new Liquid Glass toggle represents a compromise between Apple's design ambitions and practical user needs—a balance the company will likely continue to refine as it moves toward iOS 26.2 and beyond.
