Apple on 7 July released the third developer beta of iOS 26, scaling back the transparency of its new “Liquid Glass” interface after early testers complained that the effect hurt readability. The update gives navigation bars, notifications and other UI elements a darker, more opaque look that reviewers have likened to a frosted-glass finish. Liquid Glass was introduced at WWDC 2025 as a signature visual change intended to mimic real-world glass by refracting light and showing content beneath menus and buttons. In the first two betas, the effect made areas such as the Control Center so translucent that icons and widgets bled through, creating visual clutter. Beta 2 reduced the issue in the Control Center; beta 3 extends similar fixes to first-party apps like Apple Music and system notifications, replacing see-through panels with solid white or darkened backgrounds to boost contrast. The modifications underline Apple’s iterative approach during the developer cycle as it gathers feedback ahead of a public release expected in the fall. While the company has not detailed further changes, additional tweaks are likely before iOS 26 ships to iPhone users.