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Apple Scales Back Liquid Glass Transparency in Latest Developer Beta

The latest beta reduces translucency to restore legibility with wider testing scheduled this summer.

Overview

  • Developer Beta 3 of iOS 26 and macOS 26 trims down the high-transparency and color-shift effects introduced at WWDC.
  • Apple retained an accessibility toggle from earlier betas to let users adjust translucency after usability complaints.
  • Early feedback pointed to unusable Control Center elements and notifications obscured by pastel overlays.
  • Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman described the swift retreat from Apple’s original vision as concerning.
  • Apple will gather input through a public beta and refine the Liquid Glass design ahead of its September launch.