Windows Vista-like glass redesign, Mac-style iPadOS changes, and more

Apple’s large WWDC (Worldwide Builders Convention) for 2025 has formally begun, and the principle software program keynote presentation is kicking issues off with a bang. , the Cupertino, California-based tech large has unveiled next-generation updates to all its operating system platforms, unifying its replace efforts beneath a single ‘version 26’ naming convention for consistency.

This yr, Apple is introducing a flurry of latest options that’ll make their approach into its upcoming iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 platform releases. Every of those working methods is out there now in developer preview kind, with the primary public betas slated to land in July. According to Apple, full steady releases will hit the bottom operating someday this fall.

Listed here are 5 of essentially the most noteworthy reveals from WWDC 2025, starting from a sweeping glass-like visual overhaul, basic tweaks to the iPad experience, and rather more.

1

A ‘liquid glass’ OS redesign

Home windows Vista’s Aero Glass aesthetic is again in type

Pocket-lint / Apple

As anticipated, essentially the most placing WWDC25 reveal of all of them is a brand new ‘liquid glass’ aesthetic designed by Apple, which shall be making its approach into every of the corporate’s bespoke working methods of their model 26 releases later this yr. Impressed by the glass-like digital surfaces of the Vision Pro headset, Apple appears to be leaning into the Home windows Aero design language pioneered by Microsoft again within the days of Vista.

Actual-time mild reflections and refractions dynamically alter in look primarily based on content material displayed on display screen, icons have been redesigned with a layered design and an non-obligatory translucent clear look, and sidebars, toolbars, and menus have all been reworked to higher match the brand new design language. Apparently, the much-rumored circular iPhone app icons are nowhere to be seen — a internet optimistic growth, in my subjective opinion.

Associated

With iOS 19, Apple might dramatically refresh the iPhone’s look and feel

Based on new leak from Entrance Web page Tech, Apple is reportedly engaged on a serious visible software program overhaul within the type of iOS 19.

2

A enjoyable new Recreation app

A centralized recreation launcher hub for the Apple ecosystem

Pocket-lint / Apple

Throughout iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 Tahoe, Apple is introducing an all-new preinstalled software referred to as the Recreation app. This app serves as a one-stop-shop location for launching cellular video games, with achievements, scoreboards, and different helpful additions as well. In a way, Apple has created its personal devoted gaming launcher for App Retailer and Apple Arcade titles. I believe this is a superb concept at a time when the corporate is pushing for ever-more expansive AAA video games to hit its platforms.

This new Recreation app additionally integrates with the prevailing Recreation Heart framework, which has included scoreboards and different recreation knowledge metrics ever since its launch in iOS 4.1 in 2010. Recreation Heart was its personal devoted app again within the day, earlier than being demoted to the Settings app a number of years later. I am a fan of Apple’s newfound spotlighting of Video games inside a centralized app hub, and I stay up for testing the brand new interface as soon as it hits my iDevices.

Associated

What is Apple Arcade? Price, devices, games list and more explained

Apple Arcade is a paid subscription service for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. This is how a lot it prices and what you get on your cash.

3

Smarter cellphone calling and messaging

Almost 20 years on, the iPhone is about to turn out to be a greater cellphone

Pocket-lint / Apple

Nowadays, our trendy smartphones are basically pocketable supercomputers. With how highly effective and multifaceted the iPhone has turn out to be, it is easy to neglect that the phrase ‘cellphone’ is, in actual fact, within the product title itself. Almost twenty years on from the unique iPhone’s launch, Apple is dramatically bettering the precise telecommunications expertise of the iPhone. Taking a web page out of Google’s Pixel playbook, iOS 26 is about to incorporate new spam name detection and filtering instruments, in addition to a brand new choice to have the cellphone handle wait queues through elevator music identifier and call-back applied sciences.

Dwell cellphone name translations are one other thrilling addition, which ought to make ringing up family members overseas a much more accessible expertise. And, as an added bonus, the iPad and the Mac are gaining devoted Cellphone apps of their very own, which can make it simpler to put calls utilizing Apple’s Continuity function with out your iPhone being in reachable proximity. All of this makes me marvel: if I’ve a 5G cellular-enabled iPad, and if it has a Cellphone app inbuilt, may I quickly have the ability to exchange my iPhone altogether?

Associated

I escaped the iOS 18 Photos app nightmare by changing this one setting 

Do not throw your cellphone on the wall each time you open Images.

4

The iOS Images app is (seemingly) fastened

Apple re-introduces a devoted tab for collections of photograph albums

Pocket-lint / Apple

With final yr’s launch of iOS 18, Apple redesigned the native Images app to supply a extra dynamic consumer expertise. Sadly, the app proved confusing to many iPhone customers — to today, the app refresh stays controversial, with many lamenting the lack of the devoted tab for itemizing albums. With iOS 26, Apple seems to be capitulating a bit, by reintroducing a Collections tab close to the underside of the app’s interface.

Personally, I am one of many few individuals who prefers the up to date iOS 18 Images app, as I like getting access to all my photos, folders, and collections in a single, unified house. That being stated, the interface actually felt much less cluttered in iOS 17 and under, and so I am completely happy to see Apple as soon as once more providing a tabbed expertise to enhance approachability.

Associated

Apple needs to complete its iPadOS puzzle if it wants to keep the iPad Pro afloat

In its present state, iPadOS lets down the iPad Professional — Apple must reevaluate its OS technique to justify the value of its ‘Professional’ tablets.

5

The iPad is lastly a reliable laptop

iPadOS is about to get much more macOS-like, and it has been a very long time coming

Pocket-lint / Apple

Placing apart the most important visible refresh of all of Apple’s working methods, I might argue that the one greatest reveal of WWDC25 is the vastly improved iPad expertise coming within the type of iPadOS 26. The corporate has lastly taken steps to enhance the iPad’s means to function as a standalone computer, by grafting on a number of Mac-inspired interface tweaks and options.

With iPadOS 26, Apple is bringing the Mac’s acquainted visitors light-style window administration buttons to the iPad, along with improved split-screen windowing controls, fast window snapping, and extra. Different PC-like additions embody a brand new, pointier mouse cursor, granular management over audio enter, a devoted Menu Bar interface for choosing fast actions, the introduction of the Mac’s Preview app, and a extra strong Recordsdata app. This final addition introduces assist for ongoing background duties in a kind of Live Activities-style notification setup, which is one thing I’ve personally been clamoring for.

Associated

3 ways Apple plans to make the iPad more Mac-like

We’ll see how far Apple is actually keen to go to deal with some long-standing gripes.