Apple's latest update lets users tone down the controversial Liquid Glass effect while delivering stability improvements and bug fixes.
Apple's rolled out iOS 26.1, and it's addressing the elephant in the room—or more accurately, the glossy transparency all over your screen. The update finally gives users a way to tone down the polarizing Liquid Glass effect while throwing in stability improvements and bug fixes for good measure.
Apple Listened (Sort Of)
The biggest news in iOS 26.1 is a new toggle that lets you dial back the Liquid Glass effect's intensity. Apple built this compromise after users didn't hold back their complaints about readability issues and laggy animations when the transparent redesign debuted at WWDC 2025.
The "Tinted" option keeps the redesign but makes it less aggressive, toning down that glossy look so you can actually read what's on your screen. It's a middle ground that lets Apple save face while giving users what they've been asking for since September.
On the battery front, switching between Clear and Tinted modes affects battery life. The good news? The effect is insignificant. So users can pick whichever one they prefer without worrying about their phone dying faster.
The Rest of the Package
Beyond giving you control over Liquid Glass, iOS 26.1 is pretty much a housekeeping update. On the face of it, it is more reliable, with fewer bugs. This is exactly what users wanted to hear after a major OS release.
There's a refreshed Apple TV icon, various bug fixes, and general stability improvements. Nothing flashy, but the kind of stuff that makes your phone work better day-to-day. Apple also dropped iPadOS 26.1 and macOS Tahoe 26.1 at the same time, keeping everything in sync.
And if you're the early adopter type, iOS 26.2 beta has also rolled out to developers. This could be a signal that Apple's not wasting any time heading into the holidays.
Who Can Get It
iOS 26.1 works on iPhone 11 and anything newer. Just head to Settings > General > Software Update to grab it. The rollout kicked off around 10:30 PM IST Monday night, following Apple's usual timing.
Apple seeded the release candidate to developers last week before pushing it to everyone else. That testing window helped catch issues before millions of people downloaded it.
What's Coming Next
Apple's already working on iOS 26.2, with the first developer beta drop coming soon. However, users should not expect anything groundbreaking right away, as Apple usually adds the good stuff in later beta versions.
Word on the street is that iOS 26.2 might bring US passport integration to Apple Wallet and possibly end-to-end encryption for RCS messages. Apple promised that RCS encryption would show up "in a future software update," but hasn't confirmed whether December is the month. We'll have to wait and see.
The public release should hit in December after a few weeks of beta testing. Like iOS 26.1, it'll probably focus more on polish than flashy new features.
Arpit is a dreamer, wanderer, and tech nerd who loves to jot down tech musings and updates. With a knack for crafting compelling narratives, Arpit has a sharp specialization in everything: from Predictive Analytics to Game Development, along with artificial intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, IoT, and let’s not forget SaaS, healthcare, and more. Arpit crafts content that’s as strategic as it is compelling. With a Logician's mind, he is always chasing sunrises and tech advancements while secretly preparing for the robot uprising.
