iOS 26 Public Beta Review: Wanting Via The Glass | Devices

iOS 26 Public Beta 1 Review

Whether you are getting Apple’s new iPhone 16 or holding onto a few-year-old iPhone 11, iOS 26 Public Beta 1 is now out there for obtain. The new working system was introduced and showcased in June at WWDC 2025, and has been in Developer beta ever since, present process quite a lot of tweaks resulting in its Public launch now.

I’ve been testing iOS 26 Developer Betas to discover new options on my iPhone 16 Plus and that iPhone 12, and I see there’s a variety of enchancment this time round. Everything from larger additions just like the Liquid Glass to smaller modifications like a brand new up to date format within the Photos app; yeah, I’d say lots has modified.

After spending a while with it, right here’s what I give it some thought.

User Interface and User Experience

iOS 26 represents what Apple calls its “broadest software design update ever,” and so they’re not kidding this time. This is Apple’s reply to the query many have been asking – what comes after flat design? The reply, apparently, is Liquid Glass. Basically, a translucent, depth-aware design language that makes each interplay really feel extra premium and tactile.

That’s the very first thing you discover about iOS 26. Apple has introduced again the liquid glass impact on this Public Beta, which was a bit too frosted within the Developer Beta 3. The enchancment is instantly noticeable throughout the interface.

The Lock Screen showcases this fantastically. When you scroll via notifications, the background intelligently darkens to enhance readability whereas sustaining a glass aesthetic. The dwelling display screen’s liquid glass impact is now clearer and extra refined, giving each interplay a premium really feel.

Control Center and the Music app profit from this enhanced translucent look. Buttons now have a glass-like high quality with tender shadows and refraction results that really feel extra subtle than earlier iterations of Beta. The Control Centre feels such as you’re interacting with an precise glass panel, with full physics-based animations while you swipe between controls.

The Lock Screen has been utterly reimagined with bigger, extra adaptive fonts that scale based mostly on notification density. When you’ve got fewer notifications, textual content turns into bigger and extra outstanding. As notifications pile up, the system intelligently shrinks parts to accommodate the whole lot with out feeling cramped.

Haptic suggestions has additionally received an improve. Every faucet, swipe, and gesture now has a corresponding tactile response that feels extra nuanced than earlier than.

Apple Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence may’ve proven up slightly to iOS and it’s siblings, however technically, what I might name is a second iteration of Apple Intelligence has a variety of enhancements. The standout addition is Live Translation, which works seamlessly throughout Messages, FaceTime, and Phone calls. I examined this with a buddy who’s fluent in French, and the real-time translation is nearly correct and quick. During a FaceTime name with the identical buddy, translated textual content appeared as floating overlays.

A notable return on this Public Beta is Apple Intelligence notification summaries for information and leisure apps. These had been eliminated in January for enhancements, however at the moment are again with higher accuracy. As we’ve seen earlier than, the summaries seem italicised and are talked about as “summarised by Apple Intelligence”.

Siri feels extra conversational and contextually conscious. The integration with system capabilities is deeper. You can now ask Siri to carry out advanced multi-step duties like “schedule a meeting with Manas for next Tuesday and set a reminder to prepare the Video Plan.” Siri truly understands and executes each components at a single request.

Customisation

Perhaps the most important shock in iOS 26 is how a lot customisation Apple now permits. The Lock Screen customisation has been expanded with new dynamic wallpapers that reply to time of day, climate, and even your exercise ranges. The wallpapers launched with iOS 26 at the moment are really dynamic, altering color all through the day to match pure lighting situations. The fonts aren’t simply larger; now you can select from a number of typeface choices and weight variations.

Home Screen customisation consists of new icon types and the flexibility to tint app icons to match your wallpaper, and even flip them right into a glass blob.

Apple has additionally relaxed some long-standing restrictions. You can now set extra third-party apps as defaults, together with browsers, electronic mail apps, and even messaging apps.

Performance And Stability

iOS 26 Public Beta 1 represents an enormous enchancment over the Developer Beta variations. Day-to-day efficiency feels genuinely snappy with considerably much less stutter than earlier iterations. App launch occasions have improved noticeably, particularly on older units just like the iPhone 12.

I dont understand how the Apple’s division are segregated, but when there’s a division known as software program, I feel they deserve a particular elevate. Swiping between screens, opening apps, and accessing notifications or Control Center all really feel smoother and extra refined.

Multitasking has additionally been barely improved. With the sooner Betas, the RAM administration was what I might name even unsatisfactory. However, this time round, I observed that it has been improved, making the system far more usable.

Battery

Batteries have all the time been a priority for Beta software program. But iOS 26 Public Beta 1 is surprisingly secure for a primary public launch. Compared with Developer Beta 3, my iPhone 16 Plus lasts for much longer. However, I’m very effectively conscious this’ll enhance much more going additional with extra Beta software program.

Still, A Beta Software

For a primary public beta, iOS 26 is remarkably secure. But that is nonetheless Beta software program. I’ve encountered occasional animation stutters when switching between apps, uncommon keyboard lag, some inconsistencies within the Liquid Glass and a few app crashes.

The set up course of was clean and took about 45 minutes on my iPhone 16 Plus. But pleased that no knowledge loss or main compatibility points encountered.

Device Compatibility

iOS 26 runs surprisingly effectively on older units. I examined it on an iPhone 16 Plus and on my iPhone 12, and whereas a number of the extra intensive Liquid Glass results are toned down, the general expertise stays clean and visually interesting. Old iPhone customers will get most options however miss out on Apple Intelligence capabilities.

However, the core expertise enhancements, resembling higher organisation in Photos, enhanced Messages, and improved Safari, will work nice throughout all supported units.

Verdict

iOS 26 Public Beta 1 is spectacular sufficient that I’d advocate it to anybody snug with beta software program. Except for a couple of app crashes and minor bugs, I actually did not face any points with it. But I’m not frightened about these app crashes as effectively, because it’ll be refined much more down the road with additional beta software program.

For extra conservative customers, ready for iOS 26 secure launch could be smart, however the beta expertise suggests the ultimate launch will probably be stable.