The Liquid Glass interface, introduced in iOS 26, divided opinion for its hyper-translucent aesthetic, and while some praised its futuristic look, others found it distracting and difficult to read, with reports of eye strain.

With iOS 26.1, Apple has introduced a “Tinted” mode for the feature, allowing users to reduce transparency and improve contrast.

The toggle, located under Settings - Display and Brightness - Liquid Glass, lets users choose between the default Clear mode and the new Tinted appearance.

Combined with existing accessibility options like “Increase Contrast,” users can now fine-tune the look of their iPhone’s interface for comfort.

Beyond the visual overhaul, Apple is also refining how users wake up.

The update changes the alarm system to require a swipe instead of a tap to turn it off - helping prevent sleepy users from silencing alarms too easily.

The snooze button remains a tap, creating a clearer, more deliberate distinction between the two actions.

Apple Music has also received a usability boost, as users can now swipe left or right on the MiniPlayer to skip between songs, improving one-handed navigation.

Security also sees a quiet upgrade, as a new toggle under Settings - Privacy and Security - Security Improvements allows automatic background security updates, providing small, behind-the-scenes fixes between major releases to better protect against new threats.

Finally, iOS 26.1 adds a Lock Screen Camera toggle, giving users the option to disable the left-swipe shortcut to prevent accidental launches - particularly useful for those with newer models featuring dedicated Camera Control buttons.

With iOS 26.1, Apple appears focused on polish, personalisation, and protection - addressing user feedback while continuing to refine its AI-enhanced design language.