What version is the most improved from beta 1 to release?

[colonel179]

Watching videos about iOS 26 is conflicting. On the one hand, there are notable improvements in many apps, such as the camera. However, many things regarding the UI design like in the Control Center still looks very bad, and in need for improvement. There are also many design "mistakes" in iPadOS and MacOS.

So with that, I wonder if it is possible to accomplish a huge improvement from this Beta 1 to release. Have there been an iOS that has been improved so much until release?


I feel like the way iOS 18 is now, it's due to many years of iOS improving, and it's dissapointing that we will start from scratch again. One thing I feel right now, it's that it looks like iOS 26 could be the most unpolished release. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[revs]

This is completely normal and how it always is.

The version we saw at WWDC would have been put together weeks ago (they need time to do the demos/sessions/keynote).

There will also be changes that get worked on but not put in until later betas etc.

Its months away from release, a lot can change (It could also get worse!)

 

[Macintosh101]

I hope it gets better. while there re good ideas in there, the iPad beta is a hot mess right now and I wouldn't recommend installing it, unless its on a secondary device,

 

[Devvy]

I feel like the way iOS 18 is now, it's due to many years of iOS improving, and it's dissapointing that we will start from scratch again. One thing I feel right now, it's that it looks like iOS 26 could be the most unpolished release. Hope I'm wrong.

To be honest, I am not at all very impressed by the stability of iOS 18, especially on iPad, and especially with Stage Manager. Maybe it is nostalgia, but the older, simpler versions were much more stable in my opinion. I feel with every version, more complexity, inconsistency and (luckily also) functionality has been added.

 

[meDANOcine]

I have always had good luck with iOS and iPadOS betas on current-gen devices. I’ve had mixed experiences on older devices. My pet theory is that Apple tests/develops primarily on the newest devices first, then starts testing older devices.

 

[Dr McKay]

It’s pretty much impossible to answer this question, betas are such an unpredictable mixed bag, one persons experience might be the total opposite of another testers. I’ve had betas that were total smooth sailing but the forums were filled with threads complaining of issues I’d never encountered.

 

[P_Watt]

I have always had good luck with iOS and iPadOS betas on current-gen devices. I’ve had mixed experiences on older devices. My pet theory is that Apple tests/develops primarily on the newest devices first, then starts testing older devices.

I think you’ll find the WE test the older devices and tell Apple what to fix in FB.

 

[Woodcrest64]

I have had some little quirks such as clicking on a folder to open from the dock. On iPadOS 26 folders for me tend to close if you try to click on a file when it opens as a grid.

I’ve also seen the odd UI glitch. I’m not a fan of the glass look but like many have said it can be toned down.

I think the glass UI transparency will be reduced to improve readability by the final public release in the fall based on user feedback that I’ve seen.

 

[walterpaisley]

Usually the way it works is the first dev seed is somewhat stable and usable, then Apple breaks as bunch of stuff in the 2nd dev seed (usually two weeks later), and then fixes a bunch of it before the public beta goes out four-ish weeks after WWDC. After that, there's no consistency in quality changes.