iOS 26 Early Review: The good, the bad, and the glassy

Apple’s iOS 26 is almost here — the final version should roll out next week alongside the iPhone 17 series. I’ve been using the public beta for a while now, and honestly, it’s a mix of wow and hmm.

The Big Change: Liquid Glass

The first thing you’ll notice is the Liquid Glass design. Everything — from app icons to menus to the keyboard — has this shiny, reflective, almost futuristic vibe. Tilt your phone, and the reflections shift; swipe around, and glass seems to glide across your screen. It’s undeniably cool, but it’s also… a…