WWDC 2025, Apple’s annual builders convention, begins at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Monday. Final 12 months’s occasion was notable for its concentrate on AI, and this 12 months, there may be appreciable stress on the corporate to construct on its guarantees.
As in earlier years, the corporate will concentrate on software program updates and new applied sciences, together with the subsequent model of iOS, which is rumored to have essentially the most vital design adjustments because the introduction of iOS 7. However iOS 19 (or 26, if different rumors concerning 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 significant 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 model that mirrored Apple’s then chief design officer Jony Ive’s style for minimalism.
Now, new reviews counsel that an upcoming redesign might provoke the same degree of response.
Reviews counsel the brand new design could 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 as we speak.
This visible redesign may very well be applied throughout all of Apple’s ecosystem (together with even CarPlay), in line with Bloomberg, offering a extra seamless expertise for shoppers shifting between their completely different units.
iOS will change its naming system
In accordance with Bloomberg, Apple will announce a change within the naming system for iOS at this 12 months’s WWDC. As a substitute of saying the subsequent model of iOS as iOS 19, Apple’s working programs will shift to being named by 12 months. Meaning we may very well 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 could maintain the AI information mild this 12 months
Whereas it could be difficult to high 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 tip person and in a position to take motion throughout your apps, has been delayed.
In the meantime, Apple has turned to exterior firms like OpenAI to present its iPhone a lift by way of its AI capabilities. At WWDC, it could announce help for different AI chatbots, as properly. With Jony Ive now working with Sam Altman on an AI {hardware} system, Apple is underneath stress to compensate for AI progress.
As well as, reviews counsel that Apple’s Health app might quickly incorporate AI know-how, which might embody a well being chatbot and generative AI insights that present personalised health-related options primarily based on person knowledge. Moreover, different apps, corresponding to Messages, could obtain enhancements with AI capabilities, together with a translation function and polls that supply AI-generated options, per 9to5Mac.
Apple will possible profit from numerous smaller OS updates that contain AI, given its underwhelming progress. Reviews counsel that these updates might embody AI-powered battery administration options and an AI-powered Shortcuts app, as an illustration.
iPhone customers could get a devoted gaming app
Bloomberg confirmed a 9to5Mac report that mentioned Apple is creating a devoted gaming app that may change the growing older Sport Heart app. The app might embody entry to Apple Arcade’s subscription-based recreation retailer, plus different gaming options like leaderboards, suggestions, and methods to problem your folks. It might additionally combine with iMessage or FaceTime for distant gaming.
Updates to Mac, Watch, TV, and extra
Together with the brand new design, reviews counsel that Apple’s different working programs will get some polish, too. As an illustration, macOS may see the brand new gaming app and profit from the brand new AirPods options. It’s additionally anticipated to be named macOS Tahoe, in line with Apple’s naming conference that references California landmarks.
Apple TV could get a visible overhaul, but in addition adjustments to its person 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 carry 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 person and also will translate the person’s response again into that language.
A brand new report from 9to5Mac additionally means that AirPods could get new head gestures to enhance as we speak’s means to both nod or shake your head to reply to incoming calls or messages. Plus, AirPods could get options to auto-pause music after you go to sleep, a technique to set off the digicam through Digicam Management with a contact, a studio-quality mic mode, and an improved pairing expertise in shared AirPods.
Apple Pencil improve
In accordance with reviews, 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 may introduce a bi-directional keyboard so customers can change between Arabic and English on iPhones and iPads.
No {hardware} bulletins?
There haven’t been any rumors relating to new units, as a result of no {hardware} is prepared for launch but, in line with Bloomberg. Though it’s at all times doable that the corporate will shock us with a new Mac Professional announcement, most reviews are saying that is extremely unlikely at this level.
Some reviews point out that Apple may announce help for a brand new enter system 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 help, enabling customers to scroll by way of paperwork on each native and third-party apps.
Bloomberg had reported in November that Apple was anticipated to announce a good residence pill in March 2025, that includes a 6-inch touchscreen and voice-activated controls. The system was mentioned to incorporate help 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 could unveil the software program for the system at WWDC.
