Apple has officially released Developer Beta 4 of iOS 26, and if you’re running it on an iPhone 16 Pro Max or any other compatible device, you’re likely wondering — what’s new, what’s fixed, and what’s broken?
In this blog post, we’ll walk through all the new features, design changes, and performance observations in detail. This includes everything from new notification controls and dynamic wallpapers to redesigned UI elements in apps like Apple Maps and Safari. No shortcuts — every visual, every change, and every tweak is clearly explained.
Let’s dive in.
📦 Update Size & Build Information
Let’s begin with the basics. If you’re updating from Beta 3 to Beta 4 on iPhone 16 Pro Max, here’s what you need to know:
- Update Size: 2.2 GB
- Build Number: 23A5297i
This is a relatively large update, so you can expect several under-the-hood changes along with the visual updates.
🧠 Apple Intelligence Setup Wizard (First Boot After Update)
Apple has introduced a brand-new onboarding wizard after the first reboot. This aims to personalize your notification and Siri experience using Apple Intelligence.
Here’s what it includes:
Step 1: Notification Summarization Categories
You’re presented with three options for categorizing notifications:
- News & Entertainment
- Communication & Social
- All Other Apps
Each category displays apps included under it. You can choose one or more, but take note:
⚠️ A disclaimer appears under “News & Entertainment,” warning that summarization may alter the meaning of headlines. Apple recommends verifying critical information manually.
Step 2: Priority Notifications
You’re then asked if you’d like to enable Priority Notifications, which:
- Use on-device intelligence
- Highlight important messages directly on the lock screen
Step 3: Siri Activation Guide
A short walkthrough shows you:
- How to invoke Siri with the power button
- How to double-tap the home bar for text-based Siri
🔒 Lock Screen Enhancements
Let’s talk visuals. One of the biggest usability complaints in previous betas — difficulty reading notifications — has been addressed.
Improved Notification Readability
- Background behind notifications is now darker
- Smooth gradient transition between dark and light zones
- Entire background dims now (not just behind notifications)
Here’s a side-by-side difference:
- Beta 3: Top and bottom of the lock screen remained bright
- Beta 4: Full-screen dimming improves text contrast and readability
This is a small but significant visual improvement that boosts accessibility.
🎨 Wallpapers – Dynamic & Customizable
iOS 26’s wallpaper engine has also seen enhancements. When adding a new wallpaper:
- The category now shows as “iOS 26”
- Wallpapers dynamically change throughout the day
- New description: “Multiple shades and materials play with light”
You can now choose from:
- Dynamic (new)
- Shadow
- Sky
- Halo
- Dusk
📝 At night, the wallpaper appears darker and gradually brightens in the morning — a subtle but elegant change.
🧊 Liquid Glass is Back (Again)
Apple seems to be toggling between frosted and liquid glass effects across apps. In Beta 4:
- Apps like Apple Music and Safari return to a liquid glass look (semi-transparent and reflective)
- This is consistent with the original design language seen in Beta 1
🏠 Home Screen – Icon Tinting Improvement
When customizing your icons:
- Go to Edit → Customize → Tinted
- The tinted icon now reflects changes live as you adjust the color slider
This is a helpful visual feedback loop that improves the customization experience.
📨 Messages App Updates
Several small yet useful changes:
- Mic icon is now outlined instead of solid
- New video call button inside conversations
- Quick Translate: Long-press a message to get instant access to the translation option (no need to select text first)
- Overlay menus are now more transparent than before
🌐 Safari Visual Changes
The browser has undergone subtle refinements:
- Address bar is now transparent with reflections (matching the liquid glass style)
- Buttons in the address bar are slightly smaller, aligning with a minimalist aesthetic
📸 Camera App UI Tweaks
- Top-right camera buttons are now smaller and less intrusive
This provides a cleaner layout during shooting.
🗺️ Apple Maps Design Refresh
Apple Maps sees the biggest visual overhaul among all apps:
- Rating stars are now accessible upfront
- Quick jump to reviews with one tap
- Action buttons have a soft blue background
- Bottom buttons are redesigned with rounded containers
- Delete button replaced with a ✓ tick instead of the trash can — possibly a UI bug
📍 During navigation:
- A “Share ETA” button now appears briefly and then disappears — a useful shortcut
However, the next direction preview is hidden by default. You must manually expand the card to see it.
🔋 Performance & Battery Life (Important)
And now, let’s talk about performance — because what’s a fancy UI worth if your phone lags?
Performance Issues Observed:
- Occasional frame drops when scrolling home screen
- General glitchiness in system animations
Battery & Heat:
- Device heats up more than with Beta 3
- Due to resource-heavy liquid glass effects, battery drain is slightly worse
So while the UI is beautiful, it comes at a cost — performance stability is not yet where it should be.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I upgrade to iOS 26 Beta 4?
A: Only if you’re a developer or enthusiast. It’s not stable enough for daily use.
Q: Can I downgrade from Beta 4 to iOS 17 or public iOS 26 Beta 3?
A: Yes, but you’ll need a clean install using IPSW and Finder/iTunes.
Q: Is Apple Intelligence available in this beta?
A: Some onboarding features are visible, but full Apple Intelligence tools are still not active.
📥 Useful Links
If you want to explore more or install the developer beta:
📝 Final Thoughts
So far, we’ve walked through everything from revamped wallpapers to redesigned app UIs, and even touched on bugs and performance issues. Apple is clearly polishing the iOS 26 experience — but with some steps forward and a few steps back.
If you’re testing iOS 26 Beta 4, let us know in the comments what features you liked or bugs you spotted that we might’ve missed!
🛑 Disclaimer
This article covers a developer beta version of iOS 26. Features may change or be removed before the final public release. Install only on test devices. This is not intended as advice for general users.
Tags: iOS 26 beta 4, iOS 26 features, Apple Intelligence, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 26 wallpapers, lock screen changes, Safari redesign, Apple Maps updates, iOS 26 performance, iOS 26 notification settings
Hashtags:
#iOS26 #AppleBeta #iPhone16ProMax #AppleIntelligence #iOS26Features #LiquidGlass #SafariUpdate #AppleMaps #iOSBeta #dtptips
