A month and a half after Apple announced iOS 26, the fourth developer beta is now available, marking the halfway point in the testing period before the stable version arrives on iPhones in September. This edition stands out for the consolidation of the new Liquid Glass design, the introduction of requested functions and the long-awaited imminence of the public beta., which is expected in the coming days. Additionally, the corresponding beta versions of iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS have arrived alongside iOS.
Among the most relevant contributions of this beta are Visual interface changes, notable stability improvements, and experimental feature recovery eliminated in previous editions. Apple's ecosystem is moving toward an increasingly coherent and polished experience across all its devices, while also making adjustments and testing based on user and developer feedback.
Most notable new features of iOS 26 beta 4
In this installment, Apple has brought back and improved the translucent Liquid Glass effect. after the controversial reduction in transparency applied in the previous beta. Navigation bars in apps like the App Store, Apple Music, and Photos once again feature enhanced transparency., but adapted to improve contrast and readability depending on the background used. This detail is especially visible in dark mode, where the immersive aesthetic maintains its appeal without hindering reading.
Design is not only visual: transitions between applications and menus are smoother, animations have become more fluid, and changes to the Control Center continue to make for a more elegant experience. In addition, new dynamic wallpapers that automatically change their colors, expanding the customization options for users.
The return of AI-powered notification summaries
One of the most discussed features is returning to iOS: Notification summaries for news and entertainment apps, managed by Apple IntelligenceThis feature, which was temporarily removed following some controversy over the handling of sensitive headlines, is now back with new warnings for users about potential inaccuracies in AI-generated summaries.
After updating, the system offers the user the possibility of Enable or disable summaries, choose which app categories you want them active for, and receive warnings about possible alteration of the original meaning of the summarized information.For now, the feature is limited to American English, but expansion to other languages is planned in the final release.
Additional improvements and new features in applications
The Camera app now has a welcome screen with information about the new interface and filter settings, Anticipating the arrival of greater customization in photo capture. The button for switching between shooting modes has been revised and is better visually integrated. In CarPlay, customizable backgrounds and a dynamic wallpaper that changes color, adapting to the system's light or dark modes.
Other notable improvements include updated settings for filtering unwanted calls, more options for access control using Face ID, and changes to the Phone app, where you can now choose whether to automatically silence unknown calls or ask for a reason before answering. Additionally, the Weather app lets you activate access to important locations with a single tap, and there's new, more descriptive nomenclature in the sound settings.
Public beta coming soon and easy access
The usual calendar indicates that the iOS 26 public beta should appear this weekEverything indicates that it will be based entirely on this fourth developer release, incorporating all the stability improvements and new features seen so far. Although any user can install it after registering for the Apple Beta program with their Apple ID, it's advisable to make a backup beforehand, as there's still a risk of bugs inherent in a testing phase.
For those interested, the process is simple: just sign up on the official Apple website, accept the terms and download the beta from Settings on the iPhone in the new updates section.
In addition to the iOS beta, Apple has released test versions of iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS at the same time., thus advancing the integration of new features across its entire ecosystem and making it easier for developers and advanced users to adapt their apps and services to the future final version.
Work on iOS 26 continues to progress at a good pace, with improvements focused on both the visual aspect and the user experience. The reintroduction of tools such as AI-powered summaries reflects an effort to offer more control and transparency to the user, while the balance between aesthetics and functionality remains Apple's primary goal ahead of the official launch.