WWDC 2025: iOS 26, Liquid Glass & AI Updates
A Bold New Direction for Apple’s Ecosystem
Apple’s WWDC 2025 conference unveiled groundbreaking updates across its software ecosystem, with iOS 26 leading the charge. The tech giant faced heightened expectations this year as it sought to address developer concerns while advancing its AI capabilities amid increasing competition.
Liquid Glass: The Future of Apple’s Design Language
The star of the show was the revolutionary Liquid Glass interface, marking Apple’s most significant design overhaul since iOS 7. This innovative UI features:
- Semi-transparent, reflective elements that mimic real glass
- Dynamic color adaptation to ambient lighting
- Context-aware alerts that originate from user taps
- Expanding menus with fluid animations
The Lock Screen and Home Screen received complete makeovers to complement the new aesthetic, creating a cohesive visual experience across devices.
OS Naming Convention Revolution
Apple abandoned numeric naming for its operating systems, now using:
- iOS 26
- macOS 26 (codenamed Tahoe)
- watchOS 26
- visionOS 26
Gaming Gets Serious on Apple Devices
Apple introduced a dedicated Games app that transforms gaming on its platforms with:
- Unified game launcher
- Achievement tracking system
- Social “Play Together” features
- Score-based “Challenges” competitions
watchOS 26: Smarter Fitness Through AI
The Apple Watch update brings:
- Liquid Glass UI overhaul
- Innovative wrist-flick gesture controls
- AI-powered Workout Buddy for personalized training
Vision Pro Expands Its Ecosystem
Apple’s AR/VR headset gains:
- Logitech Muse stylus support
- PlayStation VR2 Sense controller compatibility
Mac and iPad Become More Powerful
macOS Tahoe introduced:
- Advanced AI-powered Shortcuts
- Enhanced Spotlight functionality
The iPad gains Mac-like capabilities with new Preview features and improved Apple Pencil integration.
Smaller But Significant Updates
WWDC 2025 also showcased numerous quality-of-life improvements:
- AirPods gain studio-quality audio and camera remote
- CarPlay enhances with widgets and message tapbacks
- Apple Wallet adds travel-centric features
- iMessage introduces polls
- Apple Music gets lyrics translation
- Maps learns user commute patterns
While rumors hinted at a major Siri revamp, Apple’s focus remained on refining its ecosystem-wide experience through Liquid Glass design and strategic AI integration across devices.