Is Liquid Glass History? What the Third iOS 26 Developer Beta Tells Us About Apple’s Bold Move

Last week, Apple released the third developer beta for iOS 26. This update is significant because it’s the first big step since the beta launched in June. Apple seems to be focusing on fixing stability issues as we inch closer to a public release.

While the new beta doesn’t introduce many fresh features, it does have some noteworthy changes. Let’s explore what’s new.

### Liquid Glass Design

One of the standout elements of iOS 26 is its Liquid Glass design. Think of it like interface elements that appear transparent, resembling actual glass. The “liquid” part refers to how these elements move and change as you interact with them.

Initial reactions to Liquid Glass were mixed. Some users loved it, while others found the transparency hard to read. In the second beta, Apple reduced the opacity to improve visibility. However, many felt that this diluted the original vision.

By the third beta, Apple has continued to adjust this transparency, resulting in a frostier look. Some users are disappointed, feeling that the design strayed too far from what was first promised. Others suggested that Apple should allow users to choose their transparency levels through a slider.

### New Wallpaper Options

Originally, iOS 26 came with a single blue wallpaper. The third beta now offers four options, including three shades of blue and a new purple-pink gradient called Dusk.

### iPadOS 26 News

Though technically a separate system, the third beta of iPadOS 26 introduces a useful feature: when you shake your cursor, it enlarges temporarily. This helps users quickly find it, similar to the macOS feature.

### Apple Maps Updates

If you frequently use offline maps with Apple Maps, you’ll be glad to know that fog advisories have been added in this beta. Plus, the new “commute delays” feature continues to be refined.

### Control Center Tweaks

In Control Center, the colors for connectivity options like Wi-Fi and AirDrop have been brightened. This is a subtle but clear indication that Apple is paying attention to these details.

### Caution for Beta Testers

While anyone can install the developer beta, it’s best to wait for the public version. Developer betas are often unstable, featuring bugs that could cause problems, including data loss. The public beta generally has fewer issues since Apple has tested it more thoroughly.

According to a recent survey by Statista, about 37% of smartphone users are wary of using beta software due to potential glitches. This emphasizes that while beta testing can be exciting, it often comes with risks.

In summary, while iOS 26’s third beta may not be a game changer, it shows Apple’s commitment to refining the user experience. As they finalize Liquid Glass and other features, it will be interesting to see how public feedback shapes the final version.



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