Apple has unveiled the fourth developer beta of its upcoming iOS 26 software update, featuring subtle enhancements to the Liquid Glass design and the reintroduction of AI-driven notification summaries for news. This release paves the way for the public beta, anticipated to debut later this week.
The developer beta serves as a testing ground for app developers to ensure compatibility with Apple's latest software before its public rollout in the coming months. Responding to consumer demand for early access, Apple has been offering public betas post-Worldwide Developers Conference in June, allowing iPhone users to experience the new operating system before its global release, albeit with occasional stability issues and bugs.
The iOS 26 beta 4 offers users a sneak peek into the forthcoming public beta. It presents a new "Welcome" screen upon initial software update, alongside introductions to various features such as Siri, AI-powered notification summaries, and the revamped Camera app.
Apple faced a setback earlier this year when it had to halt its AI notification summaries following complaints from the BBC. The AI-powered news summary inaccurately claimed that Luigi Mangione, charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had died by suicide, which was false. In response, Apple committed to a software update that would clarify AI summarizations.
The AI summarization feature in beta includes a cautionary message, warning that "Summarization may change the meaning of the original headlines" and advising users to "Verify information."
Users of the new beta have also noticed Apple's ongoing refinement of its Liquid Glass user interface redesign. While beta 3 reduced transparency in some apps, beta 4 reverts to a more transparent design. Updates are evident in apps such as the App Store, Photos, Apple Music, and the Notification Center, which now features a dynamic tint as you scroll.
iOS 26 beta 4 enhances the readability of notifications by gradually darkening the background when viewing them. This change provides a more visually comfortable experience when navigating through notifications.
The updated software also introduces a new dynamic wallpaper that changes colors and new CarPlay wallpapers. Release notes for beta 4 have not been published on Apple's Developer website, indicating that there may be additional features, particularly minor bug fixes and performance improvements.
In conjunction with the iOS 26 beta 4 release, Apple has also launched new versions of its other betas, including iPadOS 26 beta 4, macOS 26 beta 4, watchOS 26 beta 4, tvOS 26 beta 4, visionOS 26 beta 4, and Xcode 26 beta 4.