Apple finally realized not everyone wants to stare through glass

Apple seems to get that now. By giving users a choice, it’s acknowledging that the “ideal interface” isn’t universal. This isn’t a radical redesign; it’s subtle, but it matters, because it means Apple listens.

A more tinted version of the Liquid Glass design might just sit right with more people. After all, readability is key on your smartphone, right? I mean, that’s the kind of subtle improvement that can make the difference between loving your phone and silently cursing it every time you open a tab.

A small update that says a lot

So with iOS 26.1, users get the best of both worlds – all the big wins from iOS 26 like the improved Camera app, better Phone app, smarter Visual Intelligence, and my personal favorite, the spatial wallpapers and Lock Screen setup – plus a new option to make the parts you didn’t like a little less messy.

But here’s what I’ve been wondering: why did Apple introduce Liquid Glass in the first place, knowing it might get mixed reactions? Especially after the whole “upgraded Siri” fiasco and the still not fully rolled out Apple Intelligence.

Because if you look at it closely, Liquid Glass does feel a bit unfinished. And this new update kind of proves that. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe Apple is laying the groundwork for something bigger and just testing the waters to see if people are ready for it – or even want it.

The all-screen iPhone?

Liquid Glass might actually be the first step toward the rumored all-screen iPhone, expected to arrive in a couple of years. The goal seems to be making the software and hardware feel like one continuous surface – more fluid, more transparent, more seamless.

Rumors actually suggest the iPhone 18 Pro could even introduce some kind of “transparent” aesthetic on the outside, while iOS 27 might double down on that look. If we let our imagination run wild, this could all lead to a see-through iPhone. Whether anyone really asked for that is another story.

• Phone with a transparent screen: is that even possible?

What else will iOS 26.1 bring?

Of course, the new Liquid Glass option isn’t the only thing on the way. iOS 26.1 will also bring a “slide to stop” feature for alarms and timers, new Apple Intelligence languages, and a redesigned Apple TV app icon.

There’s also a small but useful new toggle in Settings – “Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera” – that lets you disable that quick swipe-left gesture if it keeps triggering by accident.

Nothing groundbreaking overall, but that’s fine. iOS 26.1 isn’t meant to be huge – the real leap already happened with iOS 26. This one’s more of a refinement pass, and honestly, that’s exactly what it needed to be.