iOS 26 Beta 3 ― Bug Fixes, Changes, and Improvements

[NoGood@Usernames]

Wondering how many have seen this developer video. Clearly Apple has(and probably) will continue to tweak as they get feedback from developers.

Generally speaking though, I’m seeing pretty much the same interactions as demoed in the video. Saying LG is mostly removed is just hyperbole.

Meet Liquid Glass - WWDC25 - Videos - Apple Developer

Liquid Glass unifies Apple platform design language while providing a more dynamic and expressive user experience. Get to know the design...

developer.apple.com

One of the things that stuck out at me from that video is around the 6:42 mark; the glass elements should automatically shift to react to light and dark content behind them to make sure they always remain legible.

I haven’t jumped into the beta yet and was curious if that’s happening as shown. Additionally, if they are applying this to buttons and such, one would think they would apply it to everywhere glass is used (notifications, control center icons, etc) so that each individual icon and notification is responsive to it’s background to always remain legible regardless of what’s behind it too.

If that’s not happening yet, then I’d have to imagine it’s in progress and should help soothe a lot of the naysayers with legibility complaints.

 

[drinkingtea]

Still has the crappy frost effect on Messages and Safari, although it's worse on Messages.

What's worse, is for a split second when you open a message thread, the frost isn't there then it gets applied..

It’s so ugly and cheap-looking, especially on Tahoe.

 

[MadRed]

That’s not a 26 bug, had this for ages now.

You are correct. Why can’t they fix it?

 

[bilibug]

Wondering how many have seen this developer video. Clearly Apple has(and probably) will continue to tweak as they get feedback from developers.

Generally speaking though, I’m seeing pretty much the same interactions as demoed in the video. Saying LG is mostly removed is just hyperbole.

Meet Liquid Glass - WWDC25 - Videos - Apple Developer

Liquid Glass unifies Apple platform design language while providing a more dynamic and expressive user experience. Get to know the design...

developer.apple.com

Thank you. I was just looking around to post this. I think there is a clear design concept here, which has not yet been fully implemented. And clearly (pun intended) not all UI elements were meant to be fully transparent glass.

 

[iOSBry]

It’s so ugly and cheap-looking, especially on Tahoe.

Haven’t owned an Android but it appears Google is starting to nail UI in the latest Android update to be released in Q3: https://m3.material.io/blog/building-with-m3-expressive

 

[akke4323]

There’s a significant bug in the app switcher. When you open it, the active app stays in the middle, making app switching difficult. This behavior is expected when you’re on the Home Screen, but it should shift the active app to the right when switching from another app, allowing easy access to previous apps. You can see the difference between iOS 18, and 26 from screenshots.

 

[zemaker]

With the adjustment to the glass transparency, Apple should rename it to "Frosted Glass" as its no longer looks like a liquid.

 

[DomC]

The "big innovation" is the new UI paradigm. You know, the big goofy buttons, the pointless padding around everything, drop shadows. Liquid Glass is just a fancy highlight for navigation buttons within an interface.

I just don't understand from an UX point of view how extra padding and linespacing/leading is an actually some sort of user benefit. All it does is waste UI space and IMO makes information more disjointed. I remember when Google released Material Design and thought great, eating up UI space will now be a trend.
No wait, it's "light and airy".

 

[VSMacOne]

Seeing some odd behavior with the glass/transparency effect. I think there’s a bug that makes items less “glassy”. This is the Podcasts app in beta 3. See the difference? The default state is still glassy but when scrolling some it changes to more frosty.

 

[HylianKnight]

Some contacts when opening details CRASH!!!!

Home icons in folders seem to reload everytime you open that page.

Keyboard still click N or B instead of spacebar. Can’t they use freaking AI to figure out that am not clicking N or B. They stick AI everywhere they can but not where it’s actually may be helpful.

Phone feels super hot. I know I should give it a day. I will.

Still clunky and thebFROST (you see that B that got inserted) bring Liquid back.

This is terrible for beta 3.

Beta 2 and beta 3 are usually pretty meh.

 

[Project Alice]

It was like 10GB on my iPad Pro for some reason. Only 1.23GB on my iPhone SE2 though.

 

[COBRASVT]

I’m unable to add bookmarks to the Home Screen. The name and website fields are empty.View attachment 2526707

Using shortcuts is a better way anyway as you can name it and use a custome pic. I have several.

I even use this to create custom pics for reg apps.

 

[Jkeith85]

I don’t mind the frosted glass look. It’s not my favorite by and stretch, and im sure it will evolve.

But let’s not pretend it’s anything close to what apple presented.

 

[Tig Bitties]

Wondering how many have seen this developer video. Clearly Apple has(and probably) will continue to tweak as they get feedback from developers.

Generally speaking though, I’m seeing pretty much the same interactions as demoed in the video. Saying LG is mostly removed is just hyperbole.

Meet Liquid Glass - WWDC25 - Videos - Apple Developer

Liquid Glass unifies Apple platform design language while providing a more dynamic and expressive user experience. Get to know the design...

developer.apple.com

Ugh I couldn't even watch a minute of that cringe video, the bullcrap they spew is sickening. It's become an SNL parody commercial.

They come off as shyster, hipsters.

 

[tcdav26]

Seeing some odd behavior with the glass/transparency effect. I think there’s a bug that makes items less “glassy”. This is the Podcasts app in beta 3. See the difference? The default state is still glassy but when scrolling some it changes to more frosty. View attachment 2526806

I absolutely have noticed this too, also noticed that the transparency doesn’t seem so drastic in dark mode. On beta 3, 16 Pro Max

 

[redpandadev]

For those with magsafe issues, any improvements?

I've now officially charged beyond 80% without an overheat warning for the first time since before beta 2. Also my phone is not burning hot on a MagSafe charger. So I'll go with yes, fixed/improved.

 

[dcp10]

Ugh I couldn't even watch a minute of that cringe video, the bullcrap they spew is sickening. It's become an SNL parody commercial.

They come off as shyster, hipsters.

I do agree that the presentation style is laughable. That said, there is a lot of good information included.

 

[twinpeaks_sf]

Seeing some odd behavior with the glass/transparency effect. I think there’s a bug that makes items less “glassy”. This is the Podcasts app in beta 3. See the difference? The default state is still glassy but when scrolling some it changes to more frosty. View attachment 2526806

I’m seeing the same in Music when I bounce between the home and library tabs, especially apparent in light mode.

 

[MrRom92]

I've now officially charged beyond 80% without an overheat warning for the first time since before beta 2. Also my phone is not burning hot on a MagSafe charger. So I'll go with yes, fixed/improved.

The issue with MagSafe charging for me on past betas is that it seemed to randomly connect/disconnect, at least when using a MagSafe battery. I tested 3, 2 of which only had normal wireless charging and 1 which had qi2. All featured the same random disconnection issue. Have not yet been able to test in b3 though

 

[nortonandreev]

After it settled down, feels much better now on my 16PM. Bot visually and performance-wise. Let’s see if it holds up.

 

[LutzRFrank]

Seeing some odd behavior with the glass/transparency effect. I think there’s a bug that makes items less “glassy”. This is the Podcasts app in beta 3. See the difference? The default state is still glassy but when scrolling some it changes to more frosty. View attachment 2526806

For me just the opposite (see #53)

Post in thread 'iOS 26 Beta 3 ― Bug Fixes, Changes, and Improvements'
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...hanges-and-improvements.2461142/post-33998938

Gets glassy on scrolling in AppleTV…

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Really? They added so much padding that we have to truncate "Messages"?

 

[Parowdy]

They've toned down liquid glass a decent bit - Music app most noticeable

They better did because this wasn’t it.

Edit: yep, they did

 

[ibookemo]

I just don't understand from an UX point of view how extra padding and linespacing/leading is an actually some sort of user benefit. All it does is waste UI space and IMO makes information more disjointed. I remember when Google released Material Design and thought great, eating up UI space will now be a trend.
No wait, it's "light and airy".

The space, visually, around text and iconography, is more important than the actual text/iconography itself.

We read the space. The space between items onscreen gives our eyes time to relax. Lack of space make the experience hectic for our brains.

 

[Marty80]

Just installed on my 12 pro max, the dock icon issue has been resolved. The coloured glitches i was experiencing in video & on calls seems to be resolved.

Overall performance has improved, however i am still unsure about the issues i have been experiencing with face id. Which takes me to blank lockscreen.