iOS 26 Beta 2 has been released, showcasing several updates and improvements to the new Liquid Glass interface. Introduced earlier this year at WWDC 2025, Liquid Glass aims to give iPhones and iPads a sleek and modern appearance. The design mimics how real glass bends and refracts light. However, despite its futuristic look, many early testers reported challenges with visibility and usability in the initial beta version.
The first Beta build of the Control Center faced widespread criticism. Because of its semi-transparent background, it became difficult for users to see the buttons and slider controls. In Beta 2, Apple has enhanced the Control Center's background blur.
This change helps separate the Control Center from the Home Screen, making icons easier to recognize. It would make the controls much more usable without removing the glass-like aesthetic.
Notifications proved to be very difficult in the first version of the beta. Users said they gave in to light backgrounds and little contrast. In the latest beta, Apple has made the text sharper and introduced some contrast.
Although gains have been made in legibility, some issues persist, particularly with the use of bright wallpapers. More refinements are expected in future beta releases.
Besides the UI improvements and additions in iOS 26 Beta 2, some functional features appear along the way. With a new Accessibility section now appearing alongside App Store pages, it facilitates the ready discovery of certain helpful features.
Support for iCloud sync for the Journaling app is now enabled on iPads to improve cross-device usage. Apple introduced order tracking into the Wallet and released an Apple Music Radio widget that could be easily added to the Home Screen.
Apple's timely updates to iOS 26 Beta 2 display its commitment to incorporating user feedback. The Liquid Glass UI has seen improvements, although it is not yet perfect.
As we anticipate more beta versions leading up to its release in the fall of 2025, some additional features are expected to be added. The combination of style and functionality is gradually achieving a better balance.