What’s New In iOS 26 Beta Update: Features, Bug Fixes And UI Changes

Apple has announced the iOS 26 in the WWDC conference. While the stable version for this update will be launched with the iPhone 17 series, Beta update has already started rolling out. The iOS 26 Beta update brings in new features and some fixes for the previous issues. Let us understand all about the iOS 26 Beta update with this blog.

Also Read: Snapdragon 8 Elite Vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: What’s the Difference?

iOS 26 Beta Update: Release Timeline

The Public iOS 26 Beta update is expected in late July 2025. And the full public release will be available with the iPhone 17 series in September.

iOS 26 Beta Update: What’s New

Apple is calling iOS 26 one of its most ambitious iOS releases in years. From a visually enhanced interface to smarter AI integrations, here are the biggest additions in this iOS 26 Beta update:

Liquid Glass UI

The biggest change is the new Liquid Glass design. It makes the iPhone look more modern, with smooth transparency, light reflections, and layered effects. This design gives apps and menus a “floating” feel.

• Translucent panels with light refraction effects
• Enhanced depth with subtle shadows and highlights
• Revised icons for system apps (Clock, Translate, Camera, etc.)

Apple toned down the transparency in Beta 3 and 4 to improve readability after early feedback.

Notification Summaries Return

Apple’s AI-generated notification summaries are back. These can now summarize content from apps like News and Entertainment. Apple has added a disclaimer noting that summaries may contain errors, helping users stay informed while maintaining transparency.

This feature is part of Apple Intelligence and is expected to get better with future updates.

Also Read: Xiaomi Xring O1 Vs Snapdragon 8 Elite: Performance Face-Off 2025

Apple Intelligence

Apple has added more AI-powered features to iOS 26:

• Notification Summaries: AI-powered summaries are back with better categorization and disclaimers.
• Smarter Siri: Siri is now more context-aware and conversational, capable of following up on requests with improved natural language understanding.
• Privacy-Preserving AI: All on-device processing ensures user privacy while enabling intelligent features

Dynamic Wallpapers

Personalization continues to be a key focus in iOS 26, and Beta 4 adds a new wallpaper option under the iOS 26 category.

• The wallpaper automatically changes tones based on your system’s light or dark mode
• There’s a short welcome screen explaining the new visual style and what to expect
• A great visual companion to the new Liquid Glass look

Refined Camera App Icon

Apple has made a small but noticeable update to the Camera app icon in this beta:

• The camera lenses are now smaller and cleaner, making the icon more refined
• This change is part of a broader effort to update system icons to match the Liquid Glass design language
• It reflects Apple’s continued focus on design consistency across apps and devices

While minor, these visual updates help tie together the overall look and feel of iOS 26.

Improved Call Screening Settings

Tired of unknown callers? iOS 26 Beta 4 adds a new call handling option under Phone settings that gives you more control:

• Silence unknown callers automatically
• Ask unknown callers to state a reason before you pick up
• Or allow all calls through as usual

This is especially useful for avoiding spam or robocalls, while still letting important or expected calls come through.

CarPlay and System Performance Improvements

Apple is also polishing performance and visuals under the hood. With Beta 4, you can expect:

• Smoother animations throughout the system, making interactions feel faster and more responsive
• Faster app switching and transitions
• Enhanced Control Center readability, especially when used over dynamic wallpapers or complex backgrounds
• Refinements in CarPlay, with updated icons, better layout scaling, and quicker response when navigating or using Siri

These improvements make everyday use more smooth, especially for users who rely on their iPhones for driving, work, or multitasking.

Also Read: Snapdragon 8 Elite Vs Exynos 2500: Performance And AI Battle 2025

Bug Fixes In iOS 26 Beta Update

With every beta release, Apple not only introduces new features but also addresses underlying bugs and performance issues. iOS 26 Beta 4 continues this trend by delivering meaningful improvements in stability, responsiveness, and battery efficiency.

Here are some of the key bug fixes in this version:

Improved System Stability

Early betas of iOS 26 had occasional app crashes and system lag. Beta 4 addresses many of these problems, resulting in:

• Fewer app crashes during multitasking
• Smoother transitions when switching between apps
• More responsive gestures, especially on older devices

Better Battery Performance

Battery drain is a common issue in early beta versions. However, Beta 4 shows clear progress in this area:

• Standby battery life has improved noticeably compared to previous builds
• Background processes are better optimized
• Screen-on time is now more consistent across daily tasks

Control Center Readability Fixes

In earlier betas, the new Liquid Glass design sometimes made it hard to read Control Center elements over bright or complex wallpapers. Beta 4 fixes this by:

• Adjusting blur intensity and contrast
• Improving background dimming for better visibility
• Ensuring UI elements stay legible regardless of the wallpaper

Phone App Enhancements

Beta 4 introduces a more powerful call handling system, but it also fixes bugs that affected call notifications and silencing features in earlier versions:

• Calls from unknown numbers now behave more predictably based on user settings
• Silence Unknown Callers works consistently
• No more missed alerts due to UI glitches or lag

General Performance Fixes

• Widgets load faster and no longer flicker on the home screen
• Face ID unlock speed is slightly improved
• Keyboard input lag seen in earlier betas is now largely resolved
• Several background crashes and memory leaks have been patched

Also Read: Exynos 2400 Vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: Who Wins The Battle In 2025?

Final Thoughts

iOS 26 is said to be one of the most significant iOS updates in this year. And with the iOS 26 Beta update, we definitely know it has a lot to offer to the users. The public Beta version for this update will be available for users in the coming days. Do not forget to check this blog later on as we will keep on updating with this new information as and when we receive it.

Have a look at these blogs too:

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get iOS 26 Beta update?

You need to sign up in Apple Beta update program. Once you have signed up, you will see the option to download iOS 26 Beta update in your phone.

When will iOS 26 release?

The stable version of iOS 26 will be available with the iPhone 17 series in September. After that, it will be made available for general public to download.

Is iOS 26 available for iPhone 16?

Yes, iOS 26 will be available for all models of iPhone 16 series.

If you’ve just bought a new phone and don’t know what to do with your old phone, then here’s your answer. Sell old mobile to Cashify and get the best price for it. If you are planning to buy a new phone, check out Cashify’s refurbished mobile phones. You can get your favourite phone at almost half price with six-month warranty, 15 days refund and free delivery.