With the release of iOS 26 Beta 3 on Monday, Apple has scaled back the iPhone’s glossy new aesthetic in response to user feedback that it made some interface elements harder to read.
Unveiled at WWDC 2025, Apple’s Liquid Glass design language mimics real glass, emphasizing light refraction and translucency. However, its initial rollout in the first developer beta—and in early versions across other Apple devices—drew criticism over usability and readability concerns.
In a previous update, Apple addressed major issues like the overly transparent Control Center, where Home Screen icons and widgets bled through, creating visual clutter.
Beta 3 Refines Liquid Glass Design by Reducing Transparency in Notifications and Core App Navigatio
Now, Beta 3 takes further steps to reduce excessive transparency, focusing on elements like Notifications and navigation in core apps such as Apple Music. For example, the navigation bar in the Music app has dropped its see-through look in favor of a solid white background to improve clarity.
Notifications are now less transparent, with a darker background behind the text to improve contrast and readability.
While the updates have improved readability, some users now feel Apple may have overcorrected, leaning too much into a “frosted glass” look.
Developer Betas Serve as Testing Grounds for Feedback, Bug Fixes, and Design Tweaks Before Final Release
It’s important to keep in mind that these are still developer betas—early builds of the operating system meant for testing and feedback before the final version launches this fall. The purpose of beta releases is to identify bugs, gather user input, and make refinements.
As development continues, Apple may keep fine-tuning the Liquid Glass design to strike the right balance across apps and screens.
Read the original article on: TechCrunch