Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26 Public Beta with Liquid Glass Design
Apple has launched the public beta of macOS Tahoe 26, featuring the new Liquid Glass design language. This update has received mixed reactions from users, with many expressing that it feels like a superficial change, reports 24brussels.
Testing the developer beta on an M4 MacBook Air since its announcement in June, users have noted both positive and negative experiences. The visual aspects of Liquid Glass have been described as unremarkable, yielding a sense of indifference rather than excitement among users.
Initial impressions of the update led to a plethora of comparisons with earlier designs, notably Windows Vista’s approach to transparency. The translucency aspect of Liquid Glass has been somewhat reduced, providing a frosted appearance that some users find more approachable than the beta’s original iteration.
Overall, users transitioning to Tahoe might contend with a prevailing sentiment of mediocrity, especially when contrasting it with the previous macOS Sequoia design, which was favorably regarded for its clean and purposeful interface. Critics argue that the new look appears more focused on aesthetics rather than improving functionality.
One noteworthy improvement is the enhancement of the Control Center, now appearing more opaque, addressing earlier transparency issues present on smaller devices. Despite these changes, reactions remain tepid, with many users preferring the settings access available directly on the Desktop.
Experienced macOS users often favor multiple methods for adjusting settings such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, leveraging keyboard shortcuts in addition to Control Center options, which improve user efficiency. However, the design changes also maintain certain peculiarities, such as an invisible Menu Bar casting a shadow, leaving users puzzled about its practical application.
The volume or brightness adjustment popups have undergone minor revisions, yet many users still find them less intuitively placed than previous versions, leading to confusion over their responsiveness.
Despite some updates being welcomed, including a fully integrated Phone app allowing calls directly from a Mac, the general sentiment indicates that Liquid Glass represents more of a styling shift rather than a functional enhancement. Features such as improved Spotlight search capabilities and clipboard history functionality have piqued some interest, however, comparisons to dedicated applications still highlight limitations inherent in the new system.
As the public beta rolls out, users are encouraged to test these changes for themselves, although caution is advised due to potential bugs associated with beta software. Performance appears stable at this point, following initial concerns regarding battery life during early beta testing. Users have reported issues with specific applications displaying anomalies, particularly those that utilize high white levels.
For users dependent on their Macs for daily productivity, it may be prudent to wait for the full release in the fall, as the current updates may fall short of expectations. While explorations of new designs can be exciting, many consider Tahoe’s offering to be underwhelming thus far.
macOS Tahoe features, Liquid Glass design, Control Center updates, Spotlight enhancements, Phone app integration, beta software performance, macOS user experience, productivity improvements.
