WWDC 2025, Apple’s annual builders convention, begins at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Monday. Last 12 months’s occasion was notable for its give attention to AI, and this 12 months, there’s 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 Store.
As in earlier years, the corporate will give attention to software program updates and new applied sciences, together with the following model of iOS, which is rumored to have probably the most important design modifications for the reason that introduction of iOS 7. But 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.
Here’s how one can watch the keynote livestream.
iOS is getting probably 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 type that mirrored Apple’s then chief design officer Jony Ive’s style for minimalism.
Now, new stories recommend that an upcoming redesign might provoke the same degree of response.
Reports recommend the brand new design could have parts referencing visionOS, the software program powering Apple’s spatial computing headset, the Apple Vision Pro. If true, meaning the brand new OS might function a clear interface and extra round app icons that break free from the standard sq. format in the present day.
This visible redesign may very well be carried out throughout all of Apple’s ecosystem (together with even CarPlay), in accordance with Bloomberg, offering a extra seamless expertise for customers transferring between their completely different units.
iOS will change its naming system
According to Bloomberg, Apple will announce a change within the naming system for iOS at this 12 months’s WWDC. Instead of saying the following model of iOS as iOS 19, Apple’s working programs will shift to being named by 12 months. That means 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 gentle this 12 months
While it is perhaps difficult to high the information associated to Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024, the corporate is predicted to share a couple of updates on the AI entrance.
The firm 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. While Apple has launched a number of AI instruments like Image Playground, Genmoji, Writing Tools, Photos Clean Up, and extra, its promise of an improved Siri, customized to the tip person and capable of take motion throughout your apps, has been delayed.
Meanwhile, Apple has turned to outdoors corporations like OpenAI to offer its iPhone a lift by way of its AI capabilities. At WWDC, it might announce help for different AI chatbots, as properly. With Jony Ive now working with Sam Altman on an AI {hardware} gadget, Apple is below stress to make amends for AI progress.
In addition, stories recommend that Apple’s Health app might quickly incorporate AI know-how, which might embody a well being chatbot and generative AI insights that present customized health-related strategies primarily based on person information. Additionally, different apps, reminiscent of Messages, could obtain enhancements with AI capabilities, together with a translation function and polls that provide AI-generated strategies, per 9to5Mac.
Apple will probably take advantage of quite a lot of smaller OS updates that contain AI, given its underwhelming progress. Reports recommend that these updates might embody AI-powered battery administration options and an AI-powered Shortcuts app, for example.
iPhone customers could get a devoted gaming app
Bloomberg confirmed a 9to5Mac report that stated Apple is creating a devoted gaming app that can substitute the getting older Game Center 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 mates. It might additionally combine with iMessage or FaceTime for distant gaming.
Updates to Mac, Watch, TV, and extra
Along with the brand new design, stories recommend that Apple’s different working programs will get some polish, too. For occasion, macOS may additionally 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 additionally modifications to its person interface, the brand new gaming app, and different options.
AirPods to get new options
In addition to 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 enrich in the present day’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 solution to set off the digital camera by way of Camera Control with a contact, a studio-quality mic mode, and an improved pairing expertise in shared AirPods.
Apple Pencil improve
According to stories, the Apple Pencil can be receiving a brand new replace, one that can 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 firm may additionally 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 relating to new units, as a result of no {hardware} is prepared for launch but, in accordance with Bloomberg. Although it’s all the time doable that the corporate will shock us with a brand new Mac Pro announcement, most stories are saying that is extremely unlikely at this level.
Some stories point out that Apple may additionally announce help for a brand new enter gadget for its Vision Pro: spatial controllers. The units can be motion-aware and designed with interplay in a 3D surroundings in thoughts, 9to5Mac says. In addition, Vision Pro might get eye-scrolling help, 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 sensible house pill in March 2025, that includes a 6-inch touchscreen and voice-activated controls. The gadget was stated to incorporate help for Home Control, 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 gadget at WWDC.
