WWDC 2025: What to anticipate from this yr’s convention

WWDC 2025, Apple’s annual builders convention, begins at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Monday. Last year’s event was notable for its give attention to AI, and this yr, there’s appreciable strain on the corporate to construct on its guarantees.

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 essentially the most important design modifications because the introduction of iOS 7. However iOS 19 (or 26, if other rumors about the new naming system are true) isn’t the one factor the corporate will announce at WWDC 2025.

Right here’s how you can watch the keynote livestream.

iOS is getting essentially 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 fashion 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 analogous degree of response.

Studies recommend the brand new design could have components referencing visionOS, the software program powering Apple’s spatial computing headset, the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. If true, which means the brand new OS might function 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 line with Bloomberg, offering a extra seamless expertise for shoppers shifting between their completely different gadgets.

iOS will change its naming system

Based on Bloomberg, Apple will announce a change within the naming system for iOS at this yr’s WWDC. As a substitute of asserting the subsequent model of iOS as iOS 19, Apple’s working methods will shift to being named by yr. Which 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 mild this yr

Whereas it may be difficult to high the information associated to Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024, the corporate is anticipated to share a couple 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, Pictures Clear Up, and extra, its promise of an improved Siri, customized to the tip person and in a position to take motion throughout your apps, has been delayed.

In the meantime, Apple has turned to outside companies like OpenAI to provide its iPhone a lift when it comes to its AI capabilities. At WWDC, it might announce assist for different AI chatbots, as nicely. With Jony Ive now working with Sam Altman on an AI hardware device, Apple is underneath strain to atone for AI progress.

The Apple Siri and Apple Intelligence are being displayed on a smartphone screen and in the background.
Picture Credit:Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto / Getty Photographs

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 recommendations primarily based on person information. Moreover, different apps, comparable to Messages, could obtain enhancements with AI capabilities, together with a translation function and polls that provide AI-generated recommendations, per 9to5Mac.

Apple will doubtless profit from a variety of 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 could get a devoted gaming app

Bloomberg confirmed a 9to5Mac report that mentioned Apple is creating a devoted gaming app that can change the getting older Recreation 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 folks. It might additionally combine with iMessage or FaceTime for distant gaming.

Apple Arcade video game subscription service signage is displayed on an iPhone
Picture Credit:Gabby Jones/Bloomberg / Getty Photographs

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. As an example, macOS may 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 could 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 function, Bloomberg reported that Apple might additionally convey 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 person and also will translate the person’s response again into that language.

A brand new report from 9to5Mac additionally means that AirPods may get new head gestures to enhance at this time’s means to both nod or shake your head to answer incoming calls or messages. Plus, AirPods could get options to auto-pause music after you go to sleep, a strategy to set off the digicam by way of Digicam Management with a contact, a studio-quality mic mode, and an improved pairing expertise in shared AirPods.

AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C
Picture Credit:Darrell Etherington

No {hardware} bulletins?

There haven’t been any rumors relating to new gadgets, as a result of no hardware is ready for release yet, in line with Bloomberg. Though it’s at all times 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 may announce assist for a brand new enter system for its Imaginative and prescient Professional: spatial controllers. The gadgets could be motion-aware and designed with interplay in a 3D surroundings in thoughts, 9to5Mac says.

Bloomberg had reported in November that Apple was anticipated to announce a good residence pill in March 2025, that includes a 6-inch touchscreen and voice-activated controls. The system was mentioned to incorporate assist for House Management, Siri, and video calls, however has but to launch.

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