iOS 26 Public Beta is Here: Unveiling iPhone Innovation

Apple's iOS 26 Public Beta, released July 24, 2025, includes a new revolutionary design, referred to as "Liquid Glass", that conceptually reflects the biggest iPhone redesign since iOS 7 launched in 2013. This update was introduced at WWDC on June 9, 2025 and consists of a translucent, fluid software interface with new Apple Intelligence features and new applications, giving an entirely different user experience to engage iPhone users. This also reflects Apple's vision for a smarter, more engaging iPhone experience. Why don't we take a closer look at iOS 26 Public Beta to answer a few questions so you will have a more informed perspective when navigating the innovations and consider whether you may want to test the experience out now.

What is Liquid Glass and What Makes it Groundbreaking?

The iOS 26 Public Beta introduced the exciting idea of Liquid Glass; a design language for iPhones that features translucent glass-like forms that resemble fluid shapes. What may have appeared to be static application icons and layered menus can flow and merge with the context of the underlying backgrounds and colors, with various levels of opacity found throughout. The added animations of ripples that would cascade if you touched something, like a light tap on an app icon you want to open, has contributed to the overall dynamic feel of the interface elements. Apple’s Vice President of Human Interface Design Alan Dye, describes it in the keynote as being “a bold leap forward that not only looks incredible but amazing, vibrant, and intuitive with an aesthetic and purpose.” 

In the early betas (1-3), however, people criticism of the new design was related to how transparent it was and how readability was entirely lost. Apple made many new design tweaks leading into beta 4, which has been really aligned with the public beta, where some seriously needed clarity was added while still maintaining the fluid styles. The clock on the lock screen even resizes based on the wallpaper subject, which is a cool touch! Are you excited to try out if the new immersive glass-like designs meet those expectations?

How to Get the iOS 26 Public Beta? 

Accessing the iOS 26 Public Beta is easy but you should proceed with caution. First, back up your iPhone to either iCloud or a computer so you have a fresh copy of your data - as beta software can often be buggy. Once the backup is completed, go to beta.apple.com on the device you're updating using your Apple ID to join the Apple Beta Software Program. Next, in Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates, select iOS 26 Public Beta, and then simply follow the steps to install it. iOS 26 will support iPhone 11 and newer, as well as iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation).

Keep in mind that just because you have access to beta software, you may encounter bugs in the process, you may want to consider using a secondary device for testing it. The beta will have a Feedback app included, which allows you to report any issue that you encounter while trying out the beta version. Your feedback will help Apple prepare for the release, currently schedule for September 2025. By testing this beta version, you are contributing to the future of the iOS 26 software.

Have you completed your enrollment and back up of your device, or will you just wait for the stable version? 

What new features improve daily iPhone use? 

iOS 26 Public Beta offered the wonderful features that will improve our daily iPhone tasks. For example, in the Phone app, the Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails are all in one tab, making navigation easy; you can go back to the old way if you prefer. Call Screening saves time by making unknown callers say why they are calling, which reduces spam. Hold Assist will let you know when a real agent picks up the phone, and you can free yourself from holding onto hold music. The Camera app has made yet another move toward simplicity in photography: you get Photo and Video buttons in front of the viewer; once you click the icon, a toolbar overlays the screen, and all other controls are scrollable.

Apple Maps also follows your routes and will notify you of delays, and the Wallet app, which has two wallet payments, uses digital USA passport ID at TSA checkpoints, which also includes flight status sharing. The Notes app gives you the power to record and transcribe calls with Markdown export options. These new features will keep making daily tasks less burdensome. Which new feature will you use most?

How Apple Intelligence is Changing iOS 26.

Apple Intelligence is powering new capabilities in the iOS 26 Public Beta that makes new features possible. For example, Live Translation in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone apps will allow for seamless real time collaboration in multiple languages, though there is likely to be minor delays. Visual Intelligence allows for searches on-screen based concepts, such as finding a fishing rod from a photo image. The AI-powered Image Playground app generates images using text prompts, and can produce diverse types of images (e.g. cartoon, watercolor). 

Likewise, the reintroduction of Notification Summaries for news apps (in beta 4), created long notification threads that were condensed into short highlights (e.g. "Global markets rise after trade talks"). Apple refers to these as summaries and recommends you verify these claims to ensure they are accurate. to work, these functionalities need AI chip devices such as the iPhone 16, or iPhone 15 Pro, and must use the supported languages of English or Spanish, with plans to roll out support for other languages in late 2025. How are these AI tools going to improve your experience on your iPhone?

How does iOS 26 connect Apple’s ecosystem?

iOS 26 Public Beta shares the Liquid Glass interface and elements across Apple’s platforms, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26, in order to provide a connected experience. For example, CarPlay has the transparent feel with new widgets and Live Activities to reflect navigation changes as you drive. tvOS Music connects your iPhone to Apple music as a karaoke microphone, enabling the lyrics to be viewed on the screen for extra sing along fun.

Continuing with the new design elements, the Safari Tab Bar will shrink when scrolling to have content front and center, with the option to restore iOS 18 tab bar elements. Photos App includes a two-tab experience for Library and Collections that will sync across devices to keep your organizational experience simple. It’s great to see the new update to maintain an Apple ecosystem. Are you going to be first to experience this unified design with your iPad or Apple Watch?

Should You Install the iOS 26 Public Beta?

Ultimately, deciding whether you want to download the iOS 26 Public Beta is entirely up to you, based on how much risk you're willing to accept. You can experience early access to the Liquid Glass, artificial intelligence features, and application redesigns, and you get to experience Apple's vision before it comes out in September 2025. There have been posts on X (formally Twitter) praising the stability of this public beta, although it does come with some hiccups, like issues with RCS messaging or even overheating on devices like the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Public betas, such as this, have less risk than developer betas, but there are still bugs to overlook.

There is also the fact that you can test out the beta and provide feedback using the Feedback app, which offers you the ability to influence the final version of the operating system. If your iPhone is critical for your work and/or every day, you may want to wait for the stable version. Are you going to accept the beta or take a back seat and prioritize stability?

What Are the Benefits and Risks of Beta Testing?

There are important benefits to testing the iOS 26 Public Beta. You will be able to use features, such as the redesigned Messages app -- with poll and custom background capabilities, or discover Apple Music's AutoMix feature, which will automatically join songs to create a seamless vibe! Providing feedback to Apple provides a nice touch of your participation in building this software. A sleek fresh feeling that comes with the new Liquid Glass design will be a fun and exciting experience for the next wave of early adopters. 

Nonetheless, with all of these benefits, there are some risks to consider. For example, bugs can occur due to testing, and that can lead to apps crashing or draining your battery. Bugs could potentially affect your day to day activities. Data loss is another risk involved when you don't back up your data. To make things easier, some features (for example, Apple Intelligence) are limited to certain devices, and may only be available to certain languages. Think about your comfort level with anything glitchy, and how much you rely on your mobile device in everyday life. Do the benefits of early access outweigh the risks for you?

How Does iOS 26 Build on Apple's Design Heritage?

The iOS 26 Public Beta resembles the redesign of iOS 7 in 2013, which introduced a flat design language to Apple, but is now designed with an additional layer of translucent fluidity called Liquid Glass. While iOS 7 completely removed the legacy design of iOS prior to it, iOS 26 allows legacy layouts for interfaces like Phone and Safari, making it easier to transition. Apple also has created a new versioning to its naming convention connecting to the 2025-2026 release window. This will help consumers track which version is currently on their device across all of Apple's platforms.

Apple's iterative beta process has also taken into account comments from user feedback regarding transparency to ensure the iOS 26 experience is smoother than what launched as iOS 7. The inclusion of Apple Intelligence integrated with the iOS 26 and all ecosystem updates create an orientation towards the future. Could the design of iOS 26 signify a new decade for iPhone innovation?

Frequently Asked Questions About iOS 26 Public Beta

Q: Which iPhones support the iOS 26 Public Beta?

A: It runs on iPhone 11 and later, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generations). Check eligibility in Settings > General > About.

Q: Is the public beta stable enough for daily use?

A: It’s more stable than developer betas but may have bugs. Back up your device and consider using a secondary iPhone.

Q: Can I revert to iOS 18 if I don’t like the beta?

A: Yes, but you’ll need to restore your iPhone using a computer and a pre-beta backup. Visit support.apple.com for guidance.

Q: When will iOS 26 officially launch?

A: Expect the final release in mid-September 2025, likely after the iPhone 17 event.

Q: How do I share feedback on the beta?

A: Use the Feedback app to report bugs or suggestions, helping Apple refine iOS 26.

Conclusion

The iOS 26 Public Beta unveils a new era of iPhone innovation with its Liquid Glass design, Apple Intelligence features, and ecosystem integration. From smarter call screening to a dynamic, translucent interface, it redefines how you interact with your device. While beta testing carries risks like potential bugs, it offers a chance to shape the final release. Whether you test it now or wait for September, iOS 26 promises to elevate your iPhone experience. What’s your plan—jump into the beta or await the official launch?