Apple WWDC 2025: From iOS 26 to new Apple Intelligence features, and all the other key highlights

It was all about Liquid Glass design. iOS gets cool new features whereas it was iPadOS 26 which might have stolen the show with Apple bringing it close to Mac. Apple Intelligence? Not much to talk about.

"We are excited to see how developers use the new design language," says Cook. Public betas of all OS updates will be made available next month

Craig Federeghi is talking about all the new tools that will be made available to developers

Apple is making the iPad more like the Mac as it brings the Preview app to open PDF files easily on the iPad

Apple’s giving the iPad’s file management some long-overdue attention with a redesigned Files app. Folders can now be customized much like they are on macOS, and the updated list view offers a cleaner, more organized look. You can also assign default apps for specific file types, and—at last—you can pin folders directly to the dock, bringing the iPad one step closer to full Mac-like functionality.

The iPad is finally getting a brand-new windowing system, complete with minimize and close buttons—just like macOS. It’s a big leap toward making multitasking on the iPad feel more like using a traditional desktop.

Almost all the features of iOS 26, including the new Games app are coming to iPad

Apple is teaming up with GoPro, Insta360, and Canon to bring wide field-of-view and full 360-degree playback support to visionOS, making videos far more immersive than the flat playback currently available.  Also on the horizon: a new Jupiter experience that takes full advantage of spatial computing for an otherworldly perspective.

New widgets include Clock, Weather, Music, and Photos, adding more utility and personalization to your spatial workspace.

visionOS is introducing new spatial experiences, beginning with widgets that live right in your environment. These widgets aren’t just floating panels—they’re anchored in space and persist where you place them. You can customize their size, width, and depth to fit your surroundings.

The visuals in this keynote are as sleek as ever. Apple’s production team doesn’t miss.

visionOS is the software platform for Apple's headset Vision Pro, which is currently unavailable in India and there's no word on when -- or if -- it will come to India.

With macOS 26, there will be a new game overlay which will allow users to access gaming features on the Mac.

Spotlight is getting a major upgrade in macOS. It now offers smarter suggestions for files, tailored to what you’re currently working on. Plus, you can launch iPhone apps directly from your Mac — they’ll open seamlessly in the iPhone Mirroring app introduced last year, making cross-device multitasking even more effortless.

macOS is getting two new Continuity upgrades. First, Live Activities from your iPhone can now appear directly on your Mac, letting you keep an eye on things like deliveries or timers without switching devices. Second, there’s a new Phone app built specifically for macOS. While you’ve been able to take calls on your Mac for a while, this dedicated app should make the whole experience smoother and more intuitive.

Transparency is more prominent than ever, with glass-like effects extending throughout the interface. The menu bar and Control Center are now fully transparent, blending seamlessly with your desktop background

macOS is picking up several features from iOS this year — including the redesigned Messages app, Live Translation, and system-wide design tweaks.

Apple TV will now offer enhanced profile selection upon startup, allowing family members to easily choose their own content and continue watching from where they left off.

watchOS 26 introduces ambient noise analysis to intelligently silence notifications. It also adds a new wrist flick gesture for dismissing alarms and alerts, building upon existing features like Double Tap to enhance user interaction and control.

Workout Buddy uses new text-to-speech model, voiced by a Fitness+ trainer, and it leverages your past activity data.

As expected, Liquid Glass design comes to Apple Watch

Visual intelligence will go beyond simply identifying objects within a camera's frame. It can now extract detailed information from images, even those captured as screenshots.

Imagine you're scrolling through a social media feed and spot an intriguing image. Instead of just seeing what's immediately visible, you can use a screenshot command to activate a visual intelligence feature.

There’s also a Play Together tab, where you can track what your friends are playing, view their achievements, and compare progress. And with the Challenges feature, you can go head-to-head with friends by setting score or milestone-based goals in supported games.

There’s also a Play Together tab, where you can track what your friends are playing, view their achievements, and compare progress. And with the Challenges feature, you can go head-to-head with friends by setting score or milestone-based goals in supported games.

With over 500 million people gaming on iPhone, Apple is introducing a new hub dedicated to it — simply named the Games app.

Also, there's a new feature called AutoMix brings time-stretching and beat-matching capabilities, perfect for creating smooth, uninterrupted transitions between tracks.

Image Playground is getting a major upgrade with ChatGPT integration, unlocking new styles—like generating a “realistic image for a baby shower invitation.” Developers will also be able to tap into these tools using the Image Playground API.

Group chats in Messages are getting a boost with built-in polls—anyone in the conversation can add more options to an existing poll, making planning easier. You’ll also be able to send and receive Apple Cash directly within group threads. And yes, typing indicators are finally coming to group chats too.

Apple is introducing a new feature to manage calls when you’re placed on hold—something Pixel users might find familiar, thanks to Google’s Hold For Me and Call Screening tools.

Favourites now take top billing in the updated Phone app, followed by a streamlined list of recent calls and voicemails. Voicemail transcripts get a boost from Apple Intelligence, which can summarize messages for quick reading.

CarPlay is getting a visual refresh, with a cleaner interface that takes up less screen space—so incoming calls no longer dominate the entire display. Apple is also bringing over features like Live Activities and new interactive widgets, effectively syncing CarPlay’s experience with many of the modern UI enhancements introduced in recent iOS updates.

Safari’s tab bar is getting yet another makeover, this time as part of Apple’s new Liquid Glass aesthetic. While the redesign leans into minimalism and transparency, it may feel a bit too familiar—especially to those who remember the mixed reactions from Apple’s last attempt at streamlining the browser UI.

Only two tabs -- Photos and Videos. Other controls can be reached by taps and gestures

The lock screen gets a fresh dose of personality this year. Images now adapt fluidly as on-screen elements shift — the clock smartly resizes to fit the space, select photos gain a subtle 3D depth effect, and album art comes to life with smooth animations. It’s a more immersive, responsive experience right from the first glance.

Apple is giving a common number across all its software updates

Docks, widgets, lock screen -- all get the Liquid Glass treatment and it looks rather fresh.

Material? That's quite a nod to Google's Material You design. "Greater harmony" between software and hardware is the idea behind Liquid Glass

Apple is introducing a "universal" design -- inspired by visionOS -- across all its platforms.

Federeghi confirms that a new Foundation Models framework will allow other apps to delve into Apple Intelligence large language models

New Apple Intelligence features coming to iPhone, Mac, Watch, iPad and more.

Apple Intelligence is the first order on the menu at WWDC

The F1 movie stars Brad Pitt and is expected to release on Apple TV+

The WWDC 2025 keynote has officially begun. Tim Cook kicks it off from Apple Park, and we’re ready to hear what’s next from Cupertino.

We’re just minutes away from Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote. Stay tuned as we bring you live updates, analysis, and reactions in real-time.

WWDC is where Apple tests the waters. Some features shown today might ship months from now, and some might quietly disappear.

We’ve seen iOS 7 bring a design revolution, iOS 14 introduce widgets, and iOS 17 push personalisation. Could iOS 26 -- or iOS 19 --  be another defining moment?

Based on the rumours, today could be more about software than AI. But with Apple, you never really know until the final “one more thing.”

Apple WWDC 2025 starts 10:30 pm IST and its just two hours left for the keynote to start.

Tim Cook has posted a message on X ahead of WWDC 2025

Apple Intelligence in iOS 26 is set to gain smarter features like a virtual health coach, live translation in Messages, and battery optimization tools. While a full Siri overhaul is reportedly delayed, these updates hint at deeper AI integration across apps, enhancing user experience without taking the spotlight from the new design.

iOS 26 is expected to bring a major design overhaul inspired by visionOS, featuring translucent elements and circular icons. A new Games app could centralize Arcade content. Core apps like Safari and Phone may get redesigned interfaces. Users might see a virtual health coach, and Preview could debut on iPhone.

At WWDC 2025, Apple is expected to unveil iOS 26, macOS 26, and other rebranded OS versions, a redesigned UI inspired by visionOS, and major updates to Siri and Apple Intelligence. Safari and core apps may also get upgrades, aiming for a more unified, intuitive software ecosystem across all devices.

Click here to watch the Apple WWDC 2025 event live

Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote streams live on June 9 at 10:30 PM IST via Apple.com, YouTube, and Apple TV. Expect major iOS, Siri, and Apple Intelligence updates, a unified OS naming scheme (e.g., iOS 26), and redesigned UIs inspired by visionOS. The event runs through June 13.