iOS 26 Beta 3 Update: Apple’s Liquid Glass is No Longer Liquid

Vishwajeet Jaiswal
iOS 26 Beta 3 Update (Image: Sam Kohl)
With the latest iOS 26 Beta 3 Update, Apple has made big changes to its new Liquid Glass UI. What was once shiny and transparent now looks more like frosted glass. The update has changed the way buttons and the Control Centre appear across iPhones running the beta version.

What Changed in iOS 26 Beta 3?

When Apple first introduced Liquid Glass with iOS 26 in June, it brought a completely new look to the system. Transparency, lighting effects, and a glassy design were applied across menus and controls. But users quickly noticed that the design made text hard to read, especially in areas like the Control Centre.

With Beta 2, Apple softened the effect slightly to improve readability. Now with Beta 3, they have gone even further. The once clear and glassy UI now looks blurred and frosted. This shift has made the interface appear simpler but also less sharp and flashy than before.

User Feedback on the New Design

Many users have shared their thoughts about the new visuals. One X user, @Tech_Marcell, called it a downgrade and pointed out clear differences between the original and latest look. Another user, @iamnanyi, believes the changes may be due to performance issues on older iPhones. Visual effects like Liquid Glass may have caused lag or overheating, which Apple may be trying to fix by reducing the load.

Others have asked Apple to introduce a customization section for appearance, where users could choose between light or dark themes, adjust motion blur, or select accent colors to personalize the experience.

iOS 26 Release Timeline

It’s currently July, and the final iOS 26 version is expected to release in September. Until then, more beta updates are likely, and more changes in the UI could still arrive. For now, what’s clear is that Liquid Glass is no longer truly liquid, and its signature visual flair has been toned down.

What It Means for iPhone Users

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Apple’s iOS 26 Update

For users with older iPhones, this change could help improve performance and battery life. For those who liked the original Liquid Glass look, the new frosted version may feel like a step back. But with more betas ahead, Apple still has time to polish the experience further.

The iOS 26 Beta 3 Update has shown that design feedback from users is being taken seriously. What started as a bold visual experiment has now become more functional and user-friendly, though at the cost of some eye-catching style.

Keep an eye on upcoming betas to see if Liquid Glass evolves again before the final release.

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