Apple has made notable changes to its new Liquid Glass design language in the latest beta of iOS 26. The translucent appearance of navigation bars, buttons, and tabs has been toned down, reducing the visibility of underlying content.
This adjustment follows user feedback expressing difficulty in viewing certain elements, such as icons within the Control Center, due to excessive transparency. The current iteration makes Liquid Glass features appear more opaque, likely aimed at enhancing user readability. Nonetheless, some users perceive this modification as a departure from the striking glass-like aesthetics that were initially introduced during the WWDC presentation.
In a comment on X, developer Sam Kohl from AppleTrack criticized the update, stating, “iOS 26 beta 3 completely nerfs Liquid Glass. It looks so much cheaper now and feels like Apple is backtracking on their original vision.” Other users have echoed this sentiment, expressing their displeasure and urging Apple to “stop ruining” Liquid Glass, labeling the redesign a “step backwards.” Additionally, some beta users have noted that the degree of transparency fluctuates based on the particular app being used.
It is important to note that this is only a developer beta, and further modifications are anticipated as Apple prepares for the public release of iOS 26, scheduled for September.
