Apple just flipped the switch on its boldest design experiment in years. The Liquid Glass public beta is live, bringing a slick new visual language across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26.
Liquid Glass dials up the translucency
Shiftdelete.netAt the core of this update is Liquid Glass a frosted, flowing UI that borrows heavily from visionOS. Think diffused backgrounds, soft glows, and interface layers that feel like polished glass suspended in air. The effect shows up system-wide, from notification panels to volume sliders.
Still, Apple didn’t stick with the first version. Early developer builds were heavy on shine, which got toned down in later betas. Control Center and widgets no longer look like laminated plastic; they’ve shifted to a subtler, more refined finish.
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Liquid Glass tweaks roll in mid-flight
After a wave of feedback, Apple started to adjust course. Beta 3 came in with less transparency, trying to balance aesthetics with readability but many testers thought it overcorrected. The design felt flattened, sterile.
In response, beta 4 brings translucency back into focus. Navigation bars in key apps like Photos and Music once again let background colors peek through. It’s not quite as dramatic as the early builds, but it keeps the style alive without sacrificing clarity. Apple’s playing with tension here between flashy and functional and it’s still finding that edge.
macOS Tahoe picks up the Liquid Glass polish
Over on Mac, Liquid Glass has a tougher time making an impact. The visual treatment is present, sure, but the changes feel thinner. There’s a new shine on menus and windows, but quirks remain: translucent elements sometimes create awkward shadows, and popup positioning still feels off.
That said, macOS Tahoe isn’t just a facelift. The Phone app now supports calling directly from Mac no iPhone needed nearby. Spotlight search gains clipboard memory, making it a more effective productivity tool. These small gains add up, even if the visuals take a backseat.
The new face of Apple isn’t finished
Liquid Glass is still in flux, and Apple knows it. This public beta is as much a test of aesthetic instinct as it is of code. With every tweak, the company is trying to thread a needle: how far can they stretch their visual identity without losing what feels “Apple”?
For now, the glass is still settling but it’s already catching reflections from every corner of the ecosystem.
