Apple has unveiled a range of enhancements to Liquid Glass, its translucent visual design system. A key feature is a new transparency slider that allows users to adjust the frosted-glass effect, which had drawn mixed reactions since its launch last year. These updates were showcased at WWDC 2026, coinciding with the release of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.
What Is Liquid Glass, and Why Does This Matter?
Liquid Glass is Apple’s design language, introduced in 2025, that influences the visual style of buttons, menus, and windows across its operating systems. It moved away from the flat, solid-color design many iPhone users had been accustomed to since iOS 7, opting for a layered, translucent look reminiscent of frosted glass overlaid on the background.
However, many users weren’t fans. Since its launch, Liquid Glass has sparked debate, with complaints about readability and a sometimes overwhelming aesthetic. Apple seems to have taken this feedback seriously.
The Opacity Slider: You’re Now in Charge
The main highlight of the Liquid Glass update is an opacity slider integrated into iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. This control lets you adjust how transparent or solid the interface appears. Slide it one way, and you get the full Liquid Glass effect. Slide it the other, and the interface becomes more opaque, improving readability—closer to the look some users preferred before.
Think of it like changing the tint on your sunglasses. You can go for a light tint or almost clear, depending on what suits you best. This level of visual control throughout the system is pretty rare for Apple, which has usually made broad design changes and expected users to adapt.
Other iOS 27 Changes Worth Knowing
The Liquid Glass update is part of a larger iOS 27 release focusing on performance and personalization. According to The Verge, this update will support devices all the way back to the iPhone 11, allowing many existing iPhone users to upgrade this fall without needing new hardware.
On the iPad front, iPadOS 27 is set to deliver significant speed improvements. Apps will launch up to 30 percent faster by preloading essential data in the background. Switching between multiple apps will feel more responsive. For anyone using an iPad for work or creative tasks, you’ll notice that kind of speed in your daily routine.
Apple also introduced Siri AI, a revamped version of its voice assistant, along with a new dictation feature that competes directly with tools like Wispr Flow, as reported by TechCrunch.
| Apple — Company Snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Ticker | AAPL |
| Stock Price | $308.51 (+0.38%) |
| CEO | Tim Cook |
| Headquarters | Cupertino, CA |
| Founded | 1976 |
| iOS 27 Oldest Supported Device | iPhone 11 |
| iPadOS 27 App Launch Speed Improvement | Up to 30% faster |
What This Means for You
If you updated to the latest iPhone software and found the Liquid Glass design hard on your eyes, iOS 27 offers a solid solution. The opacity slider is not just an accessibility feature—it’s a main option Apple is promoting. You can customize the look to your liking instead of settling for Apple’s default settings.
iPad users will especially appreciate the 30 percent faster app launch speed. This improvement is something you’ll notice right away, especially if you frequently switch apps throughout the day. Plus, if you’ve got an iPhone 11 or newer, you’ll be able to get the full update this fall at no extra cost.
This shift shows Apple is starting to embrace a bit more visual flexibility. It’s different from their usual approach of deciding what’s best and rolling it out to everyone. It’ll be interesting to see if this trend continues beyond this one slider.
Community Reactions
“The opacity slider is genuinely the most exciting thing Apple announced. I’ve been using reduce transparency since day one because Liquid Glass gave me a headache.”
“30% faster app launches on iPadOS 27 is huge for my workflow. That plus better multitasking switching might finally make the iPad feel like it keeps up with me.”
What To Watch
- Developer betas: iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 developer betas should be available soon after WWDC, providing a clearer view of how the opacity slider functions across various apps and interfaces.
- Public beta: Apple usually opens its public beta program in July, allowing non-developers to test the changes a few months before the official release.
- Fall release: iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 are expected to launch this fall, likely alongside new iPhone models. CNET notes that iOS 27 will support devices starting from the iPhone 11.
- Third-party app adoption: Keep an eye on how quickly popular apps update their interfaces to support the new Liquid Glass controls and whether the opacity preference is consistently available.
Maya Torres
Maya Torres is the Consumer Tech Editor at Explosion.com with 7 years covering product launches for major technology publications. She has reviewed over 300 devices across smartphones, laptops, wearables, and smart home products. Maya specializes in translating spec sheets into real-world buying advice and attends CES, MWC, and Apple keynotes as press. Her reviews focus on helping readers decide what to buy, not just what specs look good on paper.
