Apple Unveils iOS 26 Beta 4: Liquid Glass Design, Bug Fixes & More
Apple has rolled out iOS 26 Beta 4, giving developers and early adopters another preview of the next major iPhone update. With the return of the Liquid Glass aesthetic, new features, and crucial bug fixes, this beta highlights Apple’s ongoing push for both visual innovation and improved usability.
Liquid Glass Design: Back and Better Than Ever
The standout feature in iOS 26 Beta 4 is the return and refinement of the Liquid Glass design language. After dialing back its impact in the previous beta, Apple has again embraced a more vivid, translucent effect. This design:
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Introduces deeper translucency that intelligently adapts to surrounding content and lighting.
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Creates animated reflections and highlights, giving buttons, switches, sliders, and tab bars a more lively, glass-like look.
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Extends across essential areas, including the Lock Screen, Home Screen, Notification Center, Control Center, and more.
This renewed Liquid Glass approach aims to offer clarity, responsiveness, and a sense of depth, ensuring essential text and UI elements remain readable while enhancing the feel of modern iPhones.
Image Credits: Aaron Zollo/ Twitter
New & Updated Features
Several new features and tweaks accompany the redesign in Beta 4:
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AI-Powered Notification Summaries: The controversial AI news summaries return, now with clearer warnings to verify summarized headlines, following feedback over previous misinterpretations. These summaries prioritize important notifications and use Apple Intelligence to condense news and entertainment updates.
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Dynamic Wallpapers: New dynamic backgrounds that change with time of day or ambient light offer an even more customizable Home experience.
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Welcome Screens & Tutorials: Updated splash screens greet users post-update and introduce redesigned apps like Camera, with guided walkthroughs on new interfaces and options.
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Camera App Refresh: Visual tweaks and a new onboarding screen highlight enhancements, and the icon itself now shows more camera sensor detail in alignment with iOS 26’s look.
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Call Management Options: ‘Call Screening’ can now be turned off more easily, with new options for silencing unknown callers or prompting them to clarify their call before you answer.
Bug Fixes & Performance Improvement
Apple addresses a variety of bugs and improves overall system performance in this release:
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Contacts: The search bar in the Contacts tab returns for those on Classic layout.
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App Switcher: Recently opened apps no longer jump automatically to the front.
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UI Fixes: Resolved issues with app icons (Threads, Maps, Camera) and Control Center, including disappearing battery percentages and odd icon tints.
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Other Fixes: Restored the ability to bookmark Home Screen sites and fixed notification and wallpaper behaviors to improve contrast and legibility when alerts are present.
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Performance is reported to be stable, with early testers noting improved battery life and smoother animations.
Image Credits: Aaron Zollo/ Twitter
When and How to Try iOS 26 Beta 4
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Availability: Currently open to registered developers, with a public beta expected later in the week. Anyone enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program will be able to test new features before the public release in September.
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Supported Devices: iOS 26 targets iPhone 12 and newer, though specific features may require the latest hardware.
What’s Next
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Apple is expected to release additional betas ahead of the global rollout, culminating in the stable release this fall alongside the new iPhone lineup. Beta 4’s focus on restoring popular design elements, introducing helpful AI features, and squashing bugs puts Apple on track for a visually bold and user-friendly update.
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Apple’s iOS 26 Beta 4 is both a return to ambitious design and a showcase of iterative polish. Whether you’re a developer, beta tester, or just curious, the new release signals a bright, glass-like future for iOS devices.
FAQs
What is the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26 Beta 4?
It’s Apple’s renewed translucent design language, creating animated, glass-like UI elements across the Lock Screen, Control Center, and more for a sleek, immersive feel.
What’s new in iOS 26 Beta 4?
Key additions include AI-powered notification summaries, dynamic wallpapers, a refreshed Camera app, improved call management options, and system-wide UI enhancements.
How can I get iOS 26 Beta 4?
It’s available now for registered Apple developers. A public beta will be available soon via the Apple Beta Software Program.
