Apple Pulls Back on Liquid Glass in iOS 26 Beta 3 After Pushback

By Komodoty Blog Writer | July 13, 2025

Apple is easing off the visual flair with its new Liquid Glass design language in the latest developer beta of iOS 26 — a shift that follows weeks of user criticism over readability and interface clarity.

Liquid Glass Look, Reconsidered

Unveiled at WWDC in June, Liquid Glass aimed to bring more visual depth to iOS by simulating real-world glass properties like refraction and translucency. But its initial rollout sparked frustration, especially when transparency got in the way of functionality.

The first two beta releases gave users a taste of the new direction — and not everyone was impressed. With elements like the Control Center becoming so see-through that home screen icons bled through, users reported distractions and legibility issues.

Beta 3, released Monday to developers, offers noticeable course corrections. Control Center tweaks came in the previous beta. Now, Apple is targeting Notifications and first-party apps, such as Apple Music, for refinements.

What’s Changed in Beta 3

• Apple Music Navigation: Previously semi-transparent, the navigation bar now adopts a clean white backdrop, making on-screen text and icons stand out more clearly.

• Notifications: Background transparency has been significantly reduced. Instead of showing the wallpaper beneath, Apple has darkened the background to boost contrast and text readability.

These updates might feel like a step backward for users who preferred the dramatic transparency, but Apple appears to be prioritizing usability over visual ambition — for now.

Still in Flux

This is beta software, after all. Apple uses this phase to gather feedback and iron out UI decisions before the fall release. While some now argue the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction, the design could still shift again.

With Liquid Glass now in testing across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and even visionOS 26, Apple seems intent on finding a design balance that works across form factors — without sacrificing accessibility or user comfort.

What to Expect Next

Public beta versions of iOS 26 are expected to land later this month. Until then, these developer builds give early adopters a preview of Apple’s direction — but also underline just how fluid that direction can be.

Meanwhile, for those looking to personalize their devices with clean, functional accessories that fit any aesthetic — Komodoty.com continues to stock popular minimalist cases and screen protectors compatible with the upcoming iPhone lineup.

Stay tuned as we track more design tweaks across future betas. Apple might not be done sanding down the glass just yet.