Apple‘s WWDC keynote is over for an additional 12 months, nevertheless it left us with lots to select over.
Reminiscent of? Effectively, the headline reveal was a brand new Liquid Glass-inspired design theme that represents the largest visible change Apple’s made to its software program for a decade.
That was removed from the one announcement from Apple Park, although. From iOS to visionOS to watchOS to tvOS, all of Apple’s varied platforms acquired upgrades and new options. Some have been huge, some have been small, however when you use an Apple gadget they will all be price figuring out about.
You’ll be able to try our full WWDC 2025 dwell weblog for the entire information, however for a fast rundown of the highlights, learn on.
1. Liquid Glass is the largest Apple design revamp in years
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By far the largest reveal at WWDC 2025 was the debut of Apple’s new software program design, primarily based round a brand new digital materials known as ‘Liquid Glass’.
The untitled design facilities on translucency and fluidity and brings with it extra rounded components, new app types and a brand new clear theme. What’s extra, the visible type will likely be unified throughout all of Apple’s software program platforms, with every thing from iOS, iPadOS and watchOS to macOS and tvOS getting the refresh.
It is a much-needed replace to Apple’s design language and inarguably the largest the corporate has made to its software program platforms since iOS 7 arrived in 2013. We won’t wait to get it put in.
2. Apple’s software program platforms lastly have constant names
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You’ll be able to file this one underneath ‘adjustments that do not actually matter however that we love anyway’: Apple has lastly finished away with the naming anarchy that reigned throughout its software program platforms, renaming all of them in a constant method.
So, bid farewell to iOS 19, iPadOS 19, tvOS 19, watchOS 12 and macOS 16 – as a result of none of them will ever exist. As an alternative, meet iOS 26, iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26 and macOS 26 Tahoe.
See, Apple – that wasn’t so exhausting, was it?
3. Design-aside, iOS 26 appears like a minor replace
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Whereas the arrival of the Liquid Glass design language and the brand new title will be the headline adjustments coming to iOS 26, the following model of Apple’s cellular OS can even convey with it a number of different small tweaks.
These vary from Dwell Translation within the Cellphone and Messages apps to performance upgrades within the Digicam and Pockets apps. There’s a brand new devoted Gaming app, too, which unites third-party video games with these of Apple Arcade and brings options that allow you to compete with pals.
Apple Intelligence has additionally been higher baked into iOS, with iOS 26’s Maps app well remembering the routes customers normally take and serving up delay info the place useful.
Visible Intelligence has additionally damaged out of the Digicam Management toggle and might now be used, similarly to Google Lens, to scan screenshots and extract info from them.
In brief, iOS 26 appears slicker and behaves smarter, and it’ll seemingly launch in all its glory on the iPhone 17. However when you’re courageous and need to attempt a beta model of the software program proper now, try our information on how one can obtain the iOS 26 developer beta.
4. Nevertheless it’s recreation over for some older iPhones
With iOS 26 comes an entire new design and a set of options, nevertheless it additionally means consigning older iPhones to the smartphone bone orchard. That’s as a result of iOS 26 will solely be out there on iPhone 11 fashions or newer.
Older iPhones will as a substitute be restricted to iOS 18, which isn’t precisely horrible; it’s a really succesful model of Apple’s cellular working system. Nevertheless, it does imply the likes of the iPhone X have entered their end-of-life section.
So, when you personal an older iPhone and have been contemplating getting a alternative battery for it, do be sure to can run iOS 26 or you may be prolonging the lifetime of a tool that gained’t be supported by Apple for for much longer.
5. iPadOS lastly obtained some actual love
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After years of ready, we lastly have an iPadOS replace that feels not solely worthwhile however monumental.
iPadOS 26 is, as Craig Federighi mentioned, the “largest iPadOS launch ever”. With true windowed multitasking, a greater Information app, and Preview coming to all present iPad fashions, plus improved Apple Intelligence for appropriate iPads, Apple’s pill platform is as soon as once more a pressure to be reckoned with by way of {hardware} and software program.
6. macOS 26 is… Tahoe
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As anticipated, we additionally obtained a glimpse of the upcoming model of macOS, the working system for Macs and MacBooks.
Now renamed to macOS 26 Tahoe, its most fun addition is arguably the growth of Apple’s glorious Continuity function, which lets you seamlessly management your iPhone by your Mac.
With macOS 26 Tahoe, you’ll be capable of use the Cellphone app in your Mac to make and obtain calls, in addition to entry earlier numbers, favourite contacts and way more.
It’ll imply you don’t have to drag your iPhone out of your pocket whereas working in your Mac, and it brings Apple’s imaginative and prescient of a unified ecosystem of merchandise ever nearer.
With huge adjustments additionally coming to the Highlight device, Dwell Translation talents and higher Mac gaming talents, Tahoe appears like an replace price ready for.
7. Apple Intelligence obtained some helpful upgrades
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Apple Intelligence won’t have grabbed all of the headlines at WWDC 2025, however Apple nonetheless introduced some helpful AI upgrades coming to iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
As an example, Dwell Translation hopes to take away language obstacles for good, permitting you to simply talk through FaceTime, cellphone calls, and messages in numerous languages.
Apple additionally introduced screen-sharing performance for Visible Intelligence, so you’ll be able to ask questions associated to content material in your display, much like Google Lens. It’s a pleasant enchancment to top-of-the-line Apple Intelligence options presently out there.
For the primary time ever, the world’s hottest smartwatch simply obtained AI performance within the type of Exercise Buddy, which can convey AI-powered motivation to your train by analyzing your exercise information.
Shortcuts can also be getting Apple Intelligence capabilities, which ought to fully remodel the expertise of one among Apple’s most beloved apps.
Lastly, there are many different small updates throughout iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, together with generative AI backgrounds in messages, integration with reminders, and permitting third-party builders to entry Apple Intelligence fashions.
All in all, WWDC won’t go down because the occasion the place we lastly see Apple’s AI dream realized, however the firm has finished an honest job at bettering and including to the primary wave of Apple Intelligence that launched final 12 months.
8. However Siri was nowhere to be seen
Poor outdated Siri. Apple’s good(ish) assistant was barely talked about at WWDC, past an acknowledgement that its AI improve is not right here and that “we sit up for sharing extra about it within the coming 12 months”.
Within the coming 12 months?! Significantly?! How lengthy can it take to convey one little bit of software program up to the mark with the remainder of Apple’s AI developments? Longer than Apple initially thought, clearly.
Nonetheless, if we’re disillusioned by that (non) growth, then presumably Apple is much more upset, given the velocity with which the competitors at Google, OpenAI, Samsung and Microsoft is transferring.
9. watchOS 26 does get an AI improve, although
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Lastly, Apple Intelligence arrives in your wrist, in methods each small and massive.
Exercise Buddy is the massive new flashy AI function, nevertheless it’s Hints, which makes use of context data to advocate actions relying in your location & actions, which is the true intelligent function.
Dwell translation for messages, a brand new Wrist Flick gesture, smarter Sensible Stack and the watchOS Notes app spherical out the main adjustments for the newly named watchOS 26.
10. Apple CarPlay obtained some welcome polish
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Apple CarPlay Extremely should still solely be for Aston Martin homeowners, however good outdated normal CarPlay simply obtained some welcome upgrades due to iOS 26.
Naturally, there’s the brand new ‘Liquid Glass’ design language that’ll spruce up the outdated 2D icons, plus a useful navigation bar to the left or proper of the display for rapidly leaping into your favourite apps.
Maybe essentially the most helpful improve is a brand new, small pop-up overlay for cellphone calls that’ll get out of the best way of your navigation. There’s additionally widgets (additionally seen on CarPlay Extremely) that’ll allow you to juggle data from a number of apps, whereas Name Screening will assist you to resolve whether or not or to not take a name.
All in all, the refreshed CarPlay ought to make it a lot simpler to maintain your eyes on the highway, which is at all times a win in our e book.
11. tvOS’ Liquid Glass refresh is for greater than type alone
Apple’s tvOS 26 updates for its Apple TV containers are, unsurprisingly, led by the addition of a Liquid Glass design that mirrors the clear visible enhancements coming to its different gadgets.
On this case, nevertheless, that’s form of an enormous deal – as a result of clear on-screen controls imply you’ll be able to proceed watching a present with the picture remaining unobstructed.
Different updates are extra minor, with the iPhone now capable of function microphone for the Apple Music Sing Karaoke function on Apple TV, a capability to change between customized show profiles upon wake, and a extra customized FaceTime expertise.
12. visionOS’ updates reminded us that the Imaginative and prescient Professional exists
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Apple hasn’t forgotten about its blended actuality headset simply but, with this new suite of software program updates for its visionOS platform.
For starters, Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional customers can sit up for spatial updates galore with visionOS 26: apps, webpages and content material are all set to develop into extra immersive due to improved 3D objects and 3D picture assist.
Personas can even get a visible overhaul, with better-defined options and a usually much less ghostly aura, plus players will quickly be capable of use their PSVR 2 controllers with Apple’s headset. Oh, and also you’ll quickly be capable of adorn your private home with digital widgets.
It’d take greater than that to steer individuals to splash the money on a Imaginative and prescient Professional, however for current homeowners these upgrades will likely be welcome.
13. Apple Music obtained some neat new options
Apple Music obtained a surprisingly massive variety of updates at WWDC 2025, with Lyrics Translation, Lyrics Pronunciation, AutoMix (for creating beat-perfect playlists and units) all arriving, plus Music Pins to place your most-loved artists and albums proper to the highest of your Music house display.
However presumably crucial replace is that Apple’s Liquid Glass design language – which can seem on Apple Music as with the entire remainder of Apple’s software program – will stage up what you see in your gadget whereas a track is taking part in.
That is as a result of it’s going to present extra glass-like depth – and components inside a observe’s paintings will transfer with a extra three-dimensional high quality, out and in of focus, because it have been.
Plus, with tvOS 26, karaoke periods can attain new ranges of enjoyable through Apple Music’s free perk, Apple Music Sing. How? Customers will be capable of remodel their iPhone right into a handheld mic for Apple TV and have their voice amplified as they belt out their easiest go at TayTay’s Eyes Open.
Mixed with Lyrics Translation (for excellent lyrics even when you’re not fluent in a track’s language), it feels like music to our ears…
14. AirPods weren’t fairly forgotten
AirPods Professional 2 and AirPods 4 fashions are getting two key upgrades when iOS 26 comes: studio-quality mic recordings, and digital camera management.
Small they might be, however each appear helpful.The upgraded voice recording high quality guarantees “Voice Isolation” to raised choose your voice out out of your environment, utilizing superior audio processing, and guarantees to work in calls, video and recordings.
Digicam management, in the meantime, means you’ll be able to press and maintain your AirPods’ stem to take a photograph or begin a recording, doing the identical once more to cease it.
These aren’t the addition of hi-res audio or different issues we hoped for from AirPods, and so they’re solely coming to AirPods Professional 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods 4 (not AirPods Max or any older AirPods), however they’re good to have.
15. Craig Federighi shouldn’t be afraid to ship himself up
WWDC normally begins with a mini-movie that is finest described as ‘vaguely comedic’, however this 12 months’s was arguably one of many least cringeworthy.
The movie featured Craig Federighi, Apple’s SVP Software program Engineering, tearing round a race observe as a promo for the Brad Pitt-starring F1: The Film, which can hit theaters later this month.
F1 appears fairly thrilling in its personal proper, however the true star within the WWDC promo was Federighi – or slightly his hair.
Sure, the person who types himself as Hair Pressure One ensured his rigorously coiffured locks obtained prime billing right here, eradicating his helmet to disclose, effectively, a scene that I am unable to think about Steve Jobs ever having authorised.
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However actually, it was fairly good enjoyable, and a pleasant reminder that Apple at all times advantages from taking itself rather less significantly.
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