iOS 26 Beta 3: Liquid Glass Feature Adjusted

iOS 26 Developer Beta 3 Refines the "Liquid Glass" Design

The latest iteration of iOS 26, specifically the third developer beta released on Monday, features adjustments to the new visual design. These changes respond to feedback concerning readability issues introduced with the initial update.

Introducing Liquid Glass

At WWDC 2025 in June, Apple unveiled Liquid Glass, a novel design language. This aesthetic draws inspiration from the properties of real glass, including its light refraction and translucence.

Initial implementations of Liquid Glass, present in the first developer beta of iOS 26 and subsequent updates for other Apple devices, required further refinement to optimize usability, accessibility, and legibility.

Addressing Initial Concerns

Apple previously addressed prominent issues with Liquid Glass. A key fix involved the Control Center, which initially exhibited excessive transparency. This transparency allowed iPhone Home Screen icons and widgets to be visible, resulting in visual clutter and user confusion.

Monday’s update represents another step towards moderating the glassy effect across several crucial areas of the operating system.

Focus on Notifications and First-Party Apps

While the second beta focused on the Control Center, beta 3 concentrates on elements like Notifications and the navigation within Apple’s native applications, such as Apple Music.

For example, the navigation bar within the Apple Music app now utilizes a solid white background, eliminating the previous slight transparency.

Notifications have also been modified to reduce translucency. The background behind the text is now darkened, enhancing contrast and improving visibility.

User Feedback and Ongoing Development

Although the recent changes enhance readability, some users have expressed that Apple may have overcorrected, resulting in a more pronounced “frosted glass” appearance.

It is important to remember that these are developer betas – preliminary versions of the operating system. Their purpose is to gather feedback, identify bugs, and resolve issues before the public release this fall.

Consequently, Apple is likely to continue refining the Liquid Glass design throughout subsequent releases. The goal is to achieve an optimal balance for the new aesthetic across all apps and screens.