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Apple's liquid glass, AI tools and more: Everything the tech giant unveiled at WWDC 2025
Apple's WWDC 2025 showcased its biggest visual overhaul in a decade — Liquid Glass — a translucent design for iOS, macOS, watchOS and more. Alongside it came AI-powered tools, Mac-like multitasking for iPad, a new universal OS naming scheme, and redesigned gaming, messaging and navigation experiences read more
Apple CEO Tim Cook and Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi speak during Apple's annual World Wide Developers Conference at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California, US, June 9, 2025. Reuters
At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, Apple unveiled a broad range of updates spanning all of its platforms, introducing sweeping design changes and significant software improvements across devices.
The event, held during a time of increased trade tariff threats by the Trump administration — also arrives on the heels of major developments in artificial intelligence by rivals like Google, Meta and OpenAI.
Against this backdrop, Apple delivered a presentation focused heavily on system-wide enhancements, including a bold new design philosophy and deeper integration of its AI capabilities across its ecosystem.
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Apple's Liquid Glass
Central to the 2025 WWDC announcements was Apple's introduction of Liquid Glass, a transparent, glass-like visual interface that reshapes the look and feel of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and even visionOS.
iOS 26 looks stunning! pic.twitter.com/n0GjCYTBBq — Apple Hub (@theapplehub) June 9, 2025
It marks the company's most significant design update since the transition away from skeuomorphism with iOS 7 in 2013.
Alan Dye, Apple's Vice President of Human Interface Design, described the change as 'our broadest design update, ever,' noting that 'for the first time we're introducing a universal design across our platforms.'
Liquid Glass uses dynamic rendering to create translucent layers, overlays and glossy effects that allow elements behind menus, buttons, or sliders to subtly show through. This effect is achieved through real-time rendering and adapts fluidly to both light and dark environments.
As part of the overhaul, Apple redesigned user interface elements such as buttons, switches, sliders, tab bars, and sidebars, and incorporated the design throughout core apps including Safari, FaceTime, Apple Music, Photos, Podcasts and the Camera app.
You can now see how long it will take your iPhone to charge in iOS 26 🚨 pic.twitter.com/cm0VWQmIgn — Apple Hub (@theapplehub) June 9, 2025
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This new design, inspired by visionOS, seeks to unify Apple's platform experience while updating visual aesthetics to meet modern expectations. Developers have been provided with updated APIs to begin adapting their apps to this new style before its full rollout later this year.
On macOS Tahoe 26 — the newly named version of Apple's desktop operating system — the Liquid Glass aesthetic brings full transparency to the menu bar and redesigns the dock, sidebars and toolbars for a seamless look.
The changes are expected to make displays feel more expansive and the visual flow more coherent across devices.
Apple's new naming scheme
Apple also introduced a new naming scheme for its software. Moving away from its traditional sequential numbering system, the new format aligns operating system versions with the final two digits of the upcoming year.
These are the devices compatible with iOS 26! 🚨
RIP iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR pic.twitter.com/dCH9xdm16N — Apple Hub (@theapplehub) June 9, 2025
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As such, this year's updates are named iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26. The naming system is expected to help users more easily understand the version year of their software, but whether it remains consistent in the long term remains to be seen.
In response to growing expectations around AI integration in everyday apps, Apple unveiled substantial updates to its Phone and Messages applications.
These include a revamped call screening feature that uses a synthetic voice to prompt callers to explain their reason for calling, transcribes the response, and allows users to accept or reject the call based on the transcription.
The Hold Assist feature automatically detects when a caller has been placed on hold and offers to wait on the user's behalf, alerting them when a real person joins the call.
In Messages, group chat functionality has expanded with new options to conduct polls and send Apple Cash payments directly within threads.
AI-powered Live Translation also made its debut, allowing for near real-time translation of voice and text conversations. Apple pointed out that all processing is conducted on-device, meaning conversations remain private and are not sent to Apple's servers.
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The translation feature also extends to Apple Music, providing lyrics translation and pronunciation support.
Another key update tied to Apple Intelligence is Visual Intelligence, a feature that allows users to ask contextual questions about screenshots or photos — mirroring capabilities seen in Google Lens and Gemini AI.
The tool recognises visual content and provides information based on what's highlighted or tapped.
Apple's iPadOS 26 breakthroughs
Apple's long-standing ambition to blur the lines between its Mac and iPad platforms came closer to fruition with iPadOS 26.
The update now allows users to open apps in windowed mode, providing the flexibility to resize, reposition and tile apps much like on macOS.
The addition of a menu bar and the return of Exposé-style multitasking functionality further solidify the iPad's transition toward becoming a more versatile productivity device.
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Apple's entertainment ecosystem gets new features
Catering to the over half a billion users who engage in mobile gaming on iPhones, Apple introduced a standalone Games app that consolidates all downloaded titles into a single interface.
Tabs for Apple Arcade and Play Together — which tracks friends' playtime and facilitates multiplayer experiences — highlight Apple's push toward social and curated gaming experiences.
On the fitness front, Apple Watch users will benefit from a new Workout Buddy, an AI assistant that provides spoken feedback through AirPods during runs and selects workout music based on pace or intensity.
The Smart Stack feature now better leverages contextual awareness to suggest actions based on location or activity, such as enabling BackTrack in remote locations or adjusting notification volume based on ambient sound levels.
watchOS 26 also incorporates the Liquid Glass redesign, enhanced messaging capabilities including live translation, and a new wrist gesture for improved navigation.
Apple TV's operating system, tvOS 26, gets a facelift through the Liquid Glass design, improving menu visibility without obstructing screen content.
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Apple also previewed new Apple TV+ offerings, including a Formula 1 film, the Murderbot series and feature films starring Matthew McConaughey and Jason Momoa.
Apple's changes vis-à-vis VisionOS, Maps, and CarPlay
While Apple's Vision Pro headset remains a niche product, updates to visionOS now include spatial widgets — interactive elements like calendars and music cards that stay in place in the real world, enhancing the immersive experience.
Apple also introduced shared-view functionality, allowing users to sync experiences with another Vision Pro user — a move intended to make VR less isolating.
visionOS 26 will support PlayStation VR controllers #WWDC25 pic.twitter.com/HiiZKHlVqN — Apple Hub (@theapplehub) June 9, 2025
Apple Maps now offers a Visited Places feature, allowing users to view a timeline of previously visited locations with associated images. This opt-in tool stores data locally and encrypted, reflecting Apple's commitment to privacy.
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CarPlay has gained new customisation options for widgets and streamlined controls for managing calls and messages while driving.
Emoji-based replies and improved spam screening features enhance safety and convenience on the road. These changes come as automakers reevaluate the role of touchscreens in favour of physical controls.
Apple in-house silicon in final phase
Beyond design updates and feature enhancements, Apple made it clear that the transition away from Intel processors is now reaching its final phase.
While some late-generation Intel Macs will still support macOS Tahoe, they will not be eligible for future macOS versions. The move reinforces Apple's long-term commitment to its in-house silicon.
The new macOS also features Live Activities — a menu bar widget that keeps users updated on app-related activities such as food deliveries or scheduled meetings.
The Spotlight search tool has been refined to offer more contextual results and even interact with program-specific functions or recent web data.
With inputs from agencies
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