What's New in iOS 26.1 Beta 4

[MacRumors]

Even though we're at the fourth beta of iOS 26.1, Apple is continuing to add new features. In fact, the fourth beta has some of the biggest changes that we'll get when iOS 26.1 releases to the public later this month. We've rounded up what's new below.

Liquid Glass Transparency Toggle

Apple added a toggle for customizing the look of Liquid Glass. In Settings > Display and Brightness, there's a new option to switch between Clear or Tinted settings.

Clear is more transparent and is the standard version of Liquid Glass that displays the background underneath buttons, menu bars, and other interface elements, while Tinted increases the opacity of Liquid Glass and adds contrast.

Lock Screen Camera Swipe

In the Camera section of the Settings app, there's a Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera setting, and turning it off disables the feature where you can swipe left to open the camera from the Lock Screen.

The iPhone has long allowed users to open the Camera app directly from the Lock Screen with a swipe, but it can be a setting that's easy to activate, and it provides a way for someone that gets ahold of an iPhone to use it to take unwanted photos.

There was previously no way to turn off Lock Screen camera activation without disabling the camera app entirely.

Phone Haptics

In the Phone app, there's a toggle to turn off haptic feedback when a call is connected or dropped.

Apple Intelligence Settings

Apple has changed the look of the Apple Intelligence section in the Settings app, and it is now left aligned. Apple made the alignment change for other sections of the Settings app in earlier betas, but Apple Intelligence remained the same.

Apple has also removed the "Beta" label from Apple Intelligence, but it's not clear if some features are officially out of beta, or if it's an oversight. Apple has not removed the beta labeling in macOS Tahoe 26.1 beta 4.

More Features

Know of a feature that we left out? Let us know in the comments. To see what Apple has added in prior iOS 26.1 betas, check out our iOS 26.1 feature guide.

Article Link: What's New in iOS 26.1 Beta 4

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Apple has also removed the "Beta" label from Apple Intelligence, but it's not clear if some features are officially out of beta, or if it's an oversight.

If it truly is ‘out’ of beta, then all I can say is that standards really have dropped.

 

[vegetassj4]

Say this 10 times fast:
Liquid Glass Transparency Toggle

 

[klasma]

Liquid Glass Transparency Toggle

Not quite the toggle many would hope for…

 

[fullauto]

Now add an option called ‘Liquid’ and give us back the iOS26 beta 1 look. smh

 

[Paradoxally]

Great move, now next move is to fire Alan Dye because he has no idea what good design is.

 

[PixelPanics]

Great now people can stop whining about it

 

[ikramerica]

Is there a toggle for “turn off oversized buttons to fix interface that no longer fits on an iPhone screen”

 

[alanvitek]

Just saw someone complaining about the camera swipe to open from lock screen -- this should make them happy!

 

[DesertNomad]

Where is the "Liquid Glass ON/OFF" toggle? That's what is needed.

 

[NMBob]

Isn't there already a Reduce Transparency button somewhere, or did that go away?

 

[Havoc035]

Where is the "Liquid Glass ON/OFF" toggle? That's what is needed.

Or a toggle for the highlights, especially around app icons

 

[acblue94]

Even though we're at the fourth beta of iOS 26.1, Apple is continuing to add new features. In fact, the fourth beta has some of the biggest changes that we'll get when iOS 26.1 releases to the public later this month. We've rounded up what's new below.

Liquid Glass Transparency Toggle

Apple added a toggle for customizing the look of Liquid Glass. In Settings > Display and Brightness, there's a new option to switch between Clear or Tinted settings.

Clear is more transparent and is the standard version of Liquid Glass that displays the background underneath buttons, menu bars, and other interface elements, while Tinted increases the opacity of Liquid Glass and adds contrast.

Lock Screen Camera Swipe

In the Camera section of the Settings app, there's a Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera setting, and turning it off disables the feature where you can swipe left to open the camera from the Lock Screen.

The iPhone has long allowed users to open the Camera app directly from the Lock Screen with a swipe, but it can be a setting that's easy to activate, and it provides a way for someone that gets ahold of an iPhone to use it to take unwanted photos.

There was previously no way to turn off Lock Screen camera activation without disabling the camera app entirely.

Phone Haptics

In the Phone app, there's a toggle to turn off haptic feedback when a call is connected or dropped.

Apple Intelligence Settings

Apple has changed the look of the Apple Intelligence section in the Settings app, and it is now left aligned. Apple made the alignment change for other sections of the Settings app in earlier betas, but Apple Intelligence remained the same.

Apple has also removed the "Beta" label from Apple Intelligence, but it's not clear if some features are officially out of beta, or if it's an oversight. Apple has not removed the beta labeling in macOS Tahoe 26.1 beta 4.

More Features

Know of a feature that we left out? Let us know in the comments. To see what Apple has added in prior iOS 26.1 betas, check out our iOS 26.1 feature guide.

Article Link: What's New in iOS 26.1 Beta 4

How about a way to enhance liquid glass

 

[acblue94]

Now add an option called ‘Liquid’ and give us back the iOS26 beta 1 look. smh

Yes. I prefer more liquid glass

 

[rosegoldoli]

Or a toggle for the highlights, especially around app icons

You can do this with going to accessibility and increase contrast

 

[carswell]

The only toggle I'm interested in is one that turns off Liquid Glass.
Tinted is better but still not good enough.

 

[roger.dalal]

It takes courage to left align icons in settings.

 

[Lizzard899]

I dont like the haptic in phone app. Someone said if its toggled on then your phone vibrates when making a call and hanging up. I dont want my phone to vibrate so I'll toggle it off. It sounds like a stupid addition to the phone app

 

[Ctrlos]

It would make a lot more sense to move control centre to the gesture that summons the camera so you don’t have to reach to the top.

 

[dustin_]

damn they got rid of the “glow” that appeared when you touch liquid glass. it was completely unnecessary but i loved it & i’m sad to so it go.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1980352512705364142

 

[SAIRUS]

And another design under Tim Cook about to be undone….

 

[nordique]

Is anyone else having their Apple ID photo cropped in? No matter how many times I readjust the cropping, it zooms into my iCloud/Apple ID photo. Only since iOS 26.0.1 oddly enough.

Shows up fine on my other devices like Mac or when using FaceTime if my partner sees my photo on her end

Seems like such a minor bug but it’s annoying lol. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this. Debating getting the new beta to see if it fixes it or at the very least provide feedback to Apple

 

[MacManiac76]

The only issue I really have with liquid glass when using the tinted mode is that almost all of the widgets that have color photos or metrics normally just have the same tint as the rest of the display or show a white placeholder or nothing at all. Somehow IMDB figured out how to do tinted widgets properly, but pretty much no-one else can. And for the lock screen swipe camera toggle, all I can say is it's about damn time. Hopefully the toggle stays there.