Key Points
- Apple is expected to release iOS 26.1, possibly as early as Monday.
- The update will include a toggle to reduce the “Liquid Glass” visual effect, addressing user complaints.
- iOS 26.1 will also feature an updated Apple TV icon and other bug fixes to improve reliability.
- The first developer beta for iOS 26.2 is expected to arrive the day after the public release of iOS 26.1.
It seems that all the user complaints about Apple’s “Liquid Glass” redesign might have actually made a difference. Apple may be offering a compromise with its next iOS update. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.1, which will include a toggle to reduce the Liquid Glass effect.
Gurman mentioned that the iOS 26.1 update could be available to users as early as Monday, with the first beta of iOS 26.2 for developers arriving the following day.
Apple first introduced Liquid Glass at WWDC 2025 as its next major visual overhaul. It didn’t take long for users to try it out and start criticizing it, pointing out problems with readability and lag caused by the animations. In response to these complaints, Apple added an option in the fourth beta of iOS 26.1 to apply a tinted setting to the transparent redesign.
While the upcoming iOS update won’t bring any revolutionary new features, Gurman said that it will be “more reliable, with fewer bugs.” In addition to the new Liquid Glass toggle, iOS 26.1 will also feature an updated Apple TV icon and other bug fixes, according to Gurman.
Looking forward, Apple is expected to follow its usual update schedule. This means that macOS 26.1 and the first beta of watchOS 26.2 should be released soon after the iOS update.
The new toggle switch seems to be Apple’s way of listening to its users, offering a middle ground for those who found the full Liquid Glass effect to be too much. It allows users who prefer a more traditional look or are experiencing performance issues to tone down the new visual style without completely disabling it. This move could help appease a significant portion of the user base that was unhappy with the redesign’s initial rollout.
