Here’s what was announced at Apple WWDC 2025, and what it means for Apple users (It’s looking good)

Liquid Glass leverages the powerful graphics hardware in Apple devices to dynamically render a crystal-like material that visually behaves like real-world glass. Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV users will notice various interface elements—such as buttons, sliders, switches, text, tab bars, sidebars and media controls—taking advantage of real-time rendering. Even the Home Screen, Control Centre, Lock Screen and notifications receive an eye-catching makeover.

Interface elements, such as lens-like buttons and panels, exhibit optical properties that subtly magnify the content beneath. Liquid Glass elements come with either a clear appearance or coloured tints, which can layer across dark and light modes.

In addition to its new name, iOS 26 introduces several improvements over its predecessor, iOS 18. The most visible is the Liquid Glass design, inspired by the translucent display of Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Beyond visual enhancements, iOS 26 delivers new features for key iPhone apps, including Phone, Camera, Messages, Safari, Maps, Photos, Wallet, Music and CarPlay. A new Games app consolidates all games, offering an improved experience for Apple Arcade subscribers.

In the Phone app, a new unified layout combines Recents, Favourites and Voicemail. Users can now screen unknown senders in Messages and create custom backgrounds. The Camera app sports a simplified interface with clear photo and video options, while the Photos app offers separate Library and Collection views. iOS 26 is expected to launch in September.

PadOS 26 marks one of the most significant updates for iPad to date. It brings the Liquid Glass aesthetic while preserving the intuitive design of earlier versions. A new windowing system allows users to manage windows with simple gestures—closing, resizing, minimising or tiling them with a flick. Using Exposé, users can view all open windows at a glance for faster navigation.

The enhanced Files app offers improved file management, including a new List view, folder customisation, folder dragging in the Dock and the ability to set default apps for opening files. The new Preview app enables users to manage and edit PDF and image files. Meanwhile, Background Tasks allow users to run and monitor hardware-intensive operations.

With the new Liquid Glass enhancing the Mac experience, macOS Tahoe 26 introduces a redesigned Dock, sidebars and toolbars. An enhanced Spotlight redefines the search experience on the Mac with search results ranked intelligently based on user relevance while having the ability to search documents even on third-party cloud storage. Actions such as sending an email, playing a podcast or creating a note can be directly launched from Spotlight.

With Continuity, users can make cellular calls on their iPhone using the Phone app on the Mac. Notifications on the iPhone can also be displayed on the desktop. MacOS Tahoe 26 also introduces several improvements in apps like Safari, Messages, Photos, FaceTime, Journal and Notes.

watchOS 26 introduces a refreshed look to Smart Stack widgets, hints, Control Centre, notifications and navigation. The new Workout Buddy feature uses workout data and fitness history to generate personalised motivational messages—such as pep talks or workout insights—via an AI-generated voice model based on real trainers.

The Workout app benefits from an updated layout and navigation. Smart Stack’s improved prediction algorithm ensures users can access key information faster. Additionally, a new wrist flick gesture lets users dismiss notifications without touching the screen.

visionOS 26 introduces enhanced Personas for Apple Vision Pro users, with more photorealistic avatars that feature finely rendered hair, eyelashes and skin. The OS now supports 180° and 360° cameras from GoPro, Insta360 and Canon, enabling more immersive content creation. The new update also supports PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers, expanding gaming options.

Spatial experiences—such as 3D movies, games and content—can now be shared with other Apple Vision Pro users in the same room. Using generative AI, 2D photos can be transformed into immersive spatial images that can be viewed from multiple perspectives.

Apple Intelligence introduces new capabilities that will be available across Apple devices. Live Translation is now integrated into Messages, Phone and FaceTime, performing translations on-device and displaying them as text or audio in real time.

Visual intelligence enables users to identify objects using their camera and pose questions to ChatGPT about what they see. It can also recognise events and automatically add them to a user’s calendar. Additionally, Apple Intelligence-powered Shortcuts can summarise text, compare audio transcriptions and create images using tools such as Writing Tools and Image Playground.

NOW READ

Apple’s big AI event: The top 5 innovations you need to know

Here's how Apple became the world's first $3 trillion dollar company

Jony Ive and Sam Altman are about to give us "the coolest piece of technology the world has ever seen"