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 give attention to AI, and this 12 months, there may be appreciable strain 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 Retailer.
As in earlier years, the corporate will give attention to software program updates and new applied sciences, together with the subsequent model of iOS, which is rumored to have probably the most important design modifications 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 probably the most dramatic design change in over a decade
When Apple launched a serious 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 an identical degree of response.
Studies recommend the brand new design might 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 characteristic a clear interface and extra round app icons that break free from the standard sq. format at this time.
This visible redesign may very well be implemented across all of Apple’s ecosystem (together with even CarPlay), in keeping with Bloomberg, offering a extra seamless expertise for customers shifting between their totally different units.
iOS will change its naming system
In keeping 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 methods 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 might maintain the AI information mild this 12 months
Whereas it is perhaps difficult to prime 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, Photographs Clear Up, and extra, its promise of an improved Siri, customized to the top consumer and capable of take motion throughout your apps, has been delayed.
In the meantime, Apple has turned to exterior firms like OpenAI to provide its iPhone a lift by way of its AI capabilities. At WWDC, it might announce help for different AI chatbots, as nicely. With Jony Ive now working with Sam Altman on an AI {hardware} gadget, Apple is underneath strain to compensate for AI progress.
As well as, stories recommend that Apple’s Health app could soon incorporate AI technology, which might embrace a well being chatbot and generative AI insights that present customized health-related solutions based mostly on consumer knowledge. Moreover, different apps, corresponding to Messages, might obtain enhancements with AI capabilities, together with a translation characteristic and polls that provide AI-generated solutions, per 9to5Mac.
Apple will probably take advantage of various smaller OS updates that contain AI, given its underwhelming progress. Studies recommend that these updates might embrace AI-powered battery administration options and an AI-powered Shortcuts app, as an example.
iPhone customers might get a devoted gaming app
Bloomberg confirmed a 9to5Mac report that stated Apple is creating a devoted gaming app that can substitute the getting old Sport Heart app. The app might embrace entry to Apple Arcade’s subscription-based recreation retailer, plus different gaming options like leaderboards, suggestions, and methods to problem your pals. It might additionally combine with iMessage or FaceTime for distant gaming.
Updates to Mac, Watch, TV, and extra
Together with the brand new design, stories recommend that Apple’s different working methods will get some polish, too. For example, macOS might also see the brand new gaming app and profit from the brand new AirPods options. It’s additionally anticipated to be named macOS Tahoe, in step with Apple’s naming conference that references California landmarks.
Apple TV might get a visible overhaul, but in addition changes to its user interface, the brand new gaming app, and different options.
AirPods to get new options
Along with Messages getting a translation characteristic, Bloomberg reported that Apple might additionally carry a live-translate language feature 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 consumer and also will translate the consumer’s response again into that language.
A brand new report from 9to5Mac additionally means that AirPods may get new head gestures to enrich at this time’s capacity to both nod or shake your head to answer incoming calls or messages. Plus, AirPods might get options to auto-pause music after you go to sleep, a solution to set off the digicam by way of Digital camera Management with a contact, a studio-quality mic mode, and an improved pairing expertise in shared AirPods.
Apple Pencil improve
In keeping with 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 prospects in UAE, Saudi Arabia, and India, Apple is reportedly launching a new virtual calligraphy feature in iPadOS 19. The corporate might also 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 concerning new units, as a result of no hardware is ready for release yet, in keeping with Bloomberg. Though it’s all the time attainable that the corporate will shock us with a new Mac Pro announcement, most stories are saying that is extremely unlikely at this level.
Some stories point out that Apple might also announce help for a brand new enter gadget for its Imaginative and prescient Professional: spatial controllers. The units could 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 sensible residence pill in March 2025, that includes a 6-inch touchscreen and voice-activated controls. The gadget was stated to incorporate help for Residence Management, Siri, and video calls, however has but to launch. Following the invention of a filing for “HomeOS” by PMC’s Parker Ortolani, hypothesis has arisen that Apple might unveil the software program for the gadget at WWDC.