CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple released iOS 26.2 on Dec. 12 for compatible iPhones and iPads, and the update is triggering fresh complaints from users who say the company’s “Liquid Glass” design remains distracting and hard to read. The release is hard to ignore because Apple says two WebKit flaws may have been used in an “extremely sophisticated attack,” pushing security concerns ahead of aesthetics, Dec. 22, 2025.
Why iOS 26.2 is an urgent security update
Apple’s warning is buried in the fine print, but it’s unusually direct. In Apple’s security notes for iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2, the company lists patches for two WebKit vulnerabilities — CVE-2025-43529 and CVE-2025-14174 — that could allow arbitrary code execution or memory corruption through maliciously crafted web content. Apple said it was “aware of a report” the issues “may have been exploited” in attacks against “specific targeted individuals” on versions of iOS before iOS 26.
While Apple typically keeps details limited until more customers update, the advisory shows why the company wants users to move quickly: WebKit sits under Safari and also powers web views inside many apps. iOS 26.2 also includes dozens of additional security fixes, including a kernel bug that could let an app gain root privileges (CVE-2025-46285), and Apple lists iPhone 11 and later among supported devices for iOS 26.2.
Security coverage elsewhere has echoed the same message. Tom’s Guide’s report on the iOS 26.2 WebKit flaws characterized the bugs as zero-days being used by hackers, arguing that the most effective response is also the simplest: install the update through Settings > General > Software Update and keep automatic updates turned on.
iOS 26.2 backlash centers on Liquid Glass readability
That urgency is colliding with a more emotional complaint: iOS 26.2 is arriving while Liquid Glass remains a sore spot for some iPhone owners. The glossy, translucent look spreads across interface elements like notifications, widgets and Control Center, and critics argue the transparency lowers contrast and makes text harder to parse at a glance — especially on busy wallpapers and in bright outdoor light.
Apple appears to be betting it can tune the design without scrapping it. TechCrunch reported iOS 26.2 adds a new control for Lock Screen clock transparency, following earlier options that let users dial back the overall “glassiness” after complaints the interface was “too hard to read.”
For many observers, the frustration feels like the continuation of a months-long debate rather than a new flare-up. When Apple first introduced Liquid Glass at its developer conference in June, early reactions were split, as TechCrunch noted in its first look at Liquid Glass. Since then, the criticism has expanded beyond taste into usability and accessibility, the kinds of concerns that don’t fade just because a UI is technically impressive.
Usability researchers have been even more pointed. Nielsen Norman Group argued Liquid Glass can obscure content and weaken familiar interface cues, framing the debate as less about preference and more about how people process information on small screens, particularly users who rely on high contrast and clear visual hierarchy.
For now, iOS 26.2 leaves iPhone owners with a straightforward order of operations: update for the security fixes, then customize around the design. Apple’s steady drip of transparency controls suggests more tuning is likely, but the most urgent changes in iOS 26.2 are the ones you won’t notice — because they’re meant to stop attacks before they start.
Update first: iOS 26.2 patches WebKit vulnerabilities Apple says may have been exploited in targeted attacks.
Tweak the look: If Liquid Glass is bothering you, try iOS Accessibility options such as Reduce Transparency or Increase Contrast.
Stay current: Apple often continues refining major design changes in follow-up point releases.
