iPhone Battery Life Unchanged by New Liquid Glass Tinting Feature, Tests Show

Apple introduced a new “Tinted” mode for its Liquid Glass interface in the latest iOS 26.1 beta. This feature reduces translucency for a more opaque look. Many users speculated it could also save battery life.

To verify these claims, a controlled test was conducted using an iPhone 17 Pro Max. The results, confirmed by data from Reuters, show the visual change has no meaningful impact on power consumption.

Detailed Testing Methodology Reveals Minimal Variance

The test compared four distinct Liquid Glass settings. These included the standard Clear mode and the new Tinted mode, both with and without additional accessibility features enabled. Each test ran for two and a half hours.

The phone performed identical tasks during each session. This included social media scrolling, video playback, and web browsing. Battery levels were measured before and after each rigorous cycle.

Battery Drain Results Show Statistically Identical Performance

The findings were clear and consistent across all tests. The baseline test using Clear Liquid Glass drained the battery from 80% to 70%. The subsequent tests, including those with Tinted mode and reduced motion, showed nearly identical results.

Some rounds ended with a 1% lower battery level. This minor deviation falls within the margin of error for such measurements. The data suggests no battery life benefit from altering Liquid Glass transparency.

The core battery drain came from the screen and processor-intensive apps. Rendering the semi-transparent Liquid Glass elements consumed a negligible amount of power in comparison. This explains why changing its appearance had no measurable effect.

Practical Implications for iPhone Users

For everyday users, this means visual preference is the only reason to switch to Tinted mode. The setting exists purely for aesthetics. It is not a tool for extending your iPhone’s battery life.

Effective strategies for saving power remain unchanged. These include enabling Low Power Mode, using Dark Mode, and reducing screen brightness. According to Associated Press tech reports, these methods consistently yield the best results for battery conservation.

The key takeaway is that Liquid Glass settings do not influence iPhone battery longevity. Users should feel free to choose their preferred visual style without worrying about power trade-offs.

Thought you’d like to know

Does the Tinted Liquid Glass mode save battery?

No, controlled testing showed no meaningful battery savings. The feature is purely a visual customization option for user preference.

What is the best way to improve my iPhone’s battery life?

The most effective methods are using Low Power Mode and reducing screen brightness. Dark Mode can also help on iPhones with OLED displays.

Was the Liquid Glass battery test scientifically rigorous?

The test used a controlled, repeatable methodology over multiple hours. It mimicked real-world usage across several popular applications to ensure accuracy.

Could these results be different on an older iPhone?

It is possible, but unlikely. The test indicated that rendering Liquid Glass requires minimal processing power on modern chipsets.

Why did people think Tinted mode would save battery?

Many assumed that rendering fewer transparent visual effects would reduce the graphical workload. The test proved this assumption incorrect for current hardware.