iOS 26 Public Beta Arrives Amid Bold Interface Redesign and Usability Tweaks

Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 26 this week, following the developer beta 3 rollout on July 7, 2025, build 23A5287g.

This release marks a crucial phase in Apple's transition toward its most significant system redesign since iOS 7: the Liquid Glass interface.

Early adopters describe Liquid Glass as an ambitious visual shift and the glass-like transparency and floating bubbles reprising a style reminiscent of Windows Vista Aero Echo.

Feedback from both developers and users has already prompted iterative changes across beta versions. Beta 2 introduced darker blurs and a contrast mode; beta 3 further reduced transparency and darkened navigation bars in key apps like Apple Music and the App Store to enhance readability.

One critic noted that while these shifts “enhance accessibility and contrast, some believe Apple is compromising its original design vision”.

Developer forums also highlight improvements in Control Center legibility: comments include “far harder to read” with high transparency, whereas betas 2 and 3 offer clearer icons and reduced visual clutter.

Aside from visual adjustments, iOS 26 introduces features that reflect Apple's deeper push into AI and communication refinement. Highlights include live translation in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone; polls within group chats; enhanced call and message screening; dynamic controls within Control Center; and a revamped Phone app accessible on iPad.

Security upgrades include quantum-secure TLS, a Recovery Assistant for startup issues, and tighter control over wired accessory permissions.

Considering the public beta level, experts advise caution. Troubles may range from battery drain and app incompatibilities to unfamiliar UI quirks. Pros recommend avoiding installation on a primary device and maintaining a robust backup—preferably via Mac—due to potential rollback difficulties.

Bottom line for beta testers and industry watchers: iOS 26’s public beta delivers a clear picture of Apple’s direction—an interface anchored in style, tempered by usability, and underpinned by AI-powered features. The coming weeks of testing should reveal whether Apple can balance its aesthetic ambition with real-world functionality ahead of the expected full release in September, likely coinciding with the iPhone 17 lineup.

Expert tips for early adopters:

• Use a secondary device, not your daily driver.
• Back up to Mac or iCloud before installing; rollback may lead to data loss, especially WhatsApp history.
• Explore the new visual and accessibility settings, especially Contrast Mode and tinted navigation bars, and submit detailed feedback via Apple’s Feedback Assistant.

Apple’s path with iOS 26 suggests an evolving stance: pushing aesthetic boundaries while responding to concerns around clarity and function.

You can download the beta version of iOS 26 for all devices in fall 2025 from this link.

As the iOS 26's public beta unfolds, the dialogue between design vision and user reality will shape the final release this fall.