Apple’s software suite receives a complete overhaul, both cosmetically and functionally.
Following a promotional skit for the upcoming F1 docuseries, Craig Federighi launched immediately into a recap of Apple Intelligence features before passing the baton to Tim Cook to introduce the new “26” operating system naming scheme. Cook quickly switched gears to introduce Liquid Glass, Apple’s most significant shift in design language since iOS 7 was released in 2013. This move isn’t just a new coat of paint, though—the year-based OS identifier and glossy new UI also mark what might be the most ambitious unification of Apple’s diverse software ecosystem to date. Here are some of the top new features coming September 2025:
Liquid Glass
Apple gives its entire software suite a bold refresh with its shift to a glossy new look.
After a series of generations dominated by flat UI design with splashes of neumorphism, Apple is making a bold return to maximal design language with the introduction of Liquid Glass. This change is undeniably inspired by VisionOS—nearly every menu introduces a glossy parallax effect that refracts the background content behind it. As expected with such a significant change by a company of Apple’s size, reception has been mixed, to say the least. For instance, beta participants have raised accessibility concerns due to occasional inconsistencies in text legibility and have clamored over battery life issues. However, as the beta has only been publicly available for 48 hours at the time of writing, much remains to be seen with how Apple plans to address these doubts prior to the official launch in September 2025.
Live Translation
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’s Babel fish becomes reality.
A standout in this year’s WWDC Keynote was Live Translation, a new feature for Messages, FaceTime, and Phone that shows immense promise for Apple users separated by language barriers. Similar to many of Apple’s new advanced features, Live Translation is designed with privacy at its core, as the data processing will occur entirely on-device. Messages will auto-translate as users input text and FaceTime calls will display translated captions while the speaker’s voice comes through in their native language. This may be the most exciting feature announced at WWDC this year as it presents seemingly limitless opportunities for education, travel, and a more connected world.
Communications Overhaul
In addition to Live Translation, Apple’s communication mainstays receive a series of quality-of-life upgrades across the board.
Messages will now screen unknown senders and automatically filter them into a separate folder where the user can designate them as either known or as spam. Group chats will also get some love—the 26 releases will add native polling capabilities, typing indicators, and Apple Cash to your group chats, making them a one-stop-shop for planning trips and paying friends and family. Alongside these utility improvements comes the option of adding backgrounds to Messages chats, a feature once limited to WhatsApp.
The Phone app receives a massive overhaul in the newest update, with notable additions such as a unified interface, call screening, and Hold Assist. The new landing page for the Phone app adds large contact banners for favorite contacts, integrates the Contacts app, and includes a menu to filter by missed calls, voicemails, unknown callers, and spam. While the new design is a welcome addition, the real game changer is the addition of call screening and Hold Assist. Call screening will prompt the caller for information prior to the recipient deciding whether to pick up or decline the call. And in the event that a user is stuck on hold, Hold Assist will monitor the line for on their behalf and notify once a live agent becomes available.
OS Feature Synchronization
The new 26 moniker doesn’t just introduce a new look—it also brings with it greater cohesion across Apple’s product lineup.
The Apple community has long questioned certain app omissions and inconsistencies across the product lineup (looking at you, Calculator for iPad). However, it appears that Apple was just biding its time to go all-out in its OS integration efforts: Journal, once an iOS exclusive, will come to iPadOS and MacOS. MacOS and iPadOS will receive a native Phone app with all of the bells and whistles mentioned earlier. MacOS staple Preview will make its way to the iPad and iPhone for enhanced file viewing. And yes, iPadOS will finally have its time in the sun—the Calculator app is coming to iPad.
Apple Gets Serious About Games
Furthering the theme of unification, Apple is doubling down on its foray into gaming.
While Apple isn’t new to games by any means, its success has varied. The App Store has been a bastion of mobile gaming since its inception, but largely as a marketplace. However, the tech giant appears poised to rewrite the narrative by launching a cross-device Games app furnished with a shared game library, progression and achievement system, and maybe most promising: Metal 4, an updated graphics API that will inject AI capabilities into game development. These advancements, alongside the rapid improvements in Apple silicon, could prove to be the perfect recipe for Apple to gain traction beyond mobile gaming.
Apple Intelligence Comes to WatchOS
The Apple Watch gets a much-needed injection of AI.
The Apple Watch, as with many of its hardware upgrades, will receive only incremental software enhancements with WatchOS 26; however, the advent of wrist-based Apple Intelligence shows promise. Think of what the worn wearable does best and it’s evident where Apple has focused its enhancements. Fitness and notifications are the primary beneficiaries of WatchOS 26 with the addition of Workout Buddy and upgrades to the Smart Stack UI. Starting with Fitness, there are enhancements across the board with Apple Intelligence-enabled playlist suggestions based on workout type. The primary focus appears to be Workout Buddy, an encouraging and enthusiastic Apple Intelligence-based fitness trainer designed to guide the user through a workout—much like Spotify’s AI DJ life’s over its track selection. Smart Stack, Apple’s moniker for its notification/app view, will now provide context-aware suggestions based on the time of day, location, and sensor data. While the updates may seem subtle, features like Workout Buddy and smarter Smart Stacks make the Apple Watch more helpful in the moments that count—whether the user is mid-run or just glancing at notifications.
Third-party Advancements
The latest OS releases bring with them immense potential for third-party developers.
It’s no question that Apple has made significant strides in its first-party software, but it may be third parties that have the largest opportunity to take the spotlight come September. The public distribution of features such as a smarter Siri, AI writing tools, and access to Foundational Models provide a huge opportunity for the Apple developer community. Expect more capable apps, stronger privacy considerations, and a more integrated user experience when these features release this fall.
In Conclusion
There’s good reason to be excited about in Apple’s latest OS suite—a bold new design language, never-before-seen unification across its software ecosystem, or exciting new Apple Intelligence features. This WWDC covered features that are already developed, so it’s possible that there is more on the way between now and September 2025.