iOS 26 has come a long way with the launch of a reworked graphics interface, brightened and revamped for everyday, personalized workflows, and userful everyday tools. There won't be any improvements to Siri, the AI smart assistant, yet in this version - but you can see how Apple tries to change the relationship between user and device while keeping the ecosystem together.

The Liquid Glass Concept

The iOS 26 Public Beta brings in Liquid Glass, transforming buttons, sliders, and icons into layered, semi-transparent objects. There is a unified approach as iPhone, iPad, and Mac can have all three display units with a similar design, and possibility of multi layered menus with tinted themes, provided by developers. And all custom transparent effects will have a different look to icons. Currently, Apple is addressing an initial transparency issue, which has halted production and development of design to find a balance between style and usability.

Enhancing User Engagement

The iOS 26 Public Beta presents a redefining change in device interaction through dual-stage popover commands, reducing previous reliance on scrolling menu options. A tap and hold motion will show the main commands, the arrow expands to dependent options, all in an effort to provide a more seamless interaction. It is extremely refinined and handy solution for all experiences. The swipe back action occurs on any edge of the screen.

Revamping the Lock Screen

The iOS 26 Public Beta also revamps the traditional lock screen look, appropriating the Liquid Glass visual styling for the lock screen. The clock will resize, and change position depending on the background, widgets have been placed immediately below the clock, above the notifications, in an effort to make it easy for the user to engage the clock/widgets. When using Spatial Scenes, they add depth to photos. With Apple Music+, the album art now animates from playlists, with an entertaining twist. There are more customization options with the rainbow clock. Most feature adjustments have been made for flexibility in placement.

Camera and Photos: More Efficient & Information Driven

The iOS 26 Public Beta narrows the Camera application has been streamlined into a single interface, using a simpler Photo & Video only display. Along with swipes that unlock the Panorama or Portrait modes, more advanced features and settings are also hidden but available. One new integration with AirPods is the ability now, to take photos. The Photos application is returning to a tabbed interface, as well as using Visual Intelligence to label events like concerts, augmented with textual detail.

The Advanced Phone App

The iOS 26 Public Beta provides one view of the Phone app (Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails), a Spam filter for unwanted calls, and AI-based call screening. Hold Assist recognizes hold music, and more builds to come will help it to be even better.

Safari: Streamlined with New Features

The iOS 26 Public Beta shrinks down Safari to a location bar, back button, and More menu. Safari comes loaded with new features including web extension support and saving apps in full screen. It will also offer new, more ways to share, for every type of user.

Visual Intelligence: New Opportunities

The iOS 26 Public Beta stirred Visual Intelligence into screenshots with ChatGPT and Google Image search. AI can complete actions on URLs or events instantly, transforming screenshots into valuable research resources.

More Features in the iOS 26 Public Beta

The iOS 26 Public Beta includes a battery usage graph that tracks your daily patterns, allows you to locally record audio as voice memos, export Markdown files from the Notes app, create a Passwords app to manage logins, add AutoMix to create cross-fades for Music, categorize Maps locations, adjust snooze options for the Clock app, and select text in Messages, definitely improving quality of life daily.

CarPlay Improvements and Apple Intelligence Changes

The iOS 26 Public Beta offers improvements for CarPlay that include a Liquid Glass UI, new call status displays in the call display, message tapbacks in contacts, and size-adapting widgets. iOS 26 with Apple Intelligence introduces Image Playground for editing content, Genmoji for personal emoji clips, and summarizing voicenotes, among other small improvements.

Accessibility and Performance Improvements

The iOS 26 Public Beta offers improved accessibility for use by the visually impaired through voiceover of the Liquid Glass design and better speech features. Performance improvements include a 15% faster launch from app open time on supported devices, and optimized battery life for background-refreshing apps.

Should You Attempt Installation of the iOS 26 Public Beta?

The iOS 26 Public Beta represents a stable experience for users willing to try it out, with nearly every highlight from the WWDC, although minor bugs-- especially with home screen widgets-- imply a fall release may be a better option. It offers so many enhancements within its fluid, simplistic design with functioning practical benefits to incorporate into daily life, whoever is capable of putting up with the emotions of everyday bugs.

Security and Privacy Updates

The iOS 26 Public Beta introduces end-to-end iCloud backups encryption, a privacy dashboard to view app permissions, and better performance on the accuracy of Face ID in low light, reflecting Apple's increased attention on data security.

Final Thoughts

The iOS 26 Public Beta increases the visual and tactile experience of your iPhone without compromising its primary function. The confluence of design and intelligence encourages experimentation, particularly for those, like myself, who love Apple's emphasis on innovative design.