Apple on Tuesday launched its sixth developer beta of its cell working system, iOS 26, together with updates for iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Mac, and others. As the brand new software program will get nearer to its September public launch date, the adjustments and tweaks aren’t as vital, however there are nonetheless some surprises to be discovered. In beta 6, that features a new choice of ringtones, a remaining choice on the Digital camera swiping path controversy, a brand new onboarding expertise, and different updates.
The addition of half a dozen new ringtones, all a variant of the “reflection” tune, was an sudden addition that’s already getting consideration on social media. Early adopters are notably enthused concerning the “Dreamer” ringtone, which has been described as going “arduous,” “loopy good,” and “such a bop,” amongst different issues. It’d even encourage some to take their telephones out of silent mode for a change.
Additionally new in iOS 26 beta 6 is a brand new replace on the controversial change to the Digital camera app.
There was fairly a little bit of backlash over the way in which Apple modified how the Digital camera mode switcher responds to the touch. Customers complained that the change, launched in prior betas, broke their muscle reminiscence, because the swipe gesture on this interface would reverse the scroll path they had been used to — which was the identical design paradigm that every one different native Apple apps use. In beta 5, Apple responded to those complaints by introducing a brand new Settings toggle that may mean you can swap again to “Traditional Mode,” which might as soon as once more make the Digital camera app work like all others.
It wouldn’t have been stunning for Apple to go this route. When it needs to make a serious consumer interface change, it typically provides a fallback for individuals who don’t just like the replace. That’s why you may nonetheless toggle off “Pure scrolling” on the MacBook’s Trackpad, and you may transfer Safari’s deal with bar again to the highest of the display screen on iPhone. However on this case, Apple appears to have determined the Digital camera path isn’t a struggle price having. In beta 6, it eliminated the Settings toggle and adjusted the scroll path again to the way in which it was earlier than.
Different notable updates within the new beta embody quicker transitions and the introduction of recent open and shut animations for launching apps.
Fairly just a few small, however noticeable tweaks to animations in iOS 26 Beta 6! Most transitions are (even) quicker, snappier.Most significantly, they’ve modified the app open/shut animations to the iPadOS variations, which have a slight “magic lamp/genie”-like impact to them. pic.twitter.com/tkiInqR8MJ— xezrunner (@xezrunner) August 11, 2025
Liquid Glass, the up to date consumer interface for Apple gadgets, can also be nonetheless being subtly tweaked for readability in some areas and extra “glassiness” in others. This time, the adjustments have added extra colour dispersion as you progress between an app’s tabs utilizing the clear, magnifying glass-like selector. The Lock Display screen and toggles additionally now supply Liquid Glass results.
After you replace the OS, you’ll see a brand new startup/onboarding expertise, as properly, which is used to introduce Liquid Glass and different iOS 26 options, just like the darkish and clear icons and redesigned interfaces in numerous apps.
As with different beta releases, you may count on some bug fixes, however you could come throughout new ones as Apple strikes ahead with the software program growth course of. Nevertheless, customers report that general, this beta feels extra secure and far quicker than prior releases, suggesting that Apple is nearing its public launch.
Now that the developer beta has been launched, these testing the general public beta ought to count on an replace quickly.
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