Apple has released the fourth developer beta of iOS 26. This new version, following visual and functional changes made in previous betas, came amid intense user feedback. During the beta period, the company made several revisions to transparency settings, interface elements, and the system-wide design language.
iOS 26 beta 4 released
iOS 26 beta 2 introduced improvements to the Control Center to improve readability. The Safari menu structure was made more clear. Borders were added to High Contrast Mode for accessibility. These changes were among the first notable changes to make the operating system more adaptable to different user profiles.
The most notable change in the third developer beta was the reduction of transparency in some tab bars. This update also introduced new wallpaper colors. However, the Notification Center remains completely transparent until the screen is fully turned on. It is expected that this detail will be revisited in future releases.
With the release of the fourth beta, the public beta is expected to be available very soon. Apple has largely erased the distinction between these two types of betas by making developer betas freely available over the past few years. However, public betas are typically released a week after developer betas.
This year, the company opted to extend the post-WWDC period, building the public beta on a more solid foundation. Developer beta 4 is considered a benchmark for the final version, scheduled for September.
iOS 26 is described by Apple as having “a striking new design, powerful Apple Intelligence features, new ways to connect to the Phone and Messages apps, and exciting updates to CarPlay, Apple Music, Maps, and Wallet.”
The system’s AI-powered innovations are only available on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 series models. The software update works on devices starting with the iPhone SE (2nd generation) and the iPhone 11.
iOS 18 will be the last major release for the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. These devices will continue to receive security updates for a while, but they won’t be able to take advantage of new features.
Apple is continuing its testing process to bring iOS 26 to a wider audience before releasing the final version in September. Developer betas are released each year in June, public betas arrive in July, and the stable version is released in September. The company is continuing this process on a similar schedule this year.
