Apple Changes Liquid Glass Again in iOS 26 Beta 6

Apple is continuing to tweak the way that the Liquid Glass design looks ahead of the iOS 26 launch, and the latest beta makes a change to the Lock Screen.

ios 26 liquid glass lock screen beta 6
The Lock Screen clock has been updated with additional transparency, allowing more of the background to peek through.

ios 26 beta 6 liquid glass lock screenBeta 6 on left, beta 5 on right

The clock also has more of a 3D, floating look, which is in line with the rest of the Liquid Glass design. Apple didn't change the Liquid Glass look of the control buttons, but the icons are larger. Lock Screen widgets haven't changed.

ios 26 liquid glass lock screen changesBeta 6 on left, beta 5 on right

With the updated floating design and added translucency, the clock can be somewhat harder to see on certain darker backgrounds, but it is definitely more of a Liquid Glass aesthetic.

Apple has been tweaking different ‌iOS 26‌ design elements throughout the beta testing process as it aims to perfect Liquid Glass before the ‌iOS 26‌ debut in September.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
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Top Rated Comments

jbc25 Avatar
17 weeks ago
I'm really not sure why this needs to keep being reiterated, but here we go again: the BEFORE image always goes on the LEFT, the AFTER goes on the RIGHT. Just like how we read english text, from left to right. Understand?
Score: 141 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bluecoast Avatar
17 weeks ago
Looks great, who needs to see the time anyway.

Doh.
Score: 47 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPack Avatar
17 weeks ago
Regression in usability for sure.

Feels like Jony Ive influence on the design team. Aesthetics over usability.
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacMediaNet Avatar
17 weeks ago
Less readable again.
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
corbindav Avatar
17 weeks ago
It's fine, I didn't need to read the time anyway. Thank you Apple for this tireless innovation.
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
goro123 Avatar
17 weeks ago
I fear this whole design is a failure and Apple is heading into a dead end. Much too complex to manage properly. As much as I love the idea, it might make sense in specific situations but not for the whole OS. Apple tried translucent UIs with Aqua (translucent menus) and quickly reverted back. Unreadable text and blurry UI just doesn't make sense.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)