Apple WWDC 2025 roundup: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, new Apple Intelligence AI features and more

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 in California wrapped up with a series of major announcements set to redefine the user experience across its ecosystem. The event introduced key software updates, including iOS 26, macOS Tahoe, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26, and all of them will now have Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” design language and enhanced integration with Apple Intelligence.

Unlike the themes of previous years, where hardware was in focus, Apple’s dominating theme of this year’s conference was a major visual overhaul coupled with intelligent, context-aware features. This innovative design marks Apple’s most extensive visual refresh since iOS 7, bringing a cohesive and immersive feel across devices. The iPadOS 26 platform gets a windows-based UI for superior multitasking, whereas macOS Tahoe 26 brings more iPhone-inspired experiences to users.

iOS 26 looks prettier than ever

For iPhone users, iOS 26 delivers a refined visual and user experience. Beyond the Liquid Glass visuals, the lock screen now features an intelligently adapting clock that fluidly integrates with your wallpaper. The Phone app gains powerful call screening tools and the Messages app introduces enhanced message screening, along with new functionalities like group chat backgrounds and in-app polling. A new Games app centralises all gaming content, including Apple Arcade, challenges, and leaderboards, streamlining the gaming experience.

iPadOS 26 makes iPads closer to PC

iPadOS 26 significantly boosts the iPad’s capabilities, particularly in multitasking and creative workflows. A new windowing system allows users to freely resize and organize app windows, offering a truly desktop-like management experience. The powerful Preview app from macOS arrives on the iPad, allowing PDF enhancement and image manipulation. The Files app is also revamped with improved organization and customization. Furthermore, new audio features offer more flexible input and streamlined recording, appealing to content creators.

macOS Tahoe 26 is now smarter 

macOS Tahoe extends the Liquid Glass UI to the desktop, providing a cleaner, more personal interface with redesigned elements like the Dock, sidebars and a fully transparent menu bar. Live Activities from iPhone now mirror on the Mac’s menu bar, keeping users updated in real-time. The Spotlight app has been supercharged with over a hundred direct actions, enabling users to perform tasks like sending emails or creating notes without opening separate applications. Crucially, the native iPhone phone app is now fully integrated into macOS, allowing users to manage calls and voicemails and even screen unknown callers directly from their Mac.

watchOS 26 and tvOS 26 updates

The watchOS 26 update for Apple Watch introduces a dedicated Notes app for quick on-wrist jotting. It also includes automatic speaker volume adjustment and a new Wrist Flick gesture for simplified one-handed control. 

For the living room, tvOS 26 brings a refreshed interface and a redesigned Apple TV+ app, adopting the Liquid Glass aesthetic for a more cinematic and immersive viewing experience. New features for tvOS also include the ability to assign any AirPlay speaker as a permanent audio output for Apple TV, and new aerial screensavers from locations like India.

Apple Intelligence is more intelligent

Key AI-powered additions include Live Translation across apps like Messages, FaceTime, and Phone calls, enabling real-time language conversion. Visual Intelligence is enhanced to analyze on-screen content, suggesting smart actions, and new Genmoji allow users to create unique emojis by blending existing ones or using text descriptions. The Image Playground app leverages AI for image generation and editing. 

Additionally, Apple stated that its on-device foundational AI models will be available to third-party developers, fostering a new era of intelligent app experiences.

iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26 update release

All the updated Apple ecosystem software features will be available to users this fall as free software updates for compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV models. Developers will have early access to betas, with public beta coming a month later.