Latest Features: iOS 26 & Apple’s Dynamic Liquid Glass Design
WWDC 2025 Highlights: Apple’s Newest Releases
As Apple’s WWDC 2025 has revealed, owners of iPhones, iPads, and Macs have a lot to look forward to this year. From design and productivity upgrades to AI enhancements, Apple’s major operating systems are set for a revamp. Here’s a rundown of everything announced at WWDC 2025.
Liquid Glass Design and Software Name Changes
As anticipated, Apple is introducing a new visual design language across all its operating systems, dubbed Liquid Glass. This “broadest” design update promises more dynamic and consistent interfaces across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Apple’s operating systems are also being revamped in terms of naming. Instead of iOS 19, users will see iOS 26 coming out this fall, with iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 and others following suit.
iOS 26: What’s New?
With the introduction of iOS 26, Apple is bringing a fresh, streamlined look to its interface. The new Phone app is featuring the most significant redesign since its launch. Moreover, the Messages app is being enhanced with new features, like group message background color customization and polling capabilities.
Phone App Redesign
The Phone app’s redesign in iOS 26 places scrolling at the forefront, allowing you to access key contacts, recent calls, and voicemail messages all on one screen. A new feature, Hold Assist, will mute hold music but keep you on the call until someone answers.
Updates to Messages
The Messages app is also being updated with some new features, such as the ability to change the entire message background color for group messages and the ability to take polls among group chat members. The feature Apple Intelligence appears in iOS 26 in Messages as Genmoji, which allows users to combine two existing emojis to create a new one.
Live Translation
Live translate is also making its way to Messages, translating messages as they are typed and delivering them to the recipient in their preferred language. This feature will also be available in FaceTime, and Apple Music will introduce live translation and pronunciation features.
Maps and Wallet
Apple Maps is receiving updates that include the ability for the app to suggest alternative routes based on traffic. The Wallet app will now support Digital ID, a feature for creating a digital ID distinct from your driver’s license and passport.
Games App
iOS 26 is also set to introduce a dedicated Games app. It includes the Library tab, where users can find all games ever downloaded for iOS, and a dedicated Apple Arcade tab. Another new feature, Challenges, allows users to play with friends by challenging them to competitions in supported games.
Visual Intelligence
Visual Intelligence is getting integrated into iOS 26’s interface, allowing users to visually search for anything on the iPhone screen. Users can take a screenshot and use Visual Intelligence to search for similar items across the web and other apps.
watchOS 26: A Closer Look
Besides the Liquid Glass visual overhaul, watchOS 26 is introducing Workout Buddy, a new feature that analyzes users’ fitness history to provide real-time insights during workouts. The update also includes a Smart Stack feature for Apple Watch, which prioritizes information based on the user’s routine.
Introducing macOS Tahoe
The next version of Apple’s computer operating system, macOS Tahoe, introduces the Liquid Glass design language and brings several new features to the table. These include an updated Files app, an improved Phone app, and the integration of Intelligent actions into the Shortcuts app.
iPadOS 26: What to Expect
iPadOS 26 comes with a new menu bar and windowing feature that makes multitasking on the iPad easier. The Files app will feature an updated list view and the same custom color options found in macOS Tahoe. Additionally, the new OS includes several new features for podcasters.
visionOS 26: New Features
As part of the next software update for Vision Pro systems, visionOS 26 will offer new Apple Intelligence features, spatial experiences, and more. Most notably, this update will allow the Vision Pro headset to be used with PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers.