Apple has introduced a major overhaul of its operating systems at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, held on June 9. All Apple devices—including iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, Apple TVs, and Vision Pro—will soon receive refreshed interfaces and powerful AI-driven features with the new iOS and its sibling platforms.
VisionOS-Inspired Design Across Devices
The newly announced iOS 18 (unnamed in the original source but presumed based on release timeline) borrows heavily from VisionOS, bringing a liquid, transparent aesthetic to iPhones. The lock screen is now dynamic: the time adjusts itself based on the wallpaper, and subtle 3D effects respond to phone movements.
The design update, dubbed Liquid Design, features:
- Rounded icons and curved widgets on the Home Screen.
- Customizable transparency and color levels.
- Dynamic widgets that adapt based on the time of day or season.
Other platforms including iPadOS 26, macOS 26 (Tahoe), watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 have also been updated with a similar interface. Developer beta versions are already available, with public betas expected in July 2025. Full rollouts will begin in September 2025.
Key Interface Updates
- Safari: Adopts a full-screen look with a shrinking tab bar that blends into the background.
- Camera App: Features a minimalist design with just the shutter and mode buttons up front. Other options are tucked into a translucent menu.
- Control Center: Now customizable, with new toggles and a floating, transparent layout.
- Messages & Photos: Enhanced with fluid animations and transparent UI elements.
Apple Intelligence: A New Era of On-Device AI
Apple also introduced its AI suite called Apple Intelligence, focused on privacy and on-device performance. A standout feature is Visual Intelligence, which offers real-time information recognition, similar to Google Lens.
Visual Intelligence Highlights:
- Activated via the iPhone 16 series’ new camera control button.
- Lets users scan objects, text, places, or screens for contextual information.
- Examples:
- Point at a menu to view dish reviews.
- Scan a poster to add event details to your calendar.
- Tap on a jacket in a photo to find purchase links online.
ChatGPT Integration:
Apple has partnered with OpenAI to embed ChatGPT capabilities within system-level features. Users can ask context-aware questions like:
“What species of plant is this?” or “Where can I buy this product?”
Note: These features are exclusively available on iPhone 16, 16 Pro, and 16e models