The updated Liquid Glass setting introduces an enhanced level of visual customization, enabling users to select between the original crystal-clear aesthetic and a newly developed tinted variant. This additional option subtly increases the opacity of interface elements, creating a more pronounced and softly diffused finish for surfaces used across apps, system notifications, and the Lock Screen. By doing so, it offers individuals both stylistic flexibility and improved contrast for better legibility in varying lighting environments.
Live Translation now features seamless integration with AirPods, extending real-time, on-device translation support to additional languages including Chinese—both Simplified and Traditional—Japanese, Korean, and Italian. With this feature, users can communicate naturally and fluidly, hearing immediate translations directly through their AirPods during conversations or while traveling, ultimately bridging linguistic gaps with effortless precision.
Within the Apple Music interface, the introduction of a refined MiniPlayer gesture allows for a more intuitive way to navigate between songs. A simple swipe motion now enables listeners to move effortlessly to the next or previous track, promoting smoother transitions and a more tactile engagement with the playback experience. Additionally, Apple Music expands its versatility with AutoMix support over AirPlay, allowing continuous blended playback when streaming wirelessly to compatible speakers, preserving the immersive flow of curated sets and playlists.
For creators and professionals, gain control has been introduced for external USB microphones in local recording sessions. This means users can now adjust audio input levels directly from within supported apps, achieving more accurate sound balance without the need for external mixing equipment. Complementing this feature, locally captured audio or video files can now be directed to specific storage destinations, providing organizational convenience and supporting structured workflow management.
Fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the new option for manual workout logging within the Fitness app. This functionality grants users the ability to record sessions that were not automatically tracked, such as indoor training, sports outside digital range, or equipment-free routines, ensuring that all physical activity is represented and accurately documented.
Photography and privacy controls are also refined through a new Camera preference allowing users to enable or disable the gesture that opens the Camera directly from the Lock Screen. This added layer of customization gives individuals greater control over quick-access features and enhances device security for those who prefer a more closed interface.
FaceTime has been optimized to deliver clearer and more stable audio even under limited or fluctuating network conditions. Using advanced compression techniques and adaptive bit-rate technology, the improvement ensures conversations remain intelligible and natural, making remote communication more reliable in low-bandwidth situations.
For families and younger users, Apple strengthens digital safety through Communication Safety and integrated Web content filters. These safeguards, now activated by default for existing child accounts aged 13 to 17—subject to regional age variations—automatically restrict access to adult-oriented websites and potentially explicit material. By pre-configuring these settings, Apple reaffirms its commitment to providing a secure, age-appropriate online environment while maintaining transparency and ease of supervision for parents and guardians.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/812375/apple-iphone-ios-26-1-update-availability
