Just a week after the last developer beta dropped, Apple is back with iOS 26 Developer Beta 6 and this one brings some pretty noticeable polish. From upgraded visuals to fresh ringtones and smoother animations, there’s a lot to dig into.
A Warm Welcome
After updating, you’ll be greeted with a new “Welcome to iOS 26” screen. It’s a quick rundown of some of the key features in this beta, like the Liquid Glass design, Camera app controls, and more. It’s a nice little intro if you haven’t been keeping up with the earlier builds.
Visual Refinements: Liquid Glass Gets Better
Apple continues to tweak its new Liquid Glass design language, and Beta 6 brings even more subtle changes. The lock screen clock now appears slightly more transparent, giving the whole screen a sleeker look. In other places like navigation bars and the lock screen passcode interface, Apple has dialed up the translucency for a cleaner, more modern feel.
You’ll also notice a Liquid Glass effect on toggles in the Settings app, adding a touch of visual flair when switching things on or off.
Snappier Animations
One of the most noticeable changes in this update? App launch and close animations. They’re faster, snappier, and have a new bouncy effect that makes the system feel a bit more playful and more responsive. If you felt previous betas were a little sluggish, this one should feel like a solid step up.
New Ringtones (Yes, Plural)
Ringtone fans, rejoice! Beta 6 adds seven new ringtones, most of which are variants of the well-known “Reflection” tone. Here’s the list:
- Default
- Buoyant
- Dreamer
- Tech
- Pop
- Reflected (previously called “Alt 1”)
- Surge
On top of that, there’s also a completely new ringtone called “Little Bird.” Whether you like subtle chimes or more upbeat tones, there’s likely something here you’ll enjoy.
Small but Noteworthy Tweaks
- The Preview app now includes larger options for a better viewing experience.
- Apple has removed the Classic Mode Switching toggle from the Camera app settings. That means you can no longer switch to alternative animation styles for the Camera app Classic Mode is now the default and only option.
How to Get the Update
If you’re in the Developer Beta Program, you can grab iOS 26 Beta 6 by going to:
Settings > General > Software Update > Update Now
And it’s not just iPhones getting some love Apple is also rolling out Developer Beta 6 for:
- iPadOS 26
- macOS 26
- watchOS 26
- visionOS 26
- tvOS 26
Final Thoughts
While iOS 26 Beta 6 doesn’t bring sweeping changes, it definitely adds more refinement and polish to the overall experience. The new animations, ringtones, and visual upgrades help make iOS 26 feel more fluid and modern. With the public release creeping closer, things are really starting to shape up.
Stay tuned we’ll keep you updated as the final version gets nearer.
