This post, first published on March 15, was updated on March 18 with further details about Liquid Glass and how it will likely be refined, both in the coming days, with an iOS 26 update, and in the future.
If you have one of the iPhones below and haven’t upgraded to the latest software cycle, iOS 26, due to the new design, you should do so now because Liquid Glass is sticking, a new report claims.
Apple iPhone 16
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Which iPhones are affected?
There are countless iPhones that support iOS 26. Every model from the iPhone 11 series to the iPhone 16 series is included. That also means the second and third generation iPhone SE. The latest iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air remain unaffected as they had iOS 26 installed at launch.
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Apple introduced a controversial new design when it launched iOS 26 in September 2025. But adoption was slower at first, partly because the new Liquid Glass design wasn’t universally loved.
In Britain, this situation could be called ‘a bit of Marmite’, referring to the spread of yeast extract that people either love or hate. (So you know, it’s actually delicious and the haters are completely wrong.)
The future of iPhone software design
For Liquid Glass, some felt the new design hindered clarity or made items less readable. But the latest edition of Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter for Bloomberg describes what’s going on. “The response hasn’t been all positive. Apple software updates always lead to complaints – and this was the most dramatic overhaul of the iPhone and iPad operating systems in 12 years,” he said.
But in late 2025, Apple’s head of human interface Alan Dye left the company, meaning some thought the situation would change and Liquid Glass could be scrapped.
“Dye oversaw the development and introduced the interface, and some wondered whether Apple would still be committed to it. There was also increasing praise for Dye’s replacement, Steve Lemay, from both inside and outside Apple – with some even citing him as a kind of savior who would steer Apple in a new direction,” Gurman continued.
“The reality, however, is that Liquid Glass isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The interface was the culmination of a years-long effort… Due to the timelines involved, it would likely take years for a major shift away from Liquid Glass to become a reality,” he said.
Gurman also said that even if there is no reversal, it appears that refinements will continue to occur. They are already happening in the beta version of iOS 26.4, with options to soften the glass effect.
“During the development of iOS 26, Apple had been working on a system-wide slider that would allow users to precisely control the level of the glass effect,” Gurman explains. “The company was successful in implementing this feature for the lock screen clock, but encountered technical challenges when trying to extend it across the entire system – including app folders, the home screen and navigation bars.”
Additionally, the hesitation some felt about Liquid Glass may be tempered as the controls become simpler and more detailed.
“If Apple is able to get that system-wide control working as desired in iOS 27 – in addition to broader technical improvements – the entire conversation around Liquid Glass could change dramatically again,” Gurman reported.
Changes to Liquid Glass are coming in iOS 26.4
“The next major update for iOS is coming in a few days – the Release Candidate for iOS 26.4 arrived on March 18 – and introduces changes to Liquid Glass.
“Liquid Glass Effects: Users can now reduce or disable liquid glass highlights, a defining feature of recent iOS designs,” Geeky Gadgets reported.
“Options include adjusting clock effects on the lock screen, changing hue settings under ‘Display & Brightness’ and allowing the new ‘Reduce Bright Effects’ feature to minimize liquid glass highlights during scrolling and interactions,” it continued.
This will satisfy some users who want more granular control over the design, even if the full on/off slider isn’t expected until the fall.
The risks of staying on iOS 18
While iOS 26 adoption has accelerated significantly after a slow start, there are still millions of iPhones running iOS 18 that can run iOS 26. Since the aforementioned phones will no longer receive updates for iOS 18, all those iPhones aren’t exactly safe.
If you’re in doubt, update now: the latest release, iOS 26.3.1, looks very different from the early versions of iOS 26, with recently added refinements to the appearance.
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