These apps and games just won Apple Design Awards 2025
Apple on Tuesday (June 3, 2025) pulled back the curtain on its annual Design Awards, spotlighting a dozen apps and games that Cupertino deems the crème de la crème in design and innovation. In a world drowning in apps, getting an Apple Design Award does signal which applications are trending and technologies Apple itself is excited about.
This year's cohort, culled from 36 global finalists, showcases developers who are not just coding, but crafting experiences.
Vision Pro Gets Its Design Award Moment with Taobao
One of the most eyebrow-raising wins came in the Interaction category. Chinese e-commerce behemoth Taobao snagged the app award for its Apple Vision Pro experience. Apple praised its 'convenient and engaging shopping experience' with 'incredible 3D models comparable to their real-life counterparts.' This is a significant nod, signaling that Apple is keen to see developers embrace its spatial computing platform with practical, polished applications. The ability to 'compare items side by side from an extensive selection of products' in an immersive way could be a genuine game-changer for online retail, and Taobao is clearly an early frontrunner.
China Also Nabs 'Delight and Fun' with CapWords
Sticking with international talent, CapWords by HappyPlan Tech won the app award for Delight and Fun. This isn't your snooze-fest language learning app. CapWords 'transforms images of everyday objects into interactive stickers,' offering an 'intuitive and visual way' to pick up new vocabulary across nine languages. It's the kind of smart, simple, yet profoundly useful design that often flies under the radar but makes a daily difference.
Indie Game Charm and AAA Polish Shine
On the gaming front, the awards celebrated Balatro. This 'satisfying fusion of poker, solitaire, and deck-building with rogue-like elements' was lauded for its 'clever details' and 'gripping gameplay.'Innovation in gaming went to PBJ — The Musical by Philipp Stollenmayer. Described as 'snack-based Shakespeare', it mixes rhythm gameplay with a condiment-themed Romeo and Juliet narrative. With haptics and 'clever camera work,' it's joyfully bonkers.
DREDGE, developed by New Zealand-based Black Salt Games, scooped up the Interaction award for its 'seamless interactions' in a game that blends slow-burn horror with fishing and exploration across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Singapore's Infold Games brought home the Visuals and Graphics award for Infinity Nikki, an 'enchanted realm of colour, detail, and rendering' in a cozy open-world adventure.
Utility, Accessibility, and Impact Honored
It wasn't all fun and games, though. Speechify won for Inclusivity, transforming text into audio in over 50 languages. Watch Duty, another app developed in the US, nabbed the Social Impact award for its critical, life-saving wildfire updates. And for pure Innovation in an app, Play by Rabbit 3 Times was recognized for making sophisticated SwiftUI prototyping accessible.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
WatchOS 2026 Leaks: Apple to bring third-party widget support in Control Center. Here's why it matters
Apple is all set to hold its Worldwide Developer Conference in Cupertino from 9 June. Ahead of the the company's second biggest event of the year - behind iPhone launch in September, there have been a lot of potential leaks about what the new operating system features to be announced the by the tech giant could like. For one thing, it is being seen as an almost certainty that Apple will break away from its current naming tradition and instead move to a naming system based on the current year. This translates to the upcoming version of software for Apple devices being called iOS 26, iPadOS 26, WatchOS 26 and the like. You may be interested in However, a report by 9to5Mac reveals that there will also be a new feature in WatchOS 26 that has been sought by Cuprtino's watch users for a long time. Currently, Apple only allows users to choose from its own toggles and tiles in the Control Center settins on Apple Watches but that is reportedly set to end with the latest software version. Reportedly, Apple will bring third-party widgets in Control Center with WatchOS 26. This will mean Developers would be able to plug their widgets directly into the Control Center and users will be able to bring important data or actions from the third-part app like Wi-Fi, Battery and Focus Mode. Moreover, Apple could also make the layout for widgets on Control Center fully customizable, essentially allowing users to rearrange or remove widgets a lot more easily than the current method. Apple doesn't officially announce at this stage when its latest software will be rolled out and limits itself of just showcasing its software innovations at WWDC. However, the company's track record is of showing new innovations at WWDC and later rolling out all the new software updates shortly after the new iPhone launch event in September.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
China Tieup Plans Short-circuit for Electronics Cos
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in Epaper Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Indian electronics manufacturing companies are having a hard time securing government approval for completing joint venture (JV) agreements with Chinese firms for technology transfer to make electronics components. The delay has put their plans in jeopardy ahead of the July 31 deadline to apply for the incentive scheme for electronics components manufacturing, industry executives said. This comes in the wake of Beijing backing Pakistan in the recent partners in existing JVs, which need government clearance, are wary of this impacting operations that began before Operation Sindoor, which followed the Kashmir terrorist attack. On Monday, a top executive at a leading Indian electronics contract manufacturer rushed to meet his Chinese were looking for reassurances that their mobile phone manufacturing joint venture wouldn't be affected, said people aware of the development. They were particularly concerned about the government unofficially mandating a threshold stake of 10% for Chinese companies in joint ventures, primarily for technology transfer, with no participation in restrictions have pushed back to the drawing board Indian companies and their Chinese partners that are planning to enter the component manufacturing scheme. Some are even looking for new partners from other the catch is that most display and camera module suppliers, particularly for budget smartphones, are convincing Chinese companies to agree to technology transfer for just 10% equity stake may be difficult. 'Getting a Chinese partner to transfer proprietary technology may need financial incentives above and beyond equity stakes,' said an industry executive. 'There is significant worry among companies planning to enter the components space. Assembly plans are facing delays, possibly linked to the recent conflict.'Another casualty of Beijing's support for Pakistan appears to be Apple. The plan of the iPhone maker, which has been rapidly expanding manufacturing in India, to secure the India entry of Chinese camera module supplier Sunny Opticals could be delayed, industry executives said.'Apple was planning to get its component suppliers to India as part of the ongoing shift since last year,' an industry executive told ET. 'Talks were at advanced stages for a joint venture with an Indian enterprise, but the government is now hesitant in granting approvals.'Apple did not respond to companies had been showing greater willingness to invest in India to maintain access to its market, given the tariff barriers put up by US President Donald Trump. However, New Delhi plans to restrict Chinese companies to 10% equity investment in joint ventures and that too, only on condition of technology transfer, ET reported on April contract maker Dixon Technologies expects to be insulated from such curbs since the Chinese companies it's forming JVs with don't have stakes higher than 26%, said its executive chairman Sunil is planning to backward integrate its smartphone and IT hardware assembly operations with electronics components to shore up margins.'We have only just applied for Press Note 3 approval for the joint venture with (China's) HKC. It is yet to go to any particular committee or ministry, so it is difficult to say whether it will get affected by recent events,' Vachani Note 3 norms came into effect in 2020 amid a heightening of India-China tensions. This stipulates that investments from companies in neighbouring countries require government said a smaller stake by Chinese companies in joint ventures would be more acceptable, given the current industry experts said that given the nature of the business, higher stakes and active involvement in operations are necessary since the products that are manufactured are continuously refreshed and introducing each iteration requires supervision.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Indian electronics companies face delays on Chinese JV approvals amid concerns over Beijing's support for Pakistan
Indian electronics manufacturing companies are having a hard time securing government approval for completing joint venture (JV) agreements with Chinese firms for technology transfer to make electronics components. The delay has put their plans in jeopardy ahead of the July 31 deadline to apply for the incentive scheme for electronics components manufacturing , industry executives said. This comes in the wake of Beijing backing Pakistan in the recent conflict. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Full mouth dental implants for the elderly in Malaysia - see prices in 2025 Dental Implants | Search Ads Search Now Undo Chinese partners in existing JVs, which need government clearance, are wary of this impacting operations that began before Operation Sindoor , which followed the Kashmir terrorist attack . On Monday, a top executive at a leading Indian electronics contract manufacturer rushed to meet his Chinese partners. Live Events Component Suppliers and Tech with China They were looking for reassurances that their mobile phone manufacturing joint venture wouldn't be affected, said people aware of the development. They were particularly concerned about the government unofficially mandating a threshold stake of 10% for Chinese companies in joint ventures, primarily for technology transfer, with no participation in operations. The restrictions have pushed back to the drawing board Indian companies and their Chinese partners that are planning to enter the component manufacturing scheme. Some are even looking for new partners from other countries. But the catch is that most display and camera module suppliers, particularly for budget smartphones, are Chinese. Further, convincing Chinese companies to agree to technology transfer for just 10% equity stake may be difficult. 'Getting a Chinese partner to transfer proprietary technology may need financial incentives above and beyond equity stakes,' said an industry executive. 'There is significant worry among companies planning to enter the components space. Assembly plans are facing delays, possibly linked to the recent conflict.' Another casualty of Beijing's support for Pakistan appears to be Apple . The plan of the iPhone maker, which has been rapidly expanding manufacturing in India, to secure the India entry of Chinese camera module supplier Sunny Opticals could be delayed, industry executives said. 'Apple was planning to get its component suppliers to India as part of the ongoing shift since last year,' an industry executive told ET. 'Talks were at advanced stages for a joint venture with an Indian enterprise, but the government is now hesitant in granting approvals.' Apple did not respond to queries. Dragon troubles Chinese companies had been showing greater willingness to invest in India to maintain access to its market, given the tariff barriers put up by US President Donald Trump. However, New Delhi plans to restrict Chinese companies to 10% equity investment in joint ventures and that too, only on condition of technology transfer, ET reported on April 21. Leading contract maker Dixon Technologies expects to be insulated from such curbs since the Chinese companies it's forming JVs with don't have stakes higher than 26%, said its executive chairman Sunil Vachani. Dixon is planning to backward integrate its smartphone and IT hardware assembly operations with electronics components to shore up margins. 'We have only just applied for Press Note 3 approval for the joint venture with (China's) HKC. It is yet to go to any particular committee or ministry, so it is difficult to say whether it will get affected by recent events,' Vachani said. Press Note 3 norms came into effect in 2020 amid a heightening of India-China tensions. This stipulates that investments from companies in neighbouring countries require government approval. Vachani said a smaller stake by Chinese companies in joint ventures would be more acceptable, given the current situation. But industry experts said that given the nature of the business, higher stakes and active involvement in operations are necessary since the products that are manufactured are continuously refreshed and introducing each iteration requires supervision.
