iOS 26 Beta 4 Refines Liquid Glass Design UI
Apple has officially rolled out the fourth developer beta of iOS 26, reintroducing key refinements to its much-talked-about ‘Liquid Glass’ design. While Beta 3 had toned down the visual effect—making it appear slightly muted and foggy—Beta 4 reverses that direction by enhancing both clarity and brightness. This update marks the return of a glossy, smooth, and transparent user interface, something users had noticeably missed in the previous build.
What is the Liquid Glass Design?
Liquid Glass is a unique user interface element introduced in iOS 26, giving certain sections of apps a “liquid glass” aesthetic. Its primary goal is to deliver an experience that’s not only stylish and modern but also seamless and visually informative. The design makes various UI components appear like light, transparent glass, allowing background content to remain visible without distortion. First revealed at WWDC 2025, the design was widely appreciated as a fresh evolution in Apple’s design language—signalling a shift toward greater visual depth and precision.
Why Was Beta 3 Disappointing?
In Beta 3, Apple scaled back the Liquid Glass effect, making it resemble a frosted glass look—duller and more opaque. Many users criticised this change, arguing it diluted Apple’s forward-thinking UI philosophy. In apps like the App Store, the tab bars had become so foggy that underlying content was barely visible. As a result, the distinctive layered, transparent “sinking glass” aesthetic lost much of its visual impact and appeal.
What’s Changed in Beta 4?
With Beta 4, Apple has restored and fine-tuned the transparency levels, creating a well-balanced version of the Liquid Glass design that is neither overly bright nor too subdued. The App Store tab bar, for instance, now allows for much clearer visibility of the background content—an evident improvement over the previous beta. Similar enhancements have been observed across other stock apps like Photos, where the increased transparency lends a more appealing and intuitive interface. This clearly signals Apple’s renewed commitment to its original design vision.
Why Did Apple Make These Changes?
Apple often experiments with user interface elements in its beta builds, and makes adjustments based on user feedback. The toned-down appearance in Beta 3 received considerable pushback, prompting the company to revisit and reinforce its core design philosophy. In response, Apple has now enhanced the Liquid Glass effect’s brightness in a way that feels more polished and well-proportioned. The result is not just aesthetically pleasing, but also contributes to an overall more immersive user experience.
What Else is New in iOS 26?
Beyond the Liquid Glass refinement, iOS 26 Beta 4 introduces several additional updates. These include a more refined interface for the Camera and Messages apps, new customisation options, smoother home screen animations, and advanced AI-powered tools. Notably, Apple’s latest AI features have been more deeply integrated into devices like the iPhone 15 Pro, positioning iOS 26 as a smarter, more capable mobile operating system.
When Will the Public Beta Launch?
As of now, iOS 26 Beta 4 is only available to developers. However, a public beta is expected to roll out soon, possibly between July and August 2025. Apple is likely to launch the final version of iOS 26 alongside the iPhone 17 series in September 2025.
Conclusion
With iOS 26 Beta 4, Apple has once again elevated its Liquid Glass design—delivering a more transparent, luminous, and fluid interface. This carefully balanced aesthetic offers users a premium and polished visual experience. It’s a strong indication that Apple not only values rigorous feature testing but also listens closely to user feedback while making thoughtful design choices. In the months ahead, as the public beta and final release go live, it will be fascinating to see how users and the market respond to this latest design evolution.
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