Apple has released the public beta for iOS 27, introducing a new slider that gives users direct control over the transparency of the company's Liquid Glass interface. The update, available in mid-July according to WIRED, allows iPhone users to adjust the translucency of the operating system from a more transparent to a more opaque appearance, with the full software release expected in September.
The Transparency Slider
The new setting is located in the Appearance tab under Settings, according to WIRED. Users can drag a slider to the left for a more transparent experience or to the right to increase opacity. Additionally, options to Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast remain available. The default setting is the standard Liquid Glass appearance introduced in 2025.
User Experience
WIRED writer Reece Rogers tested the maximum transparency setting for a week. He reported that the effect made notifications warp app icons beneath them, similar to glass refracting light. "The warping effect of Apple's Liquid Glass tugs at the edges of whatever's behind each notification," Rogers wrote. He noted that the increased depth reminded him of the parallax effect from iOS 7, which used the iPhone's gyroscope to make app icons appear to float above the background. Rogers found that after a few days, the transparency became normal to him, and he checked settings to confirm it was still enabled. He reported that legibility was rarely impacted, as the effect was often limited to menu bars and screen edges.
Comparison to iOS 7
The design choice echoes Apple's iOS 7 redesign, which introduced translucency, parallax, and motion. Former WIRED staffer Mat Honan described iOS 7 as giving the system a "dive-in quality" that appeared three-dimensional. Rogers experienced a similar sensation with the more transparent Liquid Glass in iOS 27.
"Translucency, parallax, animation, and motion (like a weather app showing falling snow) give the system a dive-in quality that it didn't have before. It appears three-dimensional in some ways." — Mat Honan, former WIRED staffer
Accessibility and Legibility
The update responds to criticism that the Liquid Glass design, polarizing when it launched in 2025, impacted text legibility. Apple previously made the interface more opaque in updates. The new slider gives users the choice to prioritize transparency or readability, with the option to boost overall opacity for those who prefer a less transparent interface.
Compared to other iOS 27 changes, such as the Siri assistant overhaul, the transparency toggle is less flashy but offers a refined customization option for display preferences.
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