Apple Releases iOS 26 Developer Beta 4 as Users Await Public Beta
Apple has rolled out the fourth developer beta of its upcoming iOS 26, sparking anticipation among users for the release of the public beta version. As the month of July draws to a close, many are eager to explore the new features and improvements that the latest operating system promises.
This new beta version includes various enhancements to the user interface, which is set to debut with iOS 26 in September 2025. Unlike previous updates, the transition from iOS 18 to iOS 26 introduces a significant overhaul with a novel user interface dubbed Liquid Glass, which has undergone extensive refinements in the current developer betas.
Despite the expectation that public betas would be available in July, as Apple has historically released them around this time, there has been no official announcement yet. Last year, iOS 18 and its counterparts were available to the public much earlier, on July 15. The delay this year may be attributed to the more extensive technical changes being implemented.
The fourth beta of iOS 26 showcases several UI adjustments, with Apple modifying various menus, tab bars, and buttons. The transparency effect of the glass design has been enhanced in certain areas, while other elements now respond more effectively to changes in background colors, improving overall readability. A darker background in the notification center has also been introduced to enhance visibility.
Additionally, Apple has reactivated Notification Summaries within its Apple Intelligence feature. This option allows users to determine whether they want summaries for news, entertainment, communications, and social media, or to disable them entirely. Apple, however, reminds users that as this is a beta feature, inaccuracies may still be present.
Other minor improvements in this beta version include dynamic wallpapers that change throughout the day, new backgrounds for CarPlay, and slight modifications to the icons for the Mail and Camera apps. The new 'Call Screening' feature now offers users more control over spam call filtering, allowing them to choose whether to prompt unknown callers for their purpose or mute all unidentified numbers.
Beta testers have also noticed a new option in the weather settings, allowing the app to access data for frequently visited locations. This feature aims to provide quicker weather updates specific to these places.
Alongside iOS 26 Developer Beta 4, Apple has also released corresponding developer betas for macOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26. Many of the enhancements found in iOS 26 Developer Beta 4 are similarly reflected in iPadOS 26 Developer Beta 4, although further details about other operating systems are still emerging.
