Apple's iOS 26 Beta 4: What's New with Liquid Glass and AI Features

Apple has released the fourth developer beta of iOS 26, its next major software update, introducing further refinements to its "Liquid Glass" user interface redesign and reintroducing AI-powered notification summaries for news. This rollout precedes the highly anticipated iOS 26 public beta, expected to launch later this week.

Developer betas are crucial for app developers, allowing them to test and optimize their applications for the new operating system before its wider public release in the coming months, typically alongside the new iPhone models in September. Apple has offered public betas for several years, following its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, to provide a broader testing pool and ensure greater stability for the final release.

Key Updates in iOS 26 Beta 4:

This latest developer beta largely mirrors what users can expect from the forthcoming public beta, focusing on polish and reintroducing a previously paused AI feature.

♦ Refined Liquid Glass Design: Apple continues to fine-tune its "Liquid Glass" user interface. While Beta 3 had scaled back some transparent elements, Beta 4 reintroduces and refines them across various native applications, including the App Store, Photos, Apple Music, and Weather. Testers have also observed a new dynamic tint in the Notification Center that adapts as you scroll.

♦ Reintroduction of AI News Summaries: A significant return in Beta 4 is the re-enabled AI-powered notification summaries for news. This feature, part of Apple Intelligence, was temporarily paused earlier this year following a notable incident where a summary inaccurately reported a BBC headline. The previous error falsely claimed that Luigi Mangione, who was charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had died by suicide.

Addressing these concerns, the setup screen for the AI summarization feature now includes a prominent warning message under the "News & Entertainment" section. Apple explicitly states, "Summarization may change the meaning of the original headlines" and advises users to "Verify information," emphasizing the beta nature of the feature and the potential for inaccuracies.

♦ New Onboarding and Feature Screens: Upon updating to iOS 26 Beta 4, users will encounter a new "Welcome" splash screen. Additionally, introductory screens are now present for various key features, such as Siri and its AI-powered notification summaries and prioritization options, as well as for iOS 26’s revamped Camera app, guiding users through the new functionalities.

While official release notes for Beta 4 were not immediately available, minor bug fixes and performance improvements are also anticipated as part of this ongoing development cycle.

The updated software additionally includes a new dynamic wallpaper, which changes colors, and new CarPlay wallpapers.

Alongside iOS 26 Beta 4, Apple has also released new developer betas for its other operating systems, 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, ensuring a synchronized development across its ecosystem.