Apple WWDC 2025: Apple Unifies OS Naming to Year-Based System with iOS 26 and More

On the iPad front, iPadOS 19 (which coincides with iOS 26) is set to introduce a “virtual reed calligraphy pen” that emulates the traditional qalam for Arabic script, along with a bi‑directional keyboard that seamlessly switches between Arabic (right‑to‑left) and English (left‑to‑right). These region‑focused features underscore Apple’s growing presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and India.

Later this year, AirPods may gain real‑time translation capabilities. Using the Translate app and onboard microphones, the feature will detect and convert between two languages during in‑person conversations, playing translations through the AirPods and iPhone speakers.

Though model compatibility isn’t yet clear, support is expected for current Pro models and beyond.

Apple plans to replace Game Center with a standalone gaming app launching alongside iOS 26 this September. This hub will unify access to Apple Arcade and App Store titles, complete with leaderboards, curated recommendations, multiplayer challenges and achievements.

It will also support iMessage and FaceTime for remote play, and on Mac, it may embrace games sourced outside the App Store. Reflecting Apple’s recent acquisition of RAC7 Games.

Building on last year’s debut of Apple Intelligence, WWDC 2025 is expected to spotlight new and expanded AI-powered features. While some anticipated upgrades including a deeply integrated, multi-app version of Siri have reportedly been delayed until 2026, Apple has already rolled out tools like Image Playground, Genmoji, Writing Tools, and Photos Clean Up.

In a departure from its traditional version numbering, Apple is reportedly renaming this year’s iPhone update to “iOS 26” to align with the calendar year. This naming convention will also extend to macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, streamlining Apple’s entire software lineup.

The WWDC 2025 keynote has officially begun. Apple CEO Tim Cook opened the event from Apple Park, setting the stage for the latest announcements from Cupertino.

Apple kicked off WWDC 2025 with CEO Tim Cook promoting the highly anticipated F1 movie, starring Brad Pitt. The film is set to release soon on Apple TV+.

Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Apple, has taken the stage. The first major announcement on the agenda is Apple Intelligence, continuing the company’s AI-driven innovations.

Apple has announced that Siri updates powered by Apple Intelligence will roll out later this year. New Apple Intelligence features are also set to arrive across iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and more.

Craig Federighi confirmed that a new Foundation Models framework will enable third-party apps to integrate with Apple Intelligence’s large language models, expanding AI capabilities beyond native Apple apps.

Apple is introducing its most extensive design overhaul yet, unveiling a “universal” design language inspired by visionOS. This refreshed look and feel will roll out across all Apple platforms.

Apple has introduced its new Liquid Glass design, bringing a fresh, modern aesthetic to docks, widgets, and lock screens across devices. The look feels sleek and dynamic, with clear inspiration from Google’s Material You design language.

The goal, Apple says, is to create “greater harmony” between software and hardware, offering a consistent, immersive experience across its ecosystem.

Apple has officially confirmed it’s unifying the version numbers across its platforms. Moving forward, iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS will all adopt the '26' branding, streamlining the naming convention and marking a new, consistent chapter for Apple’s software updates.

iOS 26 introduces a revamped lock screen designed to add more personality and responsiveness. Images adapt fluidly as on-screen elements move the clock smartly resizes to fit the available space, select photos feature subtle 3D depth effects, and album art comes alive with smooth animations, creating a more immersive experience from the moment you glance at your device.

The Camera app is getting a fresh redesign featuring just two main tabs — Photos and Videos. Additional controls will be accessible through intuitive taps and gestures, streamlining the user experience.

Safari’s tab bar receives a fresh makeover, adopting Apple’s new Liquid Glass aesthetic. The redesign emphasizes minimalism and transparency, though it may feel familiar to users recalling mixed feedback from Apple’s previous efforts to streamline the browser interface.

CarPlay is receiving a visual refresh featuring the Liquid Glass design, offering a cleaner interface that uses less screen space—so incoming calls no longer take over the entire display. Apple is also adding features like Live Activities and new interactive widgets, aligning CarPlay’s experience with the modern UI improvements seen in recent iOS updates.

The Phone app on iPhone is getting a new, user-friendly layout. Favorites are now featured prominently at the top, followed by a simplified list of recent calls and voicemails. Voicemail transcripts are enhanced with Apple Intelligence, enabling quick summaries for easier reading.

Apple is introducing Hold Assist, a new feature designed to better manage calls when you’re placed on hold. The functionality is reminiscent of Google’s Pixel features like Hold For Me and Call Screening, offering users greater convenience during wait times.

The Messages app is adding several new features to enhance group chats. Built-in polls now allow anyone in the conversation to add options, simplifying group decisions. Users can send and receive Apple Cash directly within group threads. Additionally, typing indicators are finally coming to group chats, making conversations more dynamic and engaging.

Image Playground is receiving a significant upgrade featuring ChatGPT integration, enabling users to generate new creative styles—such as creating “realistic images for a baby shower invitation.” Developers will also have access to these capabilities through the new Image Playground API.

Apple Music introduces lyrics translation and pronunciation tools to enhance the listening experience. Additionally, the new AutoMix feature offers time-stretching and beat-matching capabilities, ideal for creating smooth, uninterrupted transitions between tracks.

Recognizing that over 500 million people game on iPhone, Apple is launching a new dedicated hub called the Games app in iOS 26, designed to unify and enhance the gaming experience.

Apple Maps introduces Preferred Routes to learn your favorite ways to frequent stops and Visited Places to store locations for easy reference, all protected by end-to-end encryption.

Wallet support grows with 20 brands already offering digital keys and 13 more joining soon. More U.S. states will adopt digital IDs this year, and boarding passes receive a fresh new design.

With iOS 26, Visual Intelligence evolves beyond basic object recognition to extract detailed information from images, including screenshots. For example, when scrolling through social media, you can use a screenshot command to activate this feature and gain deeper insights from the image content.

watchOS introduces the sleek Liquid Glass design, maintaining a familiar look for existing users. The standout feature is the AI-enhanced Workout Buddy, which analyzes workout data in real-time to provide meaningful insights and offers generative voice encouragement combining Siri with a personal trainer, though the demo’s voice sounded somewhat robotic.

watchOS 26 introduces a more streamlined Workout app interface for quicker access to popular menu items. The Smart Stack feature is improved to better anticipate which widgets you need. Additionally, a new wrist flick gesture lets you manage notifications, silence alerts, and perform other tasks with ease.

watchOS 26 brings the Notes app to Apple Watch for the first time, letting users jot down quick thoughts on the go. It also adds the new auto-translation feature in Messages, first introduced with iOS 26, enhancing multilingual conversations directly from your wrist.

Apple TV is introducing improved profile selection at startup, making it easier for family members to choose their profiles and pick up their shows and movies right where they left off.

The next major Mac update, macOS 26 codenamed ‘Tahoe’, brings several iOS features to Mac, including the revamped Messages app, system-wide Live Translation, and updated design elements inspired by Apple’s new aesthetic direction.

macOS 26 introduces two major Continuity upgrades. Live Activities from your iPhone can now appear directly on your Mac, keeping you updated on deliveries, timers, and more without switching devices. Additionally, a new dedicated Phone app for macOS streamlines call management, offering a smoother, more intuitive experience.

macOS 26 now supports Live Activities, allowing ongoing activities from your iPhone like deliveries or timers to appear on your Mac. Clicking them opens a mirrored version on your desktop. The new Phone app for Mac also brings iOS 26’s latest calling features, streamlining handoffs and improving call management between devices.

The Shortcuts app on macOS 26 is getting an upgrade with Intelligent Actions, integrating more AI-driven suggestions and automation.

Additionally, Spotlight search now uses AI to surface documents, files, and apps relevant to your current tasks, making it faster and smarter than ever.

macOS 26 is introducing the Games app to Mac, bringing a dedicated hub for games alongside a new game overlay feature. This overlay will let users access essential gaming tools and features while playing, enhancing the overall gaming experience on Mac.

iPadOS 26 is getting a fresh Liquid Glass design, along with the iOS 26 upgrades to Messages and other core apps. The update introduces enhanced multitasking with a new windowing system apps open full-screen by default, but can now be resized into floating windows and placed anywhere on the screen.

You can flick windows to the edges to tile them, and use Exposé to view all open windows at a glance. A new menu bar is also being added to apps for quicker access to features, while the pointer has been made more responsive for smoother navigation.

visionOS 26 is leaning further into spatial computing with new interactive widgets that live right in your environment. These aren’t just floating panels they’re anchored in physical space and stay exactly where you place them. Users can adjust their size, width, and depth, customizing how these spatial elements integrate with their surroundings for a more personalized, immersive experience.

visionOS 26 brings a fresh wave of widgets including Clock, Weather, Music, and Photos to enhance utility and personalization in your spatial workspace, making the environment more interactive and tailored to your needs.

iPadOS 26 brings a brand-new windowing system to the iPad, featuring minimize and close buttons similar to macOS. This update marks a significant step toward making multitasking on the iPad feel more like a traditional desktop experience.

Apple is enhancing the iPad’s file management with a redesigned Files app in iPadOS 26. Users can now customize folders similarly to macOS and enjoy a cleaner, more organized list view.

Additionally, the update allows assigning default apps for specific file types and pinning folders directly to the dock, bringing the iPad closer to a full Mac-like file management experience.

Apple is making the iPad more like the Mac by introducing the Preview app in iPadOS 26, allowing users to open and manage PDF files with greater ease and familiarity.

At WWDC 2025, Apple recapped key developer tools, emphasizing the ability to add AI features and shortcuts to apps. Developers are also encouraged to incorporate Apple’s latest design guidelines to create seamless, modern software experiences.

Tim Cook concluded the keynote by recapping today’s software previews. Developer betas are available immediately, with the public beta launching in July. Full public releases are scheduled for this fall.