Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2025) raised the bar for ease of innovation, design, and intelligence across Apple's ecosystem. WWDC 2025 took place from June 9–13, and it had a grand redesign, major AI updates, and a unified approach across all Apple platforms. In this post, we will break down the biggest announcements, cover the most interesting iOS 26 rumors, and discuss the questions that Apple fans and developers are asking right now.

What is different about WWDC 2025?

More than just an annual update, WWDC 2025 should be viewed as a turning point in Apple the software approach. The news story was Apple's broadest design update to date which is known as Liquid Glass. This is a beautiful, translucent look and feel for the Apple ecosystem. In addition, Apple unified their version numbers, so all major platforms (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS,) will launch as version 26. This is meant to produce a less confusing user experience, and simplified cross-device development.

In addition, Apple has also opened its proprietary Apple Intelligence models to third-party developers, providing direct access to on-device large language models for smarter, more personalized app experiences that continue to prioritize Apple's focus on privacy.

How Does Apple New Liquid Glass Design Changes Apple Devices?

What is Liquid Glass and why is it such a big deal? Apple’s new design language represents the company’s biggest living image change since iOS 7. The reputation of liquid glass as an interface imitates the act of ‘moving’ a glass pane with the light and specular highlights shifting as you shift the device. App icons and notifications now appear more animated and alive - and home screens can be an all-glass design as well - including a “Clear” app icon option for the minimalist at heart.

On the lock screen, the time dynamically wraps around the subject of your photo, and notifications adjust position to not obstruct any key content. The Photos app introduces a feature that turns a 2D photo into a 3D lock screen effect, making your device even deeper and more interactive.

Apple explicitly shares that these visual enhancements will not affect performance or battery, so it's awesome to have a new look that is also efficient.

What Are the Most Exciting Features of iOS 26?

iOS 26 is full of features to make the iPhone more intelligent, personal, and connected than ever. Here are some highlights:

Apple Intelligence Ubiquitous: Apple's intelligence is omnipresent, as it powers effortless live translation, visual intelligence, and smarter shortcuts. Apple Intelligence analyzes everything on your screen, understands text in images and gives contextually aware actions, all done device side for your privacy.

Live Translation: Available in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, live translation allows you to real-time translate text and audio to communicate globally.

Genmoji & Playground: Users can create custom emojis by mixing text with their emojis, powered by integrated ChatGPT technology.

Games App: A new Games hub brings together Game Center, your games library, and your Apple Arcade library to make it easier to find and play games.

Adaptive Power & Battery Management: AI-powered battery management calculates charging times and optimizes battery for your habits.

Camera and Photos Redesign: The Camera app has debuted a streamlined interface with the Photos app splitting Library/Collections and adding a 3D photo effect.

Messages and Phone Upgrades: Custom chat backgrounds, group polls, spam call filtering, call screening, and hold assist provide a more personalized and efficient experience when communicating with others.

Music and Audio: Pinning your favorite playlists or albums, seamless transitions while using AudioMix, and displaying full-screen album art on the lock screen.

Accessibility and Customization: More background sounds, improved boarding pass integration, and the “Clear Look,” are just some of the changes that improve quality-of-life.

Why Did Apple Synchronize to Version 26 Across All Platforms?

One of the most discussed changes is Apple synchronizing all the operating systems to version 26. This makes it less confusing, makes updates simple, and shows a unified ecosystem approach for both users and developers. iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS all share the same version number, making it far easier to track compatibility and update across your devices.

How Is Apple Intelligence Transforming the iPhone Experience?

Apple Intelligence is at the heart of iOS 26. This privacy-centric AI suite powers features like live translation, visual intelligence, and smarter shortcuts. Notably, Apple Intelligence can summarize order tracking details from emails, recognize events in images, and even integrate with third-party AI like ChatGPT for more creative and informative results.

Developers can now use the Foundation Models framework to tap into Apple’s AI for their own apps, unlocking new possibilities for personalized, intelligent experiences.

Which Devices Support iOS 26?

Apple has confirmed that iOS 26 will be compatible with iPhones powered by the A13 Bionic chip or newer. This means iPhone 11 and later models are eligible for the update. Some advanced Apple Intelligence features may be limited to the newest devices due to hardware requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions About WWDC 2025 and iOS 26

Q: When will iOS 26 be available to the public?
A: The public beta launches in July 2025, with the stable release expected in September alongside the iPhone 17 series.

Q: What is the Liquid Glass design?
A: It’s a new visual language featuring translucent, glass-like UI elements, dynamic highlights, and lively animations across all Apple platforms.

Q: Will my iPhone support iOS 26?
A: iOS 26 is compatible with iPhone 11 and newer devices.

Q: What are the most exciting AI features in iOS 26?
A: Live translation, visual intelligence, Genmoji, smarter shortcuts, and on-device privacy-centric AI are among the most notable.

Q: Can I try iOS 26 now?
A: The developer beta is available now. The public beta arrives in July, and the official release is expected in September.

Q: Did Apple announce new hardware at WWDC 2025?
A: No, this year’s event focused exclusively on software. New hardware announcements are expected at Apple’s September event.

How Does WWDC 2025 Set the Stage for Apple’s Future?

WWDC 2025 marks a turning point for Apple. The Liquid Glass design and Apple Intelligence are not just features—they’re foundational changes that will shape Apple’s platforms for years to come. By unifying version numbers, embracing AI, and focusing on privacy, Apple is signaling a future where devices are more beautiful, helpful, and seamlessly integrated.

Developers now have access to new frameworks, documentation, and over 100 session videos to help them build the next generation of apps. The Apple Design Awards also recognized the most innovative and technically impressive apps of the year, highlighting the vibrant community that drives Apple’s ecosystem forward.

Conclusion

WWDC 2025 delivered sweeping changes and set a clear vision for Apple’s future. From the visually stunning Liquid Glass design to AI-powered features in iOS 26, Apple is redefining what users can expect from their devices. As we await the public release of these updates, it’s clear that Apple’s commitment to design, intelligence, and privacy remains stronger than ever.

Key Highlights of WWDC 2025 and iOS 26 Rumors