Apple has officially released iOS 26 Beta 2, addressing critical usability complaints regarding the controversial “Liquid Glass” interface introduced at WWDC 2025. The update, rolled out this Monday, focuses on refining the visual clarity of the operating system’s new design language, which mimics the refraction and translucency of glass.
Improving the Control Center Experience
Following the initial developer beta, users widely criticized the Control Center for its poor readability. The extreme transparency of the Liquid Glass design caused buttons and sliders to blend inconsistently with Home Screen widgets and icons positioned underneath.
yeah i cant defend this pic.twitter.com/MmFQ4hMjba
— Holly – I like tech (@AnxiousHolly) June 10, 2025
In Beta 2, Apple has implemented a stronger background blur effect. This adjustment effectively masks the Home Screen content, ensuring that Control Center elements remain distinct and legible for the user.
The background blur in Control Center changed to make readability better.
Left: beta 1. Right: beta2.#iOS26 #Apple pic.twitter.com/9w6pcusbfv
— Bas van der Ploeg (@basvanderploeg) June 23, 2025
iOS 26 beta 2 blurs the background of the Control Center pic.twitter.com/vhJzkXDoFE
— Aaron (@aaronp613) June 23, 2025
Refining Notifications and User Feedback
Beyond the Control Center, the update also targets notification readability. While the text appears sharper in the second beta, reports indicate that contrast on light or bright backgrounds remains a work in progress. Early adopters continue to push for greater personalization, specifically requesting the ability to adjust blur intensity and transparency levels manually.
iOS 26 looks sleek, but users want control—let us customize Control Center layout and adjust blur/transparency levels. Not everyone wants a frosted-glass overload. Personalization > one-size-fits-all. #iOS26 #AppleFeedback https://t.co/yFuav2v6og
— Tech-reviewit 👨🏼💻 (@craigmlambo22) June 23, 2025
Expanded Features in Beta 2
These iterations confirm that Apple is actively monitoring developer and tester feedback ahead of the public launch this fall. The latest beta also introduces several functional updates, including:
- New Accessibility sections within App Store product pages.
- iCloud synchronization support for the Journaling app on iPad.
- Integrated order tracking features for Apple Wallet.
- A dedicated Apple Music Radio widget.