Apple has rolled out iOS 26.1 Beta 4 to developers, marking another step toward the official release of iOS 26.1.
The latest beta focuses on fine-tuning system visuals, user customization, and everyday performance.
Key highlights include the long-awaited customization of the Liquid Glass interface, a new lock screen camera control, and several layout refinements aimed at improving user experience.
The update continues Apple's trend of steady, incremental polish as the OS nears its public release.
Release Information
The new build, numbered 23B5073A, signals a near-final version typically preceding the Release Candidate stage.
Updates for iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, HomePodOS, and visionOS 26.1 were released simultaneously.
The download size varies by device, averaging around 2.5 GB, and no modem firmware changes are included in this beta.
Apple is expected to release the RC build by late October, with a stable public rollout in early November.
Key Updates
Customizable Liquid Glass
Users can now personalize the Liquid Glass display effect, a visual feature first introduced in iOS 26.
The new option in Settings → Display & Brightness → Liquid Glass lets users switch between "Clear" for transparency and "Tinted" for a frosted-glass appearance.
This provides more control over how system menus and notifications look across the interface.
Lock Screen Camera Toggle
A new toggle allows disabling the swipe-left gesture to open the camera from the lock screen.
This small but practical feature prevents accidental camera launches and offers more flexibility for privacy and control.
Display Zoom and Wallpaper Preview
The Display Zoom section now includes the official iOS 26 wallpaper, replacing the placeholder from earlier betas.
The change brings a more cohesive and polished visual consistency across the Settings app.
Phone Haptics Setting
Apple added an option under Settings → Phone to enable or disable haptic feedback for call connections and disconnections, giving users finer control over tactile notifications during calls.
Siri and Apple Intelligence Layout Refinement
The Siri and Apple Intelligence settings pages have been visually realigned, shifting from centered to left-justified text.
This subtle change improves readability and aligns with Apple's broader UI consistency goals across devices.
By the way, internal reports suggest that Apple is already testing a major AI-driven Siri overhaul for spring 2026, after finding inconsistent behavior in early iOS 26.4 builds.
Performance
Benchmark tests on the iPhone 17 Pro Max show stable results, with single-core scores near 3,875 and multi-core around 9,600, nearly identical to Beta 3.
Battery efficiency and heat management remain steady, with marginal improvements during standby use.
App switching and animations feel smooth, and the system demonstrates consistent responsiveness under daily workloads.
Bug Fixes
- Resolved an issue where the screen would sleep unexpectedly when using lock screen apps like Calculator or Notes.
- Fixed accent menu display issues in Notes and text editors.
- Eliminated dark shadow artifacts appearing behind app folders.
- Improved wallpaper color consistency when switching between light and dark modes.
- Enhanced App Library search responsiveness and minor stability improvements.
Editor's Comments
iOS 26.1 Beta 4 is shaping up to be one of the final pre-release builds before Apple rolls out the Release Candidate.
Compared to iOS 26.0, this update emphasizes user control and subtle UI improvements over major feature introductions.
The new Liquid Glass customization feature is especially notable, signaling Apple's gradual openness to more visual personalization within iOS.
As Apple moves closer to the public release, these refinements strengthen the system's stability and hint at a more flexible direction for future iOS design updates.
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