Apple Adjusts the Liquid Glass Aesthetic in iOS 26 Beta 3

In a surprising move, Apple has dialed back its striking Liquid Glass design in the latest release of iOS 26 beta 3, addressing feedback from users who found the new interface challenging to navigate.

Initially unveiled at WWDC 2025, Liquid Glass was introduced as a revolutionary design element inspired by actual glass, featuring stunning light refraction and translucent qualities. While visually appealing, the early implementation sparked usability concerns.

Beta 1 and 2: A Learning Curve for Users

The first betas left users grappling with excessive transparency issues. For instance, the Control Center's sheer transparency allowed Home Screen icons to overshadow critical features, leading to visual chaos.

In response, beta 2 made significant improvements to the Control Center, but beta 3 has shifted focus to overall navigation and user experience in key apps, like Apple Music.

The Changes: A Fine Balance Between Style and Functionality

With this latest update, the navigation bar in Apple Music now sports a more solid white background, eliminating the distracting see-through effect. Similarly, notifications have become less translucent, enhancing legibility with a darker backdrop.

While these modifications have made features easier to read, some users argue that Apple may have overcorrected, drifting toward a more 'frosted glass' look that lacks the sleekness of the original design.

Why These Changes Matter

It's crucial to remember that we are still in the beta stage, where Apple collects valuable user feedback to fine-tune the interface before the official launch this fall. Expect ongoing adjustments to strike the right balance between aesthetic appeal and practical functionality.

Stay tuned as Apple refines Liquid Glass—who knows what innovative designs await in the future!