Let’s be honest: few iOS design changes have sparked as much debate as Liquid Glass. When Apple first introduced it with iOS 26, the internet immediately split into two camps. Some people loved the fresh, translucent look, while others couldn’t stand it and felt it made parts of the interface harder to read. I happened to be firmly in the first camp. At the time, I was using an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and installing the update was one of the first things I did. I loved how the new design made iOS feel more modern and dynamic. The transparency effects gave the interface a sense of depth, making the entire experience feel fresh again.
That said, it’s easy to understand why not everyone felt the same way. After months of feedback, screenshots, hot takes, and endless debates online, Apple eventually responded by giving users more control. Instead of forcing everyone into the same look, it introduced options that let people choose between a clearer glass effect and a more tinted appearance. With iOS 27, Apple is putting the Liquid Glass debate completely in your hands. A new slider lets you customize the effect exactly the way you want it, whether you prefer a crystal-clear look or something easier on the eyes. Here’s what it does and how to make the most of it on your iPhone.
The slider that settles the debate
The Liquid Glass slider is essentially Apple’s way of letting you decide how much of the new design language you actually want to see. In everyday use, that means you can customize the experience to match your preferences. If you’re like me and enjoy the full Liquid Glass aesthetic, you can keep things more transparent and let your wallpaper shine through menus, widgets, and system panels. It gives iOS a lighter, more layered feel that really shows off the design Apple has been building toward.
On the other hand, if you find all that transparency distracting or simply prefer a cleaner look, you can dial up the tint. Doing so makes interface elements more robust and improves contrast, making text and buttons easier to read at a glance. What I like most is that Apple is no longer treating customization as an all-or-nothing choice. You don’t have to love Liquid Glass exactly as Apple designed it, nor do you have to turn it off entirely. The new slider lets you find a middle ground that works for your eyes and your style, making iOS feel a little more personal.
The road to Liquid Glass starts here
Before you start tweaking the Liquid Glass slider, you’ll need access to iOS 27. I’ve been testing the feature on my iPhone 16e through Apple’s developer beta, which is currently the only way to try it out. If you’re comfortable running beta software, getting started is fairly straightforward. Anyone can enroll in Apple’s developer program for free and gain access to the latest developer builds. Once you’ve signed up, simply open the Settings app, go to General, tap Software Update, and select Beta Updates. Choose the iOS 27 Developer Beta from the list, and the update should appear on your iPhone within a few moments.
That said, beta software isn’t for everyone. Early builds can occasionally be buggy, and some apps may not work exactly as expected. If your iPhone is your primary device and you’d rather avoid the risks of pre-release software, there’s nothing wrong with sitting this one out. The good news is that the wait shouldn’t be too long. Apple will eventually bring the feature to everyone through the public release of iOS 27, so if you’d rather have a more stable experience, it may be worth holding off for a little while longer.
Time to play with the slider
Actually changing the Liquid Glass effect is surprisingly simple. Once your iPhone is running iOS 27, open the Settings app and look for the Appearance section. From there, tap Liquid Glass to access the new customization controls. This is where you’ll find Apple’s new Liquid Glass slider. Unlike the older setup, which limited you to a couple of preset looks, the slider gives you much finer control over the effect. The best part is that you don’t have to guess what each setting does because the interface changes instantly as you adjust it.
I spent a few minutes moving the slider back and forth just to see how different parts of iOS reacted. Sliding it toward one end makes menus, panels, and interface elements appear more transparent, allowing more of your wallpaper and background content to shine through. Moving it in the opposite direction adds more tint and contrast, giving the interface a cleaner and more solid appearance. There’s no right or wrong setting here, which is what makes the feature so useful. You can leave it at either extreme or settle somewhere in the middle if you want a balance between style and readability. As you move the slider, iOS previews the changes in real time, making it easy to find a look that feels right without constantly jumping between menus. My advice to you would be not to rush it. Spend a minute experimenting with different levels of transparency and tint. You might be surprised by how much a small adjustment can change the overall feel of your iPhone.
The best iPhone look is the one you choose
One thing I’ve always appreciated about iPhone is having the ability to make the experience feel a little more personal, and the new Liquid Glass slider fits perfectly into that idea. I’ve been running iOS 27 on my iPhone 16e for over a week now, and while this might seem like a relatively small addition on paper, it’s one of those features that makes a difference every time you pick up your phone. More importantly, it feels like a sign of where Apple is heading with iOS: giving users more flexibility without making the software feel complicated. And from everything I’ve seen so far, that’s a direction I’m happy to see the company take.
There’s still plenty for me to explore in iOS 27, and I’m sure more surprises will reveal themselves over the coming weeks. But if you’re eager to try the new design for yourself, my advice is simple: be patient. The stable release will almost certainly offer a smoother experience than the early beta builds, letting you enjoy all these new features without the usual beta headaches. When that update finally arrives, the Liquid Glass slider is one of the first settings I’d recommend checking out. You might be surprised by how much a small adjustment can change the way your iPhone feels.
