WWDC 2025, Apple’s annual builders convention, begins at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Monday. Final yr’s occasion was notable for its concentrate on AI, and this yr, there may be appreciable stress on the corporate to construct on its guarantees, and to make amends to builders because it lags behind in AI and faces continued authorized challenges over its App Retailer.
As in earlier years, the corporate will concentrate on software program updates and new applied sciences, together with the following model of iOS, which is rumored to have essentially the most vital design adjustments for the reason that introduction of iOS 7. However iOS 19 (or 26, if different rumors in regards to the new naming system are true) isn’t the one factor the corporate will announce at WWDC 2025.
Right here’s how one can watch the keynote livestream.
iOS is getting essentially the most dramatic design change in over a decade
When Apple launched a serious overhaul to iOS again in 2013 with the launch of iOS 7, it felt jarring for a lot of customers with the shift from the prior skeuomorphic design with gradients and real-world textures to the extra colourful, however flat, design fashion that mirrored Apple’s then chief design officer Jony Ive’s style for minimalism.
Now, new experiences counsel that an upcoming redesign might provoke the same degree of response.
Experiences counsel the brand new design might have parts referencing visionOS, the software program powering Apple’s spatial computing headset, the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. If true, meaning the brand new OS might function a clear interface and extra round app icons that break free from the normal sq. format right now.
This visible redesign could possibly be carried out throughout all of Apple’s ecosystem (together with even CarPlay), in line with Bloomberg, offering a extra seamless expertise for customers shifting between their totally different units.
iOS will change its naming system
In keeping with Bloomberg, Apple will announce a change within the naming system for iOS at this yr’s WWDC. As an alternative of saying the following model of iOS as iOS 19, Apple’s working methods will shift to being named by yr. Which means we could possibly be set to see the launch of iOS 26 as an alternative, alongside the OSes for different merchandise, together with adOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
Apple might maintain the AI information mild this yr
Whereas it is perhaps difficult to prime the information associated to Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024, the corporate is anticipated to share a number of updates on the AI entrance.
The corporate has seemingly been caught flat-footed within the AI race, making bulletins about AI capabilities that had but to ship, main even some Apple pundits to accuse the corporate of touting vaporware. Whereas Apple has launched a number of AI instruments like Picture Playground, Genmoji, Writing Instruments, Pictures Clear Up, and extra, its promise of an improved Siri, personalised to the top consumer and in a position to take motion throughout your apps, has been delayed.
In the meantime, Apple has turned to outdoors corporations like OpenAI to provide its iPhone a lift by way of its AI capabilities. At WWDC, it could announce assist for different AI chatbots, as nicely. With Jony Ive now working with Sam Altman on an AI {hardware} gadget, Apple is beneath stress to compensate for AI progress.
As well as, experiences counsel that Apple’s Health app might quickly incorporate AI expertise, which might embrace a well being chatbot and generative AI insights that present personalised health-related options based mostly on consumer knowledge. Moreover, different apps, corresponding to Messages, might obtain enhancements with AI capabilities, together with a translation function and polls that provide AI-generated options, per 9to5Mac.
Apple will possible benefit from numerous smaller OS updates that contain AI, given its underwhelming progress. Experiences counsel that these updates might embrace AI-powered battery administration options and an AI-powered Shortcuts app, for example.
iPhone customers might get a devoted gaming app
Bloomberg confirmed a 9to5Mac report that stated Apple is creating a devoted gaming app that may exchange the growing older Sport Middle app. The app might embrace entry to Apple Arcade’s subscription-based sport retailer, plus different gaming options like leaderboards, suggestions, and methods to problem your mates. It might additionally combine with iMessage or FaceTime for distant gaming.
Updates to Mac, Watch, TV, and extra
Together with the brand new design, experiences counsel that Apple’s different working methods will get some polish, too. As an illustration, macOS might also see the brand new gaming app and profit from the brand new AirPods options. It’s additionally anticipated to be named macOS Tahoe, in step with Apple’s naming conference that references California landmarks.
Apple TV might get a visible overhaul, but additionally adjustments to its consumer interface, the brand new gaming app, and different options.
AirPods to get new options
Along with Messages getting a translation function, Bloomberg reported that Apple might additionally deliver a live-translate language function to its AirPods wi-fi Bluetooth earbuds, permitting real-time translation throughout conversations. The iPhone will translate spoken phrases from one other language for the consumer and also will translate the consumer’s response again into that language.
A brand new report from 9to5Mac additionally means that AirPods might get new head gestures to enhance right now’s potential to both nod or shake your head to reply to incoming calls or messages. Plus, AirPods might get options to auto-pause music after you go to sleep, a option to set off the digicam by way of Digital camera Management with a contact, a studio-quality mic mode, and an improved pairing expertise in shared AirPods.
Apple Pencil improve
In keeping with experiences, the Apple Pencil can be receiving a brand new replace, one that may profit customers who want to write in Arabic script. In an effort to cater to clients in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and India, Apple is reportedly launching a brand new digital calligraphy function in iPadOS 19. The corporate might also introduce a bi-directional keyboard so customers can swap between Arabic and English on iPhones and iPads.
No {hardware} bulletins?
There haven’t been any rumors concerning new units, as a result of no {hardware} is prepared for launch but, in line with Bloomberg. Though it’s at all times attainable that the corporate will shock us with a new Mac Professional announcement, most experiences are saying that is extremely unlikely at this level.
Some experiences point out that Apple might also announce assist for a brand new enter gadget for its Imaginative and prescient Professional: spatial controllers. The units can be motion-aware and designed with interplay in a 3D setting in thoughts, 9to5Mac says. As well as, Imaginative and prescient Professional might get eye-scrolling assist, enabling customers to scroll by paperwork on each native and third-party apps.
Bloomberg had reported in November that Apple was anticipated to announce a good house pill in March 2025, that includes a 6-inch touchscreen and voice-activated controls. The gadget was stated to incorporate assist for Residence Management, Siri, and video calls, however has but to launch. Following the invention of a submitting for “HomeOS” by PMC’s Parker Ortolani, hypothesis has arisen that Apple might unveil the software program for the gadget at WWDC.
