Apple reveals a complete redesign for iOS 26 at WWDC 2025

Yearly, iOS is among the star sights of Apple‘s Worldwide Builders Convention keynote. It is our first official take a look at new options and different adjustments which are coming to iPhones within the fall. The 2025 WWDC keynote was no exception, and essentially the most fast change is to the iOS naming system.

As was recently reported, Apple working techniques will all be named after years to maintain the whole lot aligned. So as an alternative of iOS 19, we’re leaping as much as iOS 26. The identical goes for iPadOS, watchOS, macOS and so forth. The variations can be named for the yr after main annual OS updates (so iOS 26 for the model that arrives in fall 2025 and so on), however it ought to nonetheless assist mitigate some confusion as to which is the present model.

There’s much more to this model of iOS than a change to the numbering system, so let’s dig proper in.

A serious redesign

Past the naming system, the largest change this yr is a significant visible overhaul throughout Apple’s working techniques. These responsive, translucent consumer interfaces are impressed by the look of visionOS, the OS that powers Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.

It was reported over the weekend that Apple’s new consumer interface design language could be constructed round an idea known as Liquid Glass, and that turned out to be useless on. There’s a bigger deal with components like mild and transparency right here.

App icons and buttons have new appears to be like, whereas toolbars and tab bars can have a see-through look. Apple can also be making use of pop-out menus that’ll provide fast entry to sure choices — that jogs my memory a little bit of the “peek and pop” 3D Contact features Apple launched to the iPhone a decade in the past). Widgets aren’t going wherever, although they’re getting a brand new look to match the remainder of the design updates.

It has been over a decade because the final main change to the look of consumer interfaces on Apple units (not counting the brand new UI for the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional). With iOS 7, which debuted in 2013, Apple jettisoned its skeuomorphic design language for a flatter, extra simplified look.

Core app updates

Apple is giving a number of core apps notable updates in iOS 26. Within the Telephone app, it is pulling collectively your current calls and voicemails right into a single tab, together with your favourite contacts above these. You’ll see Apple Intelligence summaries of voicemail transcripts.

A name screening device can routinely reply calls from unknown numbers as nicely. You’ll see in your iPhone display who is looking and why, so you possibly can determine whether or not to reply.

On FaceTime calls, you may see that Apple has moved the key controls to the underside proper of the display for simpler entry. Safari can have a extra clear handle bar within the up to date OS.

As for the Digital camera app, Apple is seeking to simplify {that a} bit after including a number of options like slow-motion video and panoramic pictures over the past a number of years. You may change between nonetheless picture and video choices with a swipe. Tabs are blessedly coming again to the Images app too.

In Messages, you may have the power to set a background picture and create polls (a lot as you possibly can in different messaging apps). The backgrounds would be the similar for everybody within the chat, as they’re within the likes of Messenger. It’s going to be doable to ship and obtain Apple Money funds in group chats, which will even be getting typing indicators. Additionally, on-device spam detection for Messages is within the pipeline — that is a really welcome replace.

This story is creating; refresh for updates…