Happy WWDC to all who celebrate, the moment of the year where Apple Users get a taste of what changes are coming to their devices in the coming months.

2025's WWDC was jam-packed with new announcements and changes – possibly more coming from this conference than there were at the huge WWDC 2024. From a new fitness coaching system on Apple Watch to an entirely new visual language across the suite called Liquid Glass, the announcements out of this year's Barcelona conference have the potential to change the way you use your Apple device.

Here are the major and most important changes that you need to know about.

A new user interface called Liquid Glass

Liquid Glass is a sleek new user interface or UI that we'll be seeing across the Apple suite – this means iPhone, mac, Watch and iPad. Liquid Glass is designed to reflect its surroundings, so the colours of the UI are informed by the nearby content. Its vibrant, creative and expressive, using real-time rendering for a smooth and immersive experience.

It comes with modernised and translucent icons and more ways to personalise and customise your menu and look and feel. For example, on Apple Watch this looks like a version of the 'Photos' watch face that has numerals made of Liquid Glass, meaning users can see even more of the photo in the watch face.

iOS 26: it's more helpful than ever

A new name: iOS 26

Apple's iPhone operation system is officially changing its naming convention. We were due for an iOS 19 – since 18 was introduced last year. But instead, Apple has changed the way it names its software, using the last two digits of the upcoming year instead. So this year, rather than introduce you to iOS 19, we have iOS 26.

The Liquid Glass look and feel

iOS 26 comes a new UI called Liquid Glass, which we'll explain in more detail further on. In addition to Liquid Glass, there are a number of phone specific design changes. Home & Lock Screen upgrades mean the time adapts dynamically to images, wallpapers gain 3D spatial effects, and interfaces like Camera and Safari are simplified for better usability. Floating tab bars have been redesigned for Apple Music, News, and Podcasts to enhance immersion while browsing.

Live translation powered by Apple Intelligence

Beyond the visuals, there were some other cool changes to note. Good news for travellers: live translation courtesy of Apple Intelligence has been built-in across Messages, Phone, and FaceTime for real-time, on-device language translation. A new online shopping feature means you can more easily track your orders.

Better online shopping tracking

Apple Wallet can now see tracking details from your emails. It means you'll be able to see all your order details including progress notifications in one place. No more missed package updates lost to inbox chaos.

Search for on-screen content powered by Apple Intelligence

Visual Intelligence has been updated to include the contents of your screen. For example, you could ask ChatGPT questions about what you're seeing specifically on your screen and then search contextually.

Improved shortcuts and assistance

Smarter shortcuts means better text summaries. The example Apple gave was this: "a student can build a shortcut that uses Apple Intelligence models to compare an audio transcription of a class lecture to the notes they took, and add any key points they may have missed."

Other smaller but noteworthy changes

• Updates to Genmoji & Image Playground include new tools for creating expressive emoji and imagery using AI and personal prompts.
• Communication and focus tools like call screening were improved.
• CarPlay's UI is more compact and has deeper integration with vehicle systems
• Maps has a 'New Visited Places' feature with end-to-end encryption and smarter commute insights.
• Wallet changes mean seeing live activities for flights, improved airport navigation tools, and new payment options like instalments and rewards with Apple Pay.
• More AirPods integration with studio-quality recording, camera shutter control via AirPods, and advanced noise handling.
• Enhanced parental controls.
• Privacy & Accessibility changes including Safari gaining default fingerprinting protection

Apple Intelligence is here to streamline your work life

Apple Intelligence celebrates its one-year anniversary at this WWDC. And with its first birthday, come some new changes and enhancements.

Many of the new iOS 26 features are powered by enhanced Apple Intelligence. This includes live translation, visual search, the Genmoji & Image Playground updates, shortcuts and smart actions.

One of the cooler updates to Apple Intelligence is the improved image editing via the image clean-up where you can remove background elements – like wayward people – from pictures you've taken. It means you don't need to import to an advanced image-editing software to clean your photos.

There are also a suite of updates that are designed to enhance workflow during your day. Better reminders courtesy of auto-detection from emails. Apple Intelligence can find action items from emails, websites, notes and remind you if you appear to have forgotten. Also, there's better and smarter summaries. This include summaries from the email in your inbox to summaries of audio transcriptions – even summaries of your phone notifications. There's also new smart replies, previews in mail and priority messages.

As for privacy, most models run entirely on device. But for larger tasks, Private Cloud Compute ensures no user data is stored or shared.

These new features are accessible on all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max and also iPads and Macs with M1 or newer chips.

watchOS 26: say hi to a new workout buddy

watchOS is another beneficiary of Liquid Glass and Apple Intelligence features like live translation. Some of the smaller updates mean you can; dismiss notifications, silence alarms, or reject calls with the Wrist Flick Gesture; view, pin, and create notes directly from their watch using Siri or the keyboard; expect dynamically adjusted volume for calls, Siri, and timers based on ambient noise; and find a bunch of new watch faces in the gallery.

But there have been some other, bigger, watch-specific changes that could radically change how you use Apple Watch all together.

Introducing Workout Buddy

It's a new and real-time coaching experience that's powered by Apple Intelligence. It is designed to deliver personalised voice feedback based on specific user metrics. A first-of-its-kind experience, it can use data like heart rate, pace and even activity rings to create motivational insights.

The specific example Apple gives is this:

"As a user starts a run, Workout Buddy will give a personalised pep talk that may remind them of their running mileage for the week so far, or share how they are doing against their Activity ring goals: 'Way to get out for your run this Wednesday morning. You’re 18 minutes away from closing your Exercise ring. So far this week, you’ve run 6 kilometres. You’re going to add to that today.'"

It's available on select workouts with Bluetooth headphones and iPhone nearby – but only on Apple-Intelligence-enabled devices.

A new workout app look and feel

The Workout App gets a major refresh. Expect a totally new UI experience, with upgraded with quick-access buttons for Workout Views, Race Route, Custom Workouts, and more.

Listen to music based on your workout

Get music suggestions based on your workout. Better Apple Music integration means more personalised playlists or podcast suggestions based on workout type and taste.

More intelligent interactions and suggested actions

New proactive Smart Stack hints use contextual and sensor data. What does this mean in practice? It means your watch might nudge you to start a Pilates workout if it can read that you've arrived at your Pilates studio. There are also new context-aware prompts for Check In, Apple Cash, polls, and smart replies.

Find these new features on Apple Watch Series 6+, SE (2nd gen), and all Ultra models.

iPadOS 26 is more streamlined than before

Of course, iPad also welcomes in the Liquid Glass interface. It most closely resembles the iteration seen on macOS. And naturally the Apple Intelligence features are absorbed here too including live translation, Genmoji, and enhanced shortcuts.

As for iPad specific changes, there are a number of updates that are designed to streamline the experience of working on an iPad. Advanced windowing allows for resizable, movable windows with tiling, Exposé, and support for external displays. An overhauled File Management sees custom folders in Files app, dock folders, default app assignment, and new List views. A new Preview App gives us full-featured PDF and image editing app with Apple Pencil markup support. New creative tools include Background Tasks API, audio input selection, studio-quality recording with new AirPods, and local capture for video.

There have also been some gentler updates to the Journal app, some Messages upgrades, a new Apple Games app with overlay, enhanced Notes and Calculator, and extensive accessibility improvements.

These updates are available on iPad mini and iPad models with M1 or later.

visionOS 26 has been improved for usability and immersiveness

The software for Apple Vision Pro – Apple's spatial computer – has had a gentle refresh too. Expect eye-tracking scroll, improved Control Centre, iPhone call relay, and Home View folders to improve the way you move about the interface. Spatial Widgets become part of the user’s space, supporting customisation and reappearing on startup. Enhanced personas are more realistic, this includes digital avatars with accurate detail and improved expressivity. Multiple Vision Pro users can now collaborate, watch media, or game in the same physical space. AI and depth data can create 3D-like photo experiences.

Vision Pro now supports 180°/360° video content from cameras like GoPro, and is compatible with PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers. Plus there are new tools for secure content, device sharing, and accessories like Logitech Muse.

macOS Tahoe 26 is better integrated with your phone

In addition to the Liquid Glass UI update and the suite of Apple Intelligence updates, there is further newness coming to macOS.

Continuity upgrades means things like Phone app and Live Activities from iPhone now work on Mac. This includes features like Call Screening and Hold Assist. Spotlight has been overhauled. It's enhanced with smarter search, new filtering, app-integrated quick actions, and keyboard-driven workflows. Gamers get a boost with a new Apple Games app and Game Overlay, plus support for AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Metal 4 tech. Also expect a Safari revamp, Messages with polls and backgrounds, Journal app, upgraded FaceTime and Notes, accessibility updates, and a redesigned Photos app.

These updates are available on mac models with M1 or later.

When are these features coming?

Developer previews are available now; and the public beta launches in July 2025. The full update releases in starts from September as a free update for iPhone 11 and newer. Remember that any Apple Intelligence requires iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, and select iPads and Macs with M1+ chips.