Apple’s latest design framework is set to make its debut across all key operating systems this autumn alongside the official rollout of iOS 26. Named Liquid Glass by Apple, it promises substantial modifications to the appearance and functionality of its operating systems, including iOS, which is considered its most vital OS.

Liquid Glass brings noteworthy updates to iOS 26, formerly known as iOS 18 (Apple is changing the iOS versioning to correspond with years, with iOS 26 launching this fall). I’ve been testing the developer beta of iOS 26 for several weeks, and now that the public beta is available, I’m ready to share my impressions.

To summarize? Liquid Glass might not deliver the dramatic transformations to iOS that Apple claims, but that doesn’t necessarily indicate a drawback. While my attention is on Liquid Glass, there are plenty more iOS 26 features waiting to be discovered.

Keep in mind, the iOS 26 beta remains a beta. Make sure to back up your device before switching. As noted in Apple’s Beta Program FAQ, “Beta software may include bugs or inaccuracies and may not operate as efficiently as commercially released software. We recommend submitting feedback when you encounter these problems.”

The fundamentals of Liquid Glass on iOS 26

The idea behind Apple Liquid Glass is simple. Rather than a flat, minimalist aesthetic, Apple is leaning into depth. Software interface components have always existed in layers, whether visible or not. With Liquid Glass, these layers become distinguishable. You can observe what’s behind buttons and controls, aided by glass-like features designed to imitate real glass. These transparent elements also bend and refract light.

This isn’t entirely unfamiliar territory for Apple. The company has dabbled in transparency previously, but with Liquid Glass, the effect is more pronounced than before.

Where can you find these glass-like features? Nearly everywhere. Most of Apple’s built-in apps have controls positioned at the bottom of the screen. For instance, in the Music app, you’ll see controls for searching, accessing your library, and managing currently playing media. In the News app, you have controls for today’s headlines, sports updates, and a search option. With Liquid Glass, these controls are compressed into a pill-like shape that reduces in size as you scroll, enhancing screen visibility.

The glass effect ensures that whether the controls are fully visible or minimized, what lies behind them bends and refracts like actual glass on the screen. It’s a sleek, futuristic visual that looks natural based on my early testing.

Liquid Glass also shows up in other areas. A key example is the Control Center, which now reveals your home screen behind all controls when you swipe down. This holds true across all of Apple’s operating systems, though the controls differ between iOS and MacOS (and now MacOS Tahoe).

When the developer betas for iOS 26 were first released, not everyone was fond of the Liquid Glass-influenced Control Center. There were visibility concerns with controls based on the background. Apple resolved many of these issues before the public beta became available, making it simpler to see what’s on the screen. Nevertheless, some display problems persist, such as app and app folder labels becoming difficult to read against bright, busy wallpapers.

Fortunately, customization is a significant theme in iOS 26, so if you wish to further reduce transparency, that option is available in the Accessibility section of the Settings app.

I genuinely enjoy the visual design of Liquid Glass. I welcome the return to a more skeuomorphic style, which doesn’t imply making the Notes app look like a notepad. Rather, it signifies that screen elements resemble physical objects, be it glass or something else. Apple has succeeded in making Liquid Glass feel smooth and modern for this beta. It scrolls seamlessly.

A refined interface

The new design ethos transcends mere transparency. It focuses on optimizing screen content, sometimes by removing or streamlining controls that aren’t in use.

As you scroll, many app controls—like those in News, Messages, and Music—minimize into a single icon you can tap. I rarely find the need to tap these icons, so I don’t mind them being concealed.

However, the streamlining goes a bit too far in certain instances. Take the Camera app, for example; initially, you only have two choices: photo or video. Other options become available by swiping, but they are hidden by default. Many users likely don’t alternate between modes, making the two basic modes easier to navigate. However, if you rely on those additional modes, you’ll need to remember that they are available, as there are no visual indicators.

I hope Apple continues refining the appearance of the Messages app. Instead of a header featuring your contact’s profile picture and name, the back button, and the FaceTime button, there are floating bubbles at the top. Depending on the