WWDC 2025, Apple’s annual builders convention, begins at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Monday. Final 12 months’s occasion was notable for its give attention to AI, and this 12 months, there’s appreciable stress on the corporate to construct on its guarantees, and to make amends to builders because it lags behind in AI and faces continued authorized challenges over its App Retailer.
As in earlier years, the corporate will give attention to software program updates and new applied sciences, together with the following model of iOS, which is rumored to have essentially the most vital design adjustments because the introduction of iOS 7. However iOS 19 (or 26, if different rumors in regards to the new naming system are true) isn’t the one factor the corporate will announce at WWDC 2025.
Right here’s how one can watch the keynote livestream.
iOS is getting essentially the most dramatic design change in over a decade
When Apple launched a serious overhaul to iOS again in 2013 with the launch of iOS 7, it felt jarring for a lot of customers with the shift from the prior skeuomorphic design with gradients and real-world textures to the extra colourful, however flat, design model that mirrored Apple’s then chief design officer Jony Ive’s style for minimalism.
Now, new stories recommend that an upcoming redesign might provoke the same degree of response.
Studies recommend the brand new design could have parts referencing visionOS, the software program powering Apple’s spatial computing headset, the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. If true, which means the brand new OS might function a clear interface and extra round app icons that break free from the normal sq. format at present.
This visible redesign might be applied throughout all of Apple’s ecosystem (together with even CarPlay), in response to Bloomberg, offering a extra seamless expertise for customers shifting between their completely different units.
iOS will change its naming system
In keeping with Bloomberg, Apple will announce a change within the naming system for iOS at this 12 months’s WWDC. As an alternative of asserting the following model of iOS as iOS 19, Apple’s working techniques will shift to being named by 12 months. Which means we might be set to see the launch of iOS 26 as an alternative, alongside the OSes for different merchandise, together with adOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
Apple could preserve the AI information gentle this 12 months
Whereas it may be difficult to high the information associated to Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024, the corporate is anticipated to share just a few updates on the AI entrance.
The corporate has seemingly been caught flat-footed within the AI race, making bulletins about AI capabilities that had but to ship, main even some Apple pundits to accuse the corporate of touting vaporware. Whereas Apple has launched a number of AI instruments like Picture Playground, Genmoji, Writing Instruments, Images Clear Up, and extra, its promise of an improved Siri, customized to the tip consumer and capable of take motion throughout your apps, has been delayed.
In the meantime, Apple has turned to outdoors corporations like OpenAI to provide its iPhone a lift when it comes to its AI capabilities. At WWDC, it might announce assist for different AI chatbots, as effectively. With Jony Ive now working with Sam Altman on an AI {hardware} system, Apple is beneath stress to make amends for AI progress.
As well as, stories recommend that Apple’s Well being app might quickly incorporate AI know-how, which might embrace a well being chatbot and generative AI insights that present customized health-related strategies based mostly on consumer knowledge. Moreover, different apps, comparable to Messages, could obtain enhancements with AI capabilities, together with a translation function and polls that provide AI-generated strategies, per 9to5Mac.
Apple will doubtless take advantage of numerous smaller OS updates that contain AI, given its underwhelming progress. Studies recommend that these updates might embrace AI-powered battery administration options and an AI-powered Shortcuts app, for example.
iPhone customers could get a devoted gaming app
Bloomberg confirmed a 9to5Mac report that mentioned Apple is growing a devoted gaming app that may exchange the getting old Sport Heart app. The app might embrace entry to Apple Arcade’s subscription-based recreation retailer, plus different gaming options like leaderboards, suggestions, and methods to problem your pals. It might additionally combine with iMessage or FaceTime for distant gaming.
Updates to Mac, Watch, TV, and extra
Together with the brand new design, stories recommend that Apple’s different working techniques will get some polish, too. For example, macOS may see the brand new gaming app and profit from the brand new AirPods options. It’s additionally anticipated to be named macOS Tahoe, consistent with Apple’s naming conference that references California landmarks.
Apple TV could get a visible overhaul, but additionally adjustments to its consumer interface, the brand new gaming app, and different options.
AirPods to get new options
Along with Messages getting a translation function, Bloomberg reported that Apple might additionally carry a live-translate language function to its AirPods wi-fi Bluetooth earbuds, permitting real-time translation throughout conversations. The iPhone will translate spoken phrases from one other language for the consumer and also will translate the consumer’s response again into that language.
A brand new report from 9to5Mac additionally means that AirPods could get new head gestures to enhance at present’s capability to both nod or shake your head to answer incoming calls or messages. Plus, AirPods could get options to auto-pause music after you go to sleep, a solution to set off the digicam through Digital camera Management with a contact, a studio-quality mic mode, and an improved pairing expertise in shared AirPods.
Apple Pencil improve
In keeping with stories, the Apple Pencil can be receiving a brand new replace, one that may profit customers who want to write in Arabic script. In an effort to cater to clients in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and India, Apple is reportedly launching a brand new digital calligraphy function in iPadOS 19. The corporate may introduce a bi-directional keyboard so customers can change between Arabic and English on iPhones and iPads.
No {hardware} bulletins?
There haven’t been any rumors relating to new units, as a result of no {hardware} is prepared for launch but, in response to Bloomberg. Though it’s all the time attainable that the corporate will shock us with a new Mac Professional announcement, most stories are saying that is extremely unlikely at this level.
Some stories point out that Apple may announce assist for a brand new enter system for its Imaginative and prescient Professional: spatial controllers. The units can be motion-aware and designed with interplay in a 3D setting in thoughts, 9to5Mac says. As well as, Imaginative and prescient Professional might get eye-scrolling assist, enabling customers to scroll by means of paperwork on each native and third-party apps.
Bloomberg had reported in November that Apple was anticipated to announce a sensible house pill in March 2025, that includes a 6-inch touchscreen and voice-activated controls. The system was mentioned to incorporate assist for Dwelling Management, Siri, and video calls, however has but to launch. Following the invention of a submitting for “HomeOS” by PMC’s Parker Ortolani, hypothesis has arisen that Apple could unveil the software program for the system at WWDC.
