iOS 26 Beta 6: New Ringtones, Faster Apps & What's New

Apple Releases iOS 26 Developer Beta 6

On Tuesday, Apple issued its sixth developer beta version of the iOS 26 mobile operating system. Concurrent updates were also released for iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Mac devices. As the anticipated public launch in September draws nearer, the alterations and refinements are becoming less extensive, though some novelties remain.

Beta 6 introduces a fresh collection of ringtones, resolves the debate surrounding Camera app swipe direction, presents a revised onboarding process, and incorporates other enhancements.

New Ringtones Added

The inclusion of six new ringtones, each a variation of the “reflection” theme, was an unanticipated addition that has quickly garnered attention on social media platforms. The “Dreamer” ringtone, in particular, has generated considerable enthusiasm, being lauded as “hard,” “crazy good,” and “such a bop” by early users.

This new audio option may even motivate some individuals to deactivate the silent mode on their phones.

Camera App Swipe Direction Resolved

A new update addresses the previously contentious change to the Camera app’s functionality.

Significant user criticism arose regarding Apple’s modification of the Camera mode switcher’s response to touch input. Users expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the change, initially implemented in earlier betas, disrupted established muscle memory.

The swipe gesture within the interface reversed the scroll direction users were accustomed to – a departure from the design paradigm consistent across other native Apple applications.

Return to Classic Mode

In beta 5, Apple responded to this feedback by introducing a Settings toggle. This toggle allowed users to revert to “Classic Mode,” restoring the Camera app’s operation to its previous state.

It was widely anticipated that Apple would maintain this fallback option. The company frequently provides alternatives for users who dislike major user interface changes.

For example, “Natural scrolling” can still be disabled on MacBook trackpads, and Safari’s address bar can be repositioned to the top of the iPhone screen.

However, Apple appears to have determined that defending the altered Camera direction was not a worthwhile endeavor. In beta 6, the Settings toggle was removed, and the scroll direction was reverted to its original configuration.

Further Beta 6 Updates

Other notable improvements in the latest beta include accelerated transitions and the implementation of new animations for app launching and closing.

Liquid Glass, the updated user interface for Apple devices, continues to undergo subtle adjustments to enhance readability and increase the “glassiness” effect.

This iteration introduces increased color dispersion when navigating between app tabs using the transparent, magnifying glass-like selector. The Lock Screen and toggles now also feature Liquid Glass effects.

New Onboarding Experience

Upon updating the operating system, users will encounter a new startup and onboarding experience. This experience serves to introduce Liquid Glass and other iOS 26 features, such as the redesigned dark and clear icons and interfaces within various applications.

Beta Stability and Public Beta Release

As with previous beta releases, bug fixes are expected, though new issues may also emerge during the software development process. However, reports indicate that this beta version feels more stable and performs faster than earlier releases.

This suggests that Apple is approaching the public launch date. Those participating in the public beta program can anticipate an update shortly following the developer beta release.

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