iOS 26 beta 4 has just been released, and one of the biggest question on many testers’ minds has been answered. After dialing back its redesign in beta 3, Apple has now infused more ‘liquid’ into the Liquid Glass design once again.
New iOS 26 beta offers refined Liquid Glass look
In iOS 26 beta 3, Apple scaled back the ‘liquid’ in Liquid Glass, leading many to refer to it as ‘Frosted Glass’ instead.
Opinions were mixed on the changed design, but many beta testers seemed disappointed that the original Liquid Glass look had been—in some cases—so drastically reversed.
But now in beta 4, the ‘liquid’ in Liquid Glass seems back in full force.
Here are examples of the App Store from betas 2 (top) and 3 (bottom):
As you can see, in the top image, the tab bar reveals much more of the content underneath it. In the bottom image, the opacity has changed significantly so it’s less transparent.
Now here is a look at the App Store tab bar in iOS 26 beta 4:
To my eyes, and in use, the design in beta 4 feels like a refined balance between the heavy liquid in the first couple betas, and the more frosted look in beta 3.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as Apple often uses its beta cycles to refine designs over time.
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