Final week, Apple dropped the third developer beta for iOS 26. It is the primary main replace to the beta since June, and it is clear that we’re getting nearer to the general public model of the beta (even when Apple hadn’t already confirmed it is coming in July). The third beta has fewer options and adjustments than the second, as Apple presumably focuses on bettering the steadiness of the OS earlier than unleashing it to public testers.
However whereas there aren’t a ton of recent options and adjustments on this beta, there are some attention-grabbing highlights to report, as initially discovered by MacRumors. Here is what’s new with this newest beta:
Liquid Glass seems to be manner much less placing
Whereas iOS 26 is stuffed with new options and adjustments, arguably the defining attribute of this replace cycle is Liquid Glass, Apple’s massive design overhaul that stretches throughout all of its working techniques.
Liquid Glass envisions Apple’s UI as, effectively, glass: Menus, buttons, app icons, and extra are all designed with clear transparency in thoughts, as if every have been product of precise glass. The “liquid” side comes into play with movement, because the glassy components can shift and warp as you work together with them, and alter their reflections accordingly.
Whereas the design because it appeared within the first beta actually had its followers, it additionally had many detractors, a few of whom referred to as out the impact for its lack of readability and visibility. In flip, Apple toned down Liquid Glass’ transparency with its second beta, which made every particular person component simpler to see—particularly when there was lots occurring behind it—however compromised the unique imaginative and prescient Apple bought throughout WWDC.
With beta 3, it appears Apple’s designers are nonetheless feeling the strain to make Liquid Glass extra legible, to the purpose the place it hardly appears something like its authentic design. In some instances, I would not blame you if you happen to thought there was zero transparency in any respect: Most of the components have a “frosted” look, which makes them straightforward to learn in all conditions, however actually does not evoke “glass” upon first look.
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Proving you may’t please everybody, many are lamenting the lack of iOS 26’s boldest new attribute. One consumer even made a hypothetical Liquid Glass slider for Apple, which I believe is a good concept. If Apple cannot determine on the transparency for its Liquid Glass design, let customers determine for themselves.
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New wallpaper colours
iOS 26’s default wallpaper shipped solely in a blue choice. However with beta 3, there are actually 4 variations of the wallpaper. That features three completely different variations of the blue colour—Halo, Sky, and Shadow—in addition to a brand new Nightfall choice that is extra purple and pink.
What do you assume up to now?
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iPadOS 26
Whereas not technically iOS 26, iPadOS 26’s third beta will get an attention-grabbing characteristic from macOS: If you shake the cursor, it will quickly get bigger, simply because it does on a Mac. This makes it a lot simpler to search out if you happen to’ve misplaced it.
Maps
In case you use offline maps in Apple Maps, you will discover you now have entry to fog advisories in beta 3. As well as, MacRumors discovered that this replace continues so as to add to the brand new “commute delays” characteristic.
Management Middle has new colours
The blues and greens in Management Middle’s connectivity toggles (wifi, Bluetooth, AirDrop, and Mobile) are actually brighter. It is a delicate change, however Apple is clearly fascinated by adjusting them.
Who ought to run the developer beta?
As beforehand talked about, iOS 26 continues to be in developer beta. Whereas anybody can technically set up the developer beta nowadays, so long as they register their Apple Account with Apple’s developer program, I strongly encourage you to attend at the least till the general public beta drops. Developer betas are meant for builders to check their software program on Apple’s latest OS, and since Apple is giving these builders such early entry, the OS is in its least steady section, even after three iterations. As such, there might be bugs and glitches that mess along with your total iOS expertise, and will even result in knowledge loss if you happen to did not correctly again up forward of time.
Comparable dangers apply to operating a public beta too, however at the least in that case, Apple has taken the time to root out the worst of them. In case you’re fascinated by seeing Liquid Glass’ present iteration, or making an attempt any of iOS 26’s new options, I counsel you wait till the general public beta, which is promised to drop someday this month.
