Let’s be trustworthy: WWDC 2025 is unlikely to go down in historical past as one Apple’s biggest ever occasions, as I’ve warned in a separate article. The corporate shouldn’t actually be forging forward with new plans till it finishes mopping up the undelivered ones from final yr, and the continued and unaddressed failures of Siri and Apple Intelligence will hold over the proceedings like a foul odor.
However even the dullest Apple occasion can usually be relied upon to ship a couple of gems… and in spite of everything, it’s WWDC, the second most vital keynote of the yr. Listed below are the seven issues I can’t wait to see at WWDC 2025:
1. An iPhone AI characteristic I’ll truly use
With apologies to Mac and Apple Watch homeowners, iOS is the principle occasion at WWDC. This yr’s replace guarantees some main modifications, together with vital accessibility options and an interface redesign, which is already inspiring each optimistic and detrimental emotions. However a much more vital change will occur underneath the hood.
Studies point out iOS 19 will characteristic a brand new AI-powered battery preservation mode, which can analyze utilization patterns to decrease energy draw at instances or in purposes the place it gained’t influence your expertise, and thereby lengthen battery life at minimal value. Plus, the Lock Display will lastly present how a lot time is left till your telephone is absolutely charged. Neglect Genmoji: that is how AI can truly make a distinction in customers’ lives.
2. Apple Intelligence the place it belongs
I’m a bit bored with listening to about Apple Intelligence: its supposed triumphs (from Apple) and its many flaws (from everybody else). Sadly this yr’s WWDC is bound to characteristic extra of the identical, and we’ll want to organize ourselves for that. However there’s one side of Apple Intelligence I am excited to know extra about, and that’s its belated debut on the Apple Watch.
Pundits predict that the watchOS 12 replace will see Apple’s AI platform land on the Apple Watch, which I’ve lengthy mentioned is its pure house. The watch’s small display screen means next-gen messaging and voice management can be transformative, quite than a pleasant possibility, whereas its place on the wrist makes it completely positioned to be a digital assistant.
Thus far, the principle barrier to the Apple Watch becoming a member of the AI celebration has been it comparative lack of processing energy, and the new fashions coming within the fall are unlikely to vary that. However in response to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, watchOS 12 will see the Apple Watch outsource the AI work to a close-by iPhone, which is a great stopgap resolution till the {hardware} catches up.
3. The Babel fish turns into a actuality
The tech business has lengthy been fascinated by the Babel fish, a fictional creature which, within the Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Information novels, sits in an individual’s ear and allows them to grasp any language. If solely the Babel fish have been actual. Nicely, it’s—form of—because of wi-fi earbuds with reside translation software program.
Google has been providing this mixture for years: the Pixel Buds (or certainly different earbuds paired with the Google Translate app) have been able to it again in 2017, albeit with loads of drawbacks. However we’re excited to see Apple’s try, which is predicted to launch later this yr as a part of iOS 19 and an AirPods firmware replace.
Whether or not this characteristic might be accessible within the first variations of iOS 19 is unclear, however we’d be very stunned if Apple doesn’t spill among the particulars at WWDC this June.
Foundry
4. Essentially the most highly effective Mac ever made
WWDC is named a software program occasion. However when Apple does determine to launch some {hardware} in June, it doesn’t fiddle. It rolls out the large weapons.
The Mac Professional, the premium deluxe providing in Apple’s Mac line-up, was final up to date two years in the past: that was the M2 Extremely mannequin, introduced at WWDC 2023. It’s slower than the Mac Studio and never all that sooner than the maxxed-out MacBook Professional, so the subsequent mannequin ought to characteristic an M4 Extremely chip or one thing greater we haven’t seen earlier than, outclassing even the M4 Max MacBook Professional and Mac Studio fashions that presently sit on the top quality. The Mac Professional is the mannequin to ship unrivalled energy for the artistic skilled customers whom Apple has sometimes uncared for, so saving it for a grand WWDC entrance is smart.
The Mac Professional doesn’t get up to date as typically as different Apple merchandise, and it’s doable we’ll have to attend till later in 2025. But when the M4 Extremely Mac Professional does flip up at WWDC, it’ll immediately be the star of the present.
5. The Mac’s new Imaginative and prescient
Talking of the Mac… Apple is for certain to announce macOS 16 at WWDC 2025, and like iOS 19, it’s anticipated to characteristic a totally redesigned interface. Sources counsel macOS will take its visible cues from Imaginative and prescient Professional, Apple’s groundbreaking mixed-reality headset, as the corporate appears to be like to attain extra of a constant UI throughout platforms. It will likely be fascinating to see how this fusion between Apple’s oldest and youngest product strains shakes out.
Apple
6. Information about new Siri
Arguably the weakest aspect in Apple’s ecosystem, and positively its highest-profile failure, is the lamentably inaccurate voice assistant Siri. An astonishing 14 years after it launched with the iPhone 4s, Siri reveals no signal of getting any higher, and typically appears to be getting worse.
Finally yr’s WWDC, Apple promised to repair Siri by deploying the magic of Apple Intelligence. However the arrival of the brand new AI-powered Siri retains getting delayed; it didn’t seem in March’s iOS 18.4 replace as anticipated, and even in Might’s iOS 18.5. Hopefully, Apple could have some information for us in June, as a result of Siri actually must get higher at its job.
And whereas we’re on the sore matter of Siri, we’d respect some (ideally real looking) bulletins in regards to the model of Siri after the brand new one: the “true modernized, conversational model” which is often known as LLM Siri. New Siri was presupposed to be a part of iOS 18, and LLM Siri a part of iOS 19, however delays compound on delays and the entire thing retains getting pushed again. I’m excited to see these enhancements, Apple, however please tell us what’s happening.
7. Honesty
And that leads me to the only factor I need most from WWDC25: pure, unfiltered honesty in regards to the state of play at Cupertino. What’s been going flawed since final yr? Why have so many tasks been delayed? And is Apple Intelligence actually as far behind different AI platforms because it appears to be?
This may appear to be a determined lengthy shot. The reality at a advertising occasion, what a whimsical notion! However Apple has some type right here. When Apple Maps suffered disastrous teething pains, Apple admitted this and apologized. When artistic professionals have been uncared for, as I discussed earlier, Apple admitted this and apologized. There’s a probability, albeit a slim one, that we’ll get some form of mea culpa at WWDC.
Each firm makes errors. Saying Apple Intelligence lengthy earlier than it was prepared, after which promoting iPhone 16 handsets off the again of options that gained’t have launched by the point the iPhone 17 comes out, was an enormous one, nevertheless it doesn’t must damage Apple’s status. The remedy is honesty. Clarify what went flawed and why. Then be utterly clear in regards to the options that may truly be prepared in time for the iPhone 17. Confidence will return–however not if the spin and bluster proceed.
That’s my want record for WWDC 2025. Be part of us on June 9 to see how a lot Apple delivers, and to learn our protection of all of the bulletins.
