Apple is working fast to bring out the iOS 26 update on time, with its Liquid Glass design language being the talk of the town. Now, two weeks after the big reveal and the release of the first beta OS, iOS 26 beta 2 changes have been announced. If you’re confused about how we skipped to 26 already, it’s because Apple has made an alteration to its naming strategy starting this year. Instead of shifting from version 18 to 19, the new naming convention now reflects the upcoming year instead.
This shift in naming has been applied to all Apple OS systems, including the iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, and it isn’t just a shift in title either. With the iOS 26 beta 2 improvements, Apple is planning to introduce a unified design language across all its platforms, with the translucent aesthetic inspired by the visionOS now common to all of its devices. There are a few minor changes with the iOS 26 beta update for now, but bigger transitions are expected in the coming month.
Image: The iPhone 16 Pro Max
iOS 26 Beta 2 Changes—What’s New with Apple?
The original iOS 26 beta update was released on June 9, 2025, and testers flocked to Apple’s page to see what all the ruckus was about. Due to a bug in the update that caused the unexpected appearance of the low battery icon on the status bar without cause, many iPhones faced issues and started switching off. Apple rushed out an updated version of the iOS 26 beta system by June 13, and things have been quiet on the testing front ever since.
After Apple iOS 26’s liquid glass interface was first announced, the company received considerable criticism for the design choice and the way the translucent theme hinders on-screen visibility for users. The design was also mocked for imitating the interface from the old days, repacking something we’ve seen before, and marketing it as a brand-new concept.
Despite the backlash, Apple has not given up on the design aesthetic just yet, and the iOS 26 beta 2 changes show how the company is working to improve visual clarity and accessibility so the user experience is not entirely compromised.
iOS 26 Beta 2 Comes with a Control Center Fix
The liquid glass design was worst represented in the control center panel with the original beta, as the translucent nature of the menu made it hard to see the settings and options against the background of icons and apps. iOS 26’s control center fix comes with increased blur to hide the disturbance in the background and allow the control panel icons to be clearer. We still think the design is going to strain some users, however, it does make a slight improvement to what was seen before.
More Control Over Transparency
For those who abhor the liquid glass mode’s transparent design, you can better control the feature from the Accessibility menu in the Settings app to bring down the transparent quality in the display.
App Store Update Marks Another Win for Accessibility
Apple has introduced an Accessibility section to its App Store system to help developers list their own accessibility features provided by their app. This should encourage developers to be more proactive in embracing accessibility features to showcase in this section, while also giving users a way to review the support that these apps have to offer.
Transcribe Calls with the Live Captions Setting
Another one of iOS 26’s new features includes the live caption option, but this also has a “save call transcripts” setting to record the content of the call in text form. The feature improves the system sound used to inform the speaker that the call is being transcribed before proceeding.
Other iOS 26 beta 2 Improvements
Along with a long list of bug fixes, there are a couple of other iOS 26 beta 2 changes that are of note here:
- A new widget for the Live Radio function in Apple Music
- Upgraded layout on the Safari browser settings menu
- A new Alt 1 ringtone option under the “Reflection” ringtone option
- Better descriptions for the “low power” mode to understand its effects when activated
- Left-aligned placement of apps in the Dock when fewer than four apps are present
- New order tracking feature in the Mail app
iPhone iOS 26 Release Date
Apple has not revealed a fixed release date for the iOS 26 system just yet. We know that the public beta will be out in July, so those who want to try these features out can sign up for it through the Apple Beta Software Program. The iOS 26 launch will likely take place in September with the release of Apple’s next lineup of smartphones, but older device owners should expect to wait a little longer before they get to interact with the OS in its full form. A 2025 release is inevitable, but the gradual rollout of the operating system will involve some waiting.
The iOS 26 Beta 2 Changes Are Minimal
Apple’s iOS 26 beta 2 changes are unfolding in parallel with Android’s updates to its operating system as well. While the base version of Android 16 was revealed earlier this month, the core of the changes featuring the Material 3 Expressive redesign are expected to arrive in September as well. This will unleash a flurry of comparisons between the two systems, especially in terms of their unique design language and the user experience in navigating the interface.
Healthy competition is always good for the end user, so we’re not complaining about some head-to-head combat between the tech giants. While we wait to see these operating systems come into full form this year, we’ll also keep our eyes out for any rumors and updates on what you can expect.
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