Liquid Glass in iOS 26 beta 3 is much less dramatic as Apple optimizes redesign for usability

Apple’s new Liquid Glass visual element is getting any icy design change in some places before it reaches customers. iOS 26 developer beta 3, which will likely be iOS 26 public beta 1 later this month, reduces the transparency effect in a number of places like navigation bars in certain apps. In the example above, the top shows beta 2 while the bottom shows the current look in beta 3.

Here are just a few more examples of iOS 26 beta 2 and iOS 26 beta 3 visual changes:

The darker version is the latest design. However, Liquid Glass in other apps like Photos isn’t so different:

Beta 2

Beta 3

Meanwhile, in Apple Podcasts:

Beta 2

Beta 3

The effect is certainly less dramatic as Apple optimizes for legibility in its refinements. For those impressed by the visual effects of seeing content morph under nav bars, the change is the dreaded pulling back that we saw between iOS 7 beta 1 and the version that shipped to all customers. However, the change is probably to be expected and doesn’t undersell the redesign that iOS 26 brings.