WWDC 2025 got underway on Monday, and like past years, the company prioritized new technologies and software improvements, including iOS 26.
The firm was under a lot of pressure this year to fulfill its commitments and make apologies to developers because it is falling behind in AI and is still facing legal issues related to its App Store.
iOS 26 is the most dramatic design change in over a decade
Many users found the 2013 release of iOS 7, which marked a significant overhaul of the operating system, to be startling because it replaced the previous skeuomorphic design with gradients and real-world textures with a more colorful but flat design style that reflected the minimalist tastes of Apple’s then-chief design officer Jony Ive.
The business unveiled Liquid Glass, a revamped user interface, at WWDC 2025. Its transparent, reflecting, and sparkling visual interface elements offer the software a more “glassy” appearance and feel.
Because it is translucent, the Liquid Glass display will act like glass in the actual world. Your content determines the screen’s color, which changes in light and dark conditions. Additionally, context menus expand into a scannable list when you scroll and tap, and alerts appear where you tap.
Updates are being made to the Lock Screen and Home Screen to match Liquid Glass’s general design.
iOS 26, a new naming scheme
Apple will now include the year in the name rather than utilizing system names like iOS 19 and macOS 19. iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26 will be the names of all its operating systems, according to this.
A dedicated Games app
To concentrate gaming experiences on Apple devices, the company released a new gaming app. In addition to launching games, the app will let users see leaderboards and track their accomplishments.
Social elements will also be included in the Games app, such as a “Play Together” option that allows you to invite friends to play with you, compare scores, and see what they are playing. Additionally, there are “Challenges,” a brand-new method of competing against friends in showdowns based on scores.
MacOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS updates
Apple showed off watchOS 26, the upcoming software overhaul for the Apple Watch. It will launch with a redesigned interface based on Apple’s new Liquid Glass operating system, a wrist-flick gesture, a new Apple Intelligence-powered Workout Buddy fitness feature, and more.
According to the business, Apple TV is also getting a makeover, with a sleek and “unobtrusive” look thanks to the Liquid Glass style. The ability to swiftly navigate to a user profile is one of the most notable features. In order to make it easier for each family member to choose their profile and promptly resume viewing their own preferred series and films, Apple TV will now display profile options as it comes up from sleep. Additionally, there is a karaoke capability.
Along with the new Liquid Glass look, macOS 26, which the company dubbed Tahoe, is also getting several updates. One of these is the Shortcuts app, which is driven by AI.
With features like AutoFill and a new Preview feature that offers users access to a variety of tools, such as marking with the Apple Pencil, iPad OS will make the iPad feel like a Mac. Additionally, users have the option to export photographs in several formats.
Additionally, a Logitech Muse stylus and compatibility with the VR2 Sense controller from PlayStation are being added to Apple’s Vision Pro AR/VR headset in addition to improvements to visionOS.
Updates to CarPlay and AirPods, too
Apple revealed that the AirPods series would acquire two important features: studio-quality audio recording and a camera remote, despite sources indicating more motions and other upgrades. Additionally, a camera remote is being added.
Widgets, live activities, and the option to select a “tapback” response to incoming messages are three of CarPlay’s most significant additions. Similar to iMessage, users will now be able to pin their favorite conversations.
Apple Wallet, polls, Maps, and more
Maps will learn your commute, iMessages polls, lyrics translation and pronunciation tools, and new travel-friendly capabilities for Apple Wallet were among the other minor enhancements that were revealed.
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