iOS 26.4 beta 2 arrived today for developers, with two app changes that reverse iOS 26 search designs to be more like iOS 18.
Search design has reversed to iOS 18 behavior in some iOS 26.4 apps
Last week when iOS 26.4 beta 1 debuted, it came with some odd design quirks in the App Store app.
The beta revised the design of search in two ways:
- The search button was integrated into the tab bar rather than being separated
- The search bar was moved to the top of the screen
Both changes were reversals back to the iOS 18 behavior:
- iOS 18: Search was a standard navigation tab, and search bar was at the top of the screen
- iOS 26: Search was split out from tab bar as a standalone button, and search bar moved to bottom
In iOS 26.4 beta 1, the App Store was the only app to use the old iOS 18 design.
As a result, it seemed like a possible bug, or else a change intended to draw more attention to the App Store ad slot near the top of the screen.
But in beta 2, those theories are officially ruled out, because now these two exact changes have also been applied to the Apple Games app.
In beta 1, Games had the previous iOS 26 design for search, but in beta 2 the iOS 26.4 changes first seen in the App Store now extend to Games too.
Top comment by Nicola
I don't like this change at all. I think the bar design introduced in iOS 26 was much better. It was more space efficient, since search only used a small button in the corner of the screen when not in use, and expanded into a full bar only when needed. Also, imagine if this new design were used in apps such as Music or Podcasts, which have a double bar layout (with the Now playing bar floating above the tab bar). The iOS 26 design which we are currently familiar with is (subjectively) very pleasant, with three separate elements (the Tab bar, the search button and the Now playing bar) all having different shapes, different sizes and functions. But integrating search into the tab bar would result in two bars of identical width, but different height and radii, overlaying each other. In my personal opinion, this would be much less pleasant a design. I hope this change is reversed, or at the very least not expanded any further.
So far, App Store and Games are the only two apps to implement these design updates.
However, now that the changes have been brought to a second app, Apple may continue spreading this new-old design to more apps before iOS 26.4 launches to the public.
Do you prefer the search bar at the bottom or top of the screen? Let us know in the comments.
Best iPhone accessories
- AirPods Pro 3 (limited-time $229 price)
- 10-year AirTag battery case 2-pack
- MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone
- Apple’s new AirTag 2 (1-pack / 4-pack)
- 100W USB-C fast charging power adapter
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments