Apple WWDC 2025 delivered a sweeping set of software announcements. Apple introduced iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe (26), watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 26. It marked the biggest design overhaul in years. At the centre was the new Liquid Glass aesthetic. Apple also expanded Apple Intelligence, its in‑device AI suite. This article breaks down the announcements and explains their impact.
iOS 26 and the Liquid Glass Redesign
At Apple WWDC 2025, the iPhone got a radical visual update in iOS 26. Apple replaced the older flat design with a glass‑like, translucent look across system elements. This Liquid Glass interface reflects background content and adapts to light or dark themes as you move around. It also includes motion‑sensitive effects that give menus and alerts more life. Apple called Liquid Glass its broadest design update ever.
But the changes went beyond visuals. Apple Intelligence now powers on‑device live translation during calls and text messages. That works automatically in iMessage, FaceTime and the Phone app. You can translate in real time, privately, directly on your device. Apple also introduced features like Call Screening, Hold Assist notifications and group chat tools such as polling and Apple Pay integration.
On the iPhone home and lock screens, widgets can now appear at the bottom for easier reachability. Messages now support custom chat backgrounds, filters and polls. Safari, Shortcuts, Calendar and other core apps received subtle interface tweaks to match Liquid Glass style. Apple also opened its on‑device large language model to developers via new APIs. This means apps can now tap into Apple Intelligence natively for their own use cases.
These changes are expected to debut publicly in fall 2025. A developer beta for iOS 26 is already available. Apple is seeking feedback from testers before widespread rollout.
Apple Intelligence and New Features at WWDC 2025
One of the key focuses of Apple WWDC 2025 was Apple Intelligence. This is Apple’s term for its in‑device AI suite. At the event, Apple showed how AI now runs locally on iPhones, iPads and Macs to power user features without sending data to servers. The most notable addition is live translation, which works in real time during calls, iMessages or FaceTime. This translation happens on‑device to preserve privacy. Apple also expanded language support by eight new languages by year end, including Danish, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese (traditional).
Apple also launched Genmoji and Image Playground. These tools let users generate custom emojis or creative images via prompts. They work offline and respect user privacy. Genmoji lets you create personalized emoji characters that resemble you or others. Image Playground enables artistic creations in styles like oil painting or vector art. This is made possible by linking Apple Intelligence to ChatGPT models on‑device.
Shortcuts got an AI overhaul. Now users can build intelligent shortcuts powered by Apple Intelligence or third‑party large language models via APIs. For example, you could auto‑summarize lecture transcripts or compare meeting notes, all automatically. Developers can access these AI capabilities through system APIs in SwiftUI, UIKit and AppKit.
Other updates powered by AI include an upgraded Spotlight search. On iOS and macOS, Spotlight now shows combined results from apps, files, messages or events. It ranks results using AI based on your behavior and offers direct actions like creating messages or shortcuts in one tap.
Overall Apple took a cautious, privacy‑first approach to AI. They expanded features to more languages and added creative tools while avoiding heavy reliance on cloud. For now, Siri improvements remain delayed until 2026. Apple executives acknowledged user dissatisfaction with Siri and promised a refresh with better context and app awareness in the future.
Apple WWDC 2025: iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 26
At Apple WWDC 2025, all major Apple platforms got updates that match iOS 26’s design and capabilities. That includes iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 26. The cohesive Liquid Glass design now spans iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, TVs and Vision Pro devices. That unified visual style delivers consistency and polish across Apple’s ecosystem.
On iPadOS 26, Apple finally added robust windowed multitasking. You can drag app windows around, resize them, and snap them side by side in a Mac‑like workflow. Apple also introduced a new Games app that consolidates Apple Arcade titles and local downloads. Other new tools include Preview, Calculator, Journal and Markdown Notes apps. These additions position the iPad as a more capable productivity device.
macOS 26, branded as macOS Tahoe, integrates Liquid Glass and introduces improved Continuity features between Macs and iPhones. A Phone app on macOS now shows calls, voicemail and supports on‑device features like Hold Assist. Spotlight search gets a major redesign using Apple Intelligence. It now offers AI‑ranked results and supports quick actions like sending mail or launching shortcuts directly from resultsMacStadium. Apple also confirmed that macOS Tahoe will be the last release to support Intel‑based MacsWikipedia.
The watchOS 26 update introduces a Liquid Glass design and new fitness features. Apple unveiled a Workout Buddy, a real‑time virtual companion that uses AI to motivate and guide workouts. A new wrist‑flick gesture lets you dismiss notifications easily. The Notes app now works on the watch. Messages supports live translation too, and Smart Stack and Control Center have received UI refreshes. The interface across system apps now follows the glassy aesthetic for a unified experience.
Apple TV’s tvOS 26 now supports profile switching on wake and a Liquid Glass interface that preserves focus on content while allowing interaction via translucent overlays. Poster art is more prominent, and a new developer API lets apps easily integrate with Apple Account logins.
Finally, visionOS 26 for Apple Vision Pro adds immersive spatial widgets, realistic Personas and extended support for PSVR2 controllers. This update targets both consumer and enterprise users, allowing more flexible use of mixed‑reality experiences.
