Unified Aesthetic: Liquid Glass and Version 26
Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote was the introduction of the "Liquid Glass" design system. This new user interface, as its name implies, imparts a glass-like transparency and specular highlights to on-screen elements. Inspired by the visual language of the Vision Pro headset, notifications, widgets, icons, and control panels now feature a polished, glassy finish that subtly reacts to light and motion, creating a more dynamic and layered user experience.
To build on this idea of unity, Apple has synchronised the version numbers across its entire software lineup. The new updates are now uniformly designated as version 26, giving users iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, and macOS 26, which continues its California-based naming tradition with the moniker "macOS Tahoe." This alignment signals a more deeply integrated ecosystem. Developer beta versions of these updates are available immediately, with public betas scheduled for release next month. The final, stable versions are expected to launch in September, likely alongside the upcoming iPhone 17 series.
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iOS 26: A Smarter, More Connected iPhone
The iPhone receives some of the most significant updates with iOS 26. Beyond the new visual flair, Apple is introducing a range of AI-powered features aimed at enhancing communication and utility.
Communication Hub: The Phone and FaceTime apps are being unified into a more cohesive experience, introducing features like Call Screening and Hold Assist, which notifies you when a person you've been on hold with finally returns to the line. The Messages app becomes more customisable with shared backgrounds for group chats and integrated polls. For users in the United States, Apple Cash can now be sent or requested directly within Messages. A new "Genmoji" tool, powered by ChatGPT, allows for the creation of unique emojis by combining existing icons or through text prompts.
Intelligent Tools: A new "Visual Intelligence" feature, similar in concept to "Circle to Search" on Android, allows users to identify content within apps and search for related items. Live Translation is also being expanded to work system-wide, including during real-time phone calls with non-iPhone users.
New App and Enhancements: Gaming on the iPhone gets a dedicated "Games" app, consolidating Apple Arcade titles, the user's game library, and group challenges in one place. Apple Maps will now have a memory feature to remember past locations and offer improved route suggestions, while Apple Wallet in the US will expand to support digital IDs for non-travel purposes.
macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26: Bridging Devices
The new design philosophy and features extend to the Mac and iPad, further blurring the lines between the devices.
macOS Tahoe (26): The Mac adopts the Liquid Glass aesthetic while retaining its desktop-oriented functionality. It features a new customizable Control Centre, the ability to color-code folders or decorate them with emojis, and the arrival of Live Activities from the iPhone. The Spotlight search function is now more powerful, supporting intelligent actions and clipboard history. The Shortcuts app also gains new AI capabilities, and gaming on the Mac is set to improve with the introduction of Metal 4, enhancing visuals and performance for new titles like Crimson Desert.
iPadOS 26: The iPad moves closer to a true desktop experience with a new windowing system that enables more robust multitasking, including features like "flick-to-tile" and "grab-to-resize." A new persistent menu bar enhances the Mac-like feel. The Files app receives a significant overhaul with drag-and-drop folders and resizable columns. Crucially, the Preview app comes to iPad, finally allowing for native PDF annotation and editing.
Enhancing Wearables and Living Spaces
Apple's other platforms also received notable updates:
watchOS 26: Apple Watch users get a "Workout Buddy" feature for real-time coaching. The Smart Stack becomes more adaptive, intelligently surfacing relevant apps. The OS will now automatically adjust notification volumes based on ambient noise, and new gesture controls, like "Wrist Flick," allow users to dismiss alerts.
tvOS 26: The Apple TV experience becomes more interactive with karaoke support using an iPhone as a microphone. The introduction of user profiles to Apple TV+ allows for personalized content recommendations for different household members.
visionOS 26: The Vision Pro gets more spatially aware with persistent spatial widgets and improved virtual Personas. To boost its gaming credentials, the device now supports PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers.
