Apple Reimagines Its Software with “Liquid Glass” Design and a Smarter “Apple Intelligence” at WWDC 2025

Apple kicked off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, WWDC 2025, with a keynote that laid out a transformative vision for its software. In a significant branding shift, Apple is aligning its operating systems under a unified version number, “26,” reflecting the upcoming year. This means users can look forward to iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 “Tahoe,” watchOS 26, and visionOS 3, all sharing a stunning new design language and a major leap forward in artificial intelligence.

A Fluid New Look: Introducing “Liquid Glass”

The most immediate and striking change coming to Apple’s entire ecosystem is a complete visual overhaul dubbed “Liquid Glass.” This new design philosophy moves away from static icons and menus towards a more dynamic, translucent, and interactive interface. Elements across the operating systems will now feature a fluid, glass-like quality that refracts and reflects the content beneath, creating a more cohesive and visually engaging user experience. The redesign touches everything from app icons and system menus to notifications and widgets, promising a fresh and modern feel for every Apple device.

“Apple Intelligence” Gets a Major Upgrade

Building on its initial release, “Apple Intelligence” is now more deeply woven into the fabric of the new operating systems. This suite of AI-powered features is designed to be more personal, private, and capable. A key enhancement is “Live Translation,” a system-wide feature that will allow for real-time translation of conversations within Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app.

“Visual Intelligence” adds a new layer of contextual awareness, enabling users to search and interact with content directly on their screen. Mail will get smarter with priority inboxes that surface the most urgent emails, while Reminders will now be able to automatically categorize tasks based on content from other apps. For developers, Apple is opening up its “Foundation Models framework,” allowing them to build more powerful, on-device AI experiences into their own apps.

iOS 26 and iPadOS 26: A More Personal and Productive Experience

For the iPhone, iOS 26 will be a landmark update. Beyond the “Liquid Glass” redesign, CarPlay receives a significant update with new widgets and Live Activities. The Messages app is getting more expressive with custom backgrounds and new group chat features like polls. A new dedicated “Games” app will unify Game Center, the user’s game library, and Apple Arcade into a single destination. To improve battery longevity, a new “Adaptive Power” option will intelligently manage power consumption.

The iPad continues its journey to becoming a more powerful productivity tool with iPadOS 26. In a move that will be celebrated by power users, the update finally brings true windowing capabilities and a persistent menu bar to the iPad interface. This, combined with a revamped Files app, makes multitasking and file management more intuitive and Mac-like than ever before.

macOS 26 “Tahoe” and watchOS 26: Smarter and More Seamless

The Mac is not being left behind, with macOS 26, codenamed “Tahoe,” also embracing the “Liquid Glass” aesthetic. A new Phone app will come to the Mac, allowing for better integration with the iPhone. Spotlight search is also being upgraded with more intelligent and context-aware results.

On the wrist, watchOS 26 is focused on health, fitness, and proactive assistance. A new “Workout Buddy” feature will offer motivational “peptalks” and personalized encouragement during exercise. The Smart Stack will be enhanced with more proactive notifications, and deeper integration with “Apple Intelligence” will allow for more complex and useful interactions directly from the Apple Watch.

For users of Apple Vision Pro, visionOS 3 will bring more realistic Personas and new integrations that continue to build out the spatial computing experience.

In a developer conference that was notably focused on software, Apple has set the stage for a significant year ahead. By unifying its design and supercharging its intelligence features, the “OS 26” family of updates promises to make the Apple ecosystem feel more powerful, intuitive, and seamlessly integrated than ever before. Developer betas are available now, with a public beta expected in July and a full public release for all new operating systems slated for this fall.