Apple seeds iOS 26 beta 6 with Liquid Glass changes, new ringtones, more

Apple has today released the sixth developer beta of iOS 26 ahead of its public release next month, with the latest beta including more changes to Liquid Glass, several new ringtones, and improvements to app opening times, with Apple seemingly significantly speeding up the animation used when tapping app icon on the Home Screen.

iOS 26 brings Apple’s most significant visual overhaul since iOS 7, introducing a new Liquid Glass aesthetic. This design features translucent layers, dynamic layouts, and spatial wallpapers that offer striking 3D-like effects. The Lock Screen has been enhanced with intelligent clock placement that automatically adjusts to avoid overlapping with key elements in the wallpaper. Additionally, stock apps like Camera, Photos, Music, News, and Podcasts have received refreshed interfaces, including a floating tab bar for more immersive navigation.

The update also introduces several enhancements to Apple Intelligence, the company’s on-device AI suite. New features include Live Translation in Messages and FaceTime, Visual Intelligence for interacting with on-screen content, and updates to the Phone and Messages apps. Notable additions include Call Screening, in-message polls, and group Apple Cash payments.

Other highlights in iOS 26 include AutoMix in Apple Music for seamless transitions between songs, visited place tracking in Maps, and redesigned Wallet boarding passes with Live Activities integration.