Apple iOS 27 Beta Adds ‘More Clear’ Liquid Glass Transparency Option
A WIRED contributor’s week-long test reveals the visual impact of the high-transparency setting, noting a return to the depth effects seen in iOS 7 while maintaining readability of core content.
Apple has released the public beta for iOS 27, introducing a new transparency slider within the Appearance settings that allows users to increase the opacity of the Liquid Glass interface beyond its default level. The update, which includes a ‘More clear’ setting to maximise translucency, is expected for full release in September. This adjustment follows significant criticism regarding text legibility after the Liquid Glass design was introduced in 2025, prompting previous updates to make the interface more opaque.
A WIRED contributor conducted a week-long test of the ‘More clear’ setting on an iPhone, describing the visual effect as warping and refracting app icons and text, similar to how glass distorts light. The contributor noted that the effect created a sense of depth and dimensionality, reminiscent of the parallax effects introduced in iOS 7, which used the smartphone’s gyroscope to make app icons appear to float above the background.
During the test, the contributor found that the transparency primarily affected menu bars and peripheral screen elements, rarely impacting the legibility of the main content being read. The contributor reported becoming accustomed to the high-transparency look within days, noting that the effect often became easy to ignore during regular use, with the visual distortion frequently visible only from the corner of the eye.
The current iOS 27 beta also includes other significant changes, such as a Siri assistant overhaul, though the transparency slider is a distinct addition to the Liquid Glass framework. Users can still choose to reduce transparency or increase contrast if they prefer a more opaque look, providing flexibility for those who may have found the initial design challenging.
The long-term impact of the ‘More clear’ setting on user accessibility and visual comfort remains unquantified beyond this single anecdotal test. It is unclear how widespread adoption of this setting will be among the general user base, given the previous polarizing reactions to the Liquid Glass design.
