iOS 26 Beta 2 improves Liquid Glass design by enhancing Control Center opacity and readability, while fixing flicker and adding fresh features.
With the release of iOS 26 Beta 2 on Monday, Apple has resolved one of the most apparent issues with Liquid Glass, its controversial new user interface design for the iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices, which was unveiled at WWDC 2025 earlier this month.
The operating system’s appearance and feel are modernized by the refreshed user interface, which is based on the optical properties of glass, such as its translucency and refraction of light.
Nevertheless, the early iOS 26 testers quickly identified the flaws with the updated look in the early developer beta, albeit somewhat unfairly.
Even though the beta build has not yet been finalized, users have shared photographs and criticized the areas in which Liquid Glass failed to meet expectations regarding readability and usability.
The Control Center, which is accessed by swiping down on the right side of the iPhone’s screen, was rendered virtually unreadable by Liquid Glass, one of the users’ primary concerns.
Given its semi-transparent nature, it was challenging to distinguish the Control Center’s buttons and sliders from the icons and elements on the iPhone’s Home Screen that were displayed beneath them.
Apple has resolved the issue with the Control Center in the recently released beta by modifying the background haze, which more effectively conceals the content of the Home Screen beneath.
Many individuals also noted that the notifications in the initial beta were difficult to comprehend. However, the updated beta is somewhat sharper; however, there is still room for improvement, particularly in legibility on brighter or lighter backgrounds.
It is unlikely that these are the final modifications, as iOS 26 is not scheduled to be released to the public until the autumn. Nevertheless, they are indications that Apple is actively responding to early user feedback and making adjustments as necessary.
Apple has also implemented an Accessibility section on the product pages of the App Store in Beta 2, enabled iCloud sync for the Journaling app on iPads, included order tracking features in Apple Wallet, and introduced an Apple Music Radio widget.
