WWDC 2025 kicked off Monday and as in earlier years, the corporate targeted on software program updates and new applied sciences, together with the subsequent model of iOS, referred to as iOS 26.
This 12 months, there was appreciable strain 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.
iOS 26 is probably 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.
At WWDC 2025, the corporate introduced a refreshed consumer interface referred to as Liquid Glass, which options shiny, reflective, and clear visible interface components that give the software program a extra “glassy” feel and appear.
The Liquid Glass show is translucent and can behave like glass in the actual world. The colour of the display screen is knowledgeable by your content material and can adapt between mild and darkish environments. As well as, alerts seem from the place you faucet, context menus broaden right into a scannable record if you scroll and faucet.
The Lock Display screen and Residence Display screen are getting updates that align with the general aesthetic of Liquid Glass.
iOS 26, a brand new naming scheme
As an alternative of utilizing system names like iOS 19 and macOS 19, Apple will now use the 12 months as a part of the title. This implies all its working programs will probably be referred to as iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26.
A devoted Video games app
Apple unveiled a brand new devoted gaming app that’s designed to centralize gaming experiences on Apple units. The app will function a launcher for video games and permit customers to trace achievements and look at leaderboards.
The Video games app can even embrace social options, together with a “Play Collectively” tab that permits you to see what your mates are enjoying, examine scores, and invite them to play with you. There’s additionally “Challenges,” which is a brand new technique to compete with buddies in score-based showdowns.
MacOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS updates
Apple confirmed off watchOS 26, the upcoming software program overhaul for the Apple Watch. It would launch with a redesigned interface primarily based on Apple’s new Liquid Glass working system, a wrist-flick gesture, a brand new Apple Intelligence-powered Exercise Buddy health characteristic, and extra.
Apple TV is additionally getting a redesign, that includes a Liquid Glass aesthetic that gives a smooth and “unobtrusive” design, the corporate stated. One of many standout options is the flexibility to rapidly soar right into a consumer profile. Apple TV will now current profile choices every time it wakes from sleep, making it extra handy for every member of the family to pick their profile and rapidly resume watching their very own favourite exhibits and films. There’s additionally a karaoke characteristic.
macOS 26, which the corporate calls Tahoe, is getting some upgrades as nicely, along with the brand new Liquid Glass aesthetic will embrace an AI-powered Shortcuts app.
iPad OS will make the iPad really feel like a Mac, together with a brand new Preview characteristic that provides customers a spread of instruments, together with markup utilizing Apple Pencil and AutoFill. Customers may also export photos in numerous codecs.
And together with updates to visionOS, Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional AR/VR headset is getting a few new equipment: a Logitech Muse stylus and PlayStation’s VR2 Sense controller compatibility.
Updates to CarPlay and AirPods, too
Whereas leaks instructed extra gestures and different additions, Apple introduced that the AirPods lineup could be getting two key options: studio-quality audio recording and digicam distant. It’s additionally getting a digicam distant.
Three of the greatest additions to CarPlay will probably be widgets and dwell actions, in addition to the flexibility to decide on a “tapback” response to incoming messages. Customers will now additionally have the ability to pin their favourite conversations, similar to in iMessage.
Apple Pockets, polls, Maps, and extra
Different smaller options had been introduced as nicely, like new travel-friendly options for Apple Pockets; polls in iMessages; lyrics translation and pronunciation options; and Maps will study your commute.
This story was initially revealed on June 5 and was up to date considerably with all of the bulletins from WWDC 2025 on June 9.
