Everything announced at WWDC 2025

Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) has set the stage for the next year in technology, and the 2025 keynote was one for the history books. The company unveiled a sweeping new design philosophy, a more unified and simplified naming scheme for its operating systems, and a significant expansion of its artificial intelligence capabilities. From the dramatic overhaul of iOS and macOS to a dedicated new app for gamers, here’s a detailed breakdown of every major announcement.

The most immediate and striking announcement was a complete design overhaul for all of Apple’s software platforms, called “Liquid Glass.” This marks the most significant visual change since the move to a flat design with iOS 7 over a decade ago.

Liquid Glass moves away from the flat, opaque elements of the past and embraces translucency, depth, and light. The new aesthetic is inspired by the look of visionOS and features shiny, reflective, and transparent interface elements that give the software a more “glassy” look and feel. The color of the screen is informed by your content and will adapt between light and dark environments. Alerts now appear from where you tap, and context menus expand fluidly. This new design language is not just a visual treat; it’s intended to make the user experience more intuitive and immersive across all devices.

In a move to simplify its ecosystem, Apple is ditching the sequential version numbers for its operating systems. Starting this year, all of its major software platforms will adopt the year in their name. This means we are now looking forward to the release of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26. This change aims to create a more cohesive and understandable product lineup for consumers.

iOS 26

iOS 26 is the star of the show, showcasing the most dramatic iPhone redesign in recent memory. The new “Liquid Glass” aesthetic is front and center, with a revamped Lock Screen and Home Screen that are more personal and expressive.

Image: Apple

Beyond the new look, iOS 26 is packed with functional updates:

• iMessage Gets More Social: You can now create polls directly within iMessage group chats, making it easier to make collective decisions.
• Enhanced Phone App: The Phone app has been redesigned and now includes a Call Screening feature to help you identify and block spam calls. A “Hold Assist” feature will even notify you when a customer service agent is back on the line.
• Smarter Maps: Apple Maps will now learn your daily commute and provide more proactive and personalized navigation suggestions.
• CarPlay Updates: CarPlay receives a significant update with the introduction of widgets and live activities. You can now also send “tapback” responses to messages and pin your favorite conversations for easy access.

macOS 26 Tahoe

The Mac’s new operating system, named macOS Tahoe, fully embraces the “Liquid Glass” design, bringing a new level of visual cohesion with its mobile counterparts.

The headline feature for macOS 26 is a significantly more powerful, AI-driven Shortcuts app. This will allow for more complex and automated workflows, making it easier for both casual users and professionals to streamline their tasks. Spotlight search has also been enhanced to be more intelligent and context-aware.

Image: Apple iPadOS 26

iPadOS 26 takes a significant step forward in making the iPad a more capable work machine, with features designed to create a more Mac-like experience.

A new “Preview” feature brings a range of powerful tools for marking up documents and images with the Apple Pencil, including advanced AutoFill capabilities. The update also introduces a more robust windowing system, a new menu bar, and improved pointer support, all aimed at enhancing productivity and multitasking.

Image: Apple watchOS 26

The Apple Watch receives a substantial update with watchOS 26. The “Liquid Glass” redesign gives the interface a fresh look, and a new wrist-flick gesture provides a new way to interact with your device.

The most exciting new feature is the “Workout Buddy,” an Apple Intelligence-powered fitness coach that provides real-time, personalized motivation and feedback during your workouts.

Image: Apple tvOS 26 and visionOS 26

The Apple TV and Vision Pro also receive notable updates.

• tvOS 26: The Apple TV interface gets the “Liquid Glass” treatment for a sleeker and more unobtrusive design. A new quick profile-switching feature makes it easier for multiple users in a household to access their own content. A new karaoke feature was also announced.
• visionOS 26: The operating system for the Vision Pro headset is updated to support new accessories, including the Logitech Muse stylus and PlayStation’s VR2 Sense controllers. This will expand the input options for developers and users, opening up new possibilities for apps and games.

Image: Apple A new hub for gamers

In a significant move for its gaming ambitions, Apple unveiled a new, dedicated “Games” app. This app will centralize the gaming experience on Apple devices, serving as a launcher for all your games. It will allow users to track achievements, view leaderboards, and connect with friends. Social features like a “Play Together” tab and “Challenges” aim to create a more integrated and competitive gaming community within the Apple ecosystem.

AirPods and Apple Wallet

The AirPods lineup will be getting two key new features through a software update: the ability to record studio-quality audio and a new camera remote function.

Apple Wallet is also set to receive new travel-friendly features, though further details are expected closer to the public release.

Apple Intelligence

Apple is continuing to thoughtfully integrate its on-device AI, “Apple Intelligence,” across its platforms. Key updates include:

• Live Translation: Real-time translation of conversations will be available in more apps and contexts.
• Enhanced Visual Intelligence: You can now search for and take action on anything displayed on your screen, from identifying products in a photo to extracting text from an image.
• Foundation Models Framework: Apple is opening up its on-device large language models to developers, allowing them to build more intelligent and private app experiences without compromising user data.

Featured image credit: Apple