GoKawiilRyan Haines / Android Authority
TL;DR Apple’s new iOS 27 developer beta 3 introduces a slick wallpaper animation that brings a 3D look to the iPhone interface.
When opening the Notification Center, the system isolates the foreground subject of depth-effect wallpapers, allowing it to float smoothly as a cutout over active apps.
The update includes a granular slider for AirPods Adaptive audio, updated “Liquid Glass” checklist bullets in Reminders, a star-rating thumbnail toggle in the Photos app, and more changes.
Apple has released iOS 27 developer beta 3, introducing a fresh batch of feature refinements, UI tweaks, and optimization steps ahead of its stable autumn launch. While iOS 27 largely focuses on polishing the overall user experience, Beta 3’s standout aesthetic change is a slick new wallpaper animation that makes the interface feel 3D and layered, and it’s bound to cause some jealousy in the Android camp.
The new wallpaper cutout animation appears when swiping down to open the Notification Center.
Instead of the entire screen dropping down uniformly, the system uses on-device intelligence to isolate the foreground subject of your depth-effect wallpaper. This isolated subject floats smoothly over your active app or Home Screen first as a cutout, creating a distinct multi-layered depth effect before the rest of the interface blurs into place.
It’s a flashy piece of UI eye candy that showcases Apple’s mastery of animations and effects.
Ok Apple. You cooked this time with this one. IOS 27 Beta 3, turn the wallpaper depth effect on, and enjoy 🥹 pic.twitter.com/rIKkTknPWq — Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) July 6, 2026
From my limited testing, this works best with photos with a clear human or animal subject and decent scope for background-foreground separation. If you don’t see the wallpaper depth effect as an option when setting the wallpaper, this transition effect will not trigger.
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