The iOS 26 public beta is here, and it’s not just another round of subtle tweaks. This year’s update brings some of the most significant changes to how your iPhone looks and feels in a long time. Between the flashy new interface, reworked apps, and surprisingly fun touches in familiar places, Apple is betting big on personalization and polish. I’ve been testing the beta for some time, and these features impressed me the most.
1. Liquid Glass: A Transformative New Look
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
Liquid Glass is Apple’s new interface design, and it completely transforms the iPhone. Notifications, apps, pop-up menus, buttons, and just about everything else you might click are now transparent and layered, creating a fresh, eye-catching appearance.
As I tested the beta, I noticed that the glass effect makes it appear that icons subtly shift in depth as you tilt your screen. Likewise, the interface elements glow or blur based on background content, and the translucent effects give apps a sleek, almost holographic feel. I also customized the Home Screen apps to be fully transparent and go all-in on the Liquid Glass aesthetic. It’s a major aesthetic shift from the flatter, more static design seen in recent iOS versions and a welcome addition.
2. Messages: New Visual and Usability Options
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
With iOS 26, the Messages app is more customizable than ever before. I changed the background of a few chats, either by selecting from the dynamic preset options or using a photo from my library. The result was far more personalized Messages.
I really appreciated how easy it was to rearrange the menu bar items within a message thread by dragging and dropping them into the order I preferred. I no longer had to scroll through the default order to find the options I use the most.
Other new features I tested include:
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Polls: This lets you send a poll to a person or a group. You can add more poll choices even after sending it.
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Typing indicators: You can now see exactly who’s typing in a group text, or in one-on-one threads with non-iPhone users.
Together, I found that these upgrades make Messages the most significant redesign in iOS 26 after Liquid Glass.
3. Camera App: Streamlined for One-Handed Snaps
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
Apple has tweaked the iOS 26 camera interface to make it more intuitive, especially for one-handed use. When I used the Camera app, I discovered that key controls were moved closer to my thumb. That let me jump between photo and video modes with a swift swipe.
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I enjoyed the Camera app’s cleaner, simpler look, and was glad to see that I could toggle common tools, such as flash and Night mode, with a single tap—no more digging through many layers. In addition, I adjusted the exposure before taking a photo, rather than after the fact. No, it’s not a complete overhaul, but it’s the most usability-focused redesign the Camera app has seen in years.
4. Photos App: A Smart Redesign
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
iOS 18’s Photos app redesign frustrated some people due to the cluttered layouts and buried folders. With iOS 26, Apple makes amends for its missteps. Upon open Photos, I immediately noticed that it was far more user-friendly.
The new layout focuses on two main tabs: one for your full photo library and another for albums and media types like screenshots, videos, and shared content. To test the app’s flexibility, I collapsed those sections and dragged them to reorder the folders. This simple split made it easier to jump to exactly what I was looking for without tapping through endless menus or guessing where photos or videos were located.
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The streamlined interface should be especially welcome to anyone who found last year’s changes confusing or hard to navigate. It’s not a total return to the old Photos layout, but it strikes a much better balance between the former and the new one.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
With each iOS update, Apple focuses more on making the Lock Screen a showcase for personalization, and iOS 26 is no exception. When I enabled Photo Shuffle, the Lock Screen cycled through images with adaptive number styles. This means the clock’s font, size, and placement changed to complement my wallpaper, whether it was a person, pet, or object. Combined with a new 3D motion effect that kicked in when I tilted the phone, my Lock Screen felt more alive than ever.
Smaller tweaks also improved the general usability. For instance, I tested Lock Screen widgets and found that they now work even if you’re using a depth-effect wallpaper—something that wasn’t possible before. The time numerals and other elements have a translucent, glassy look that ties into the Liquid Glass theme. The Lock Screen redesign is the perfect front door to iOS 26’s new aesthetic.
How the iOS 26 Beta Stacks Up
iOS 26 marks one of the most noticeable visual updates to the iPhone in years. After spending time with the beta, I found that many of the big changes focus on customization and usability, with the former being something Apple has only reluctantly adopted. This combination makes the update feel bigger than the typical annual refresh. As always, some of these cool features may receive tweaks before the operating system’s final release, but the public beta offers a clear look at where Apple’s heading next. And it’s impressive.
About Clay Halton
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