"Despite the superficial changes," works well in this context. Two related definitions from Oxford: "Existing or occurring at or on the surface," and "Appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely."

To insinuate that the revision is a pretext, the ostensible or so-called changes. Also disparaging, but without the implication of dishonesty: trivial, unimportant or desultory¹. If you approve of them, stylistic changes make something sound better and clarifying revisions (or, more commonly, clarifications) make it clearer, without altering the meaning. Some more neutral options include minor, incidental, inconsequential and negligible.

¹ Which have different shades of meaning: trivial changes don't affect anything because they're so minor, unimportant ones changed something that doesn't matter, and desultory ones have no focus or purpose.