Apple’s WWDC 2025 wasn’t just an event—it was a symphony of innovation, staged at the architectural marvel that is Apple Park. From the thrill of the keynote to behind-the-scenes access, my experience as a creator and media professional was unforgettable. Here’s everything Apple unveiled, along with my personal take on being at the heart of it all.

From iPhone’s iOS 26 to macOS “Tahoe,” Apple Watch and Apple TV to Vision Pro, the updates unveil a new unified design language called Liquid Glass, and deeper on-device AI called Apple Intelligence — setting the tone for Apple’s future across all platforms.

A Unified Design: Liquid Glass and the OS Shift
Apple’s most noticeable change this year is a sweeping visual overhaul across all platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. The Liquid Glass design introduces a semi-transparent, fluid interface that reacts to your surroundings, giving apps and menus a dynamic, reflective appearance.
Inspired by Apple Vision Pro’s spatial visuals, Liquid Glass marks Apple’s most ambitious redesign since iOS 7. All platforms now look and feel more cohesive than ever.

Alongside this aesthetic shift, Apple updated its OS naming strategy. Instead of incremental versions (like iOS 18 or 19), all platforms now carry the number 26: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 “Tahoe,” etc. This aligns the ecosystem by generation rather than chronology. Long-time Mac fans will appreciate the continuation of California-themed naming with macOS “Tahoe.”

iOS 26: A Smarter, Sleeker iPhone
iOS 26 brings both visual polish and smarter functionality. Liquid Glass makes everything — icons, widgets, clocks — more dynamic, adapting in real time. Apps like Safari, Photos, and Apple Music get cleaner layouts that keep content front and center.

Under the hood, Apple leans hard into on-device AI. Features like Live Translation let your iPhone translate spoken words or text in real time — during calls, FaceTime, or messages — with no internet required.
CarPlay adopts Liquid Glass and becomes more informative. Widgets on the CarPlay screen show weather or calendar alerts, and new Live Activities banners update you on sports scores or ride-share status while navigating. The Messages app now mirrors its iPhone version, with pinned chats and quick emoji reactions.

Overall, iOS 26 makes the iPhone feel more personal, helpful, and visually refined.

iPadOS 26: Power Meets Elegance
Described as “the biggest iPad update in years,” iPadOS 26 brings the same Liquid Glass aesthetic and finally unlocks true windowing. Users can open multiple app windows, resize them freely, and organize their workspace like never before.

It’s a step closer to laptop-level productivity — without losing the iPad’s intuitive, touch-first feel. Power users benefit from deeper multitasking, while casual users enjoy a sleeker experience.

macOS 26 “Tahoe”: Goodbye Intel, Hello Future
macOS “Tahoe” brings the Liquid Glass look to the Mac, with translucent title bars, toolbars, and sidebars adding depth and focus. While subtle, it elevates the experience and ties macOS visually to its Apple siblings.

New personalisation and productivity tools help the Mac adapt better to user workflows — from smarter widgets to AI-enhanced search.

One big announcement: macOS 26 will be the last major update to support Intel-based Macs. Machines from 2015–2019 will still get security patches, but all future features will be Apple Silicon-exclusive — signaling the end of an era and full transition to Apple’s in-house chips.

watchOS 26: Fitness, Reimagined
With watchOS 26, Apple Watch gains both style and substance. Liquid Glass brings visual continuity, appearing in the Smart Stack, Control Centre, and watch faces.

The highlight is Workout Buddy — an AI-powered fitness coach that speaks to you through your headphones while you exercise. It analyzes your goals and provides real-time motivation or pacing feedback. Smarter messaging, better notifications, and real-time Apple Music suggestions also arrive with this release.

Watch
OS 26 enhances the Apple Watch’s role as a personal assistant for health, productivity, and everyday tasks.

tvOS 26: Shared Screens, Sharper Design
tvOS 26 gives Apple TV a visual refresh to match the rest of the ecosystem. Overlays and menus now feature the sleek Liquid Glass effect. When pausing shows or scrolling through playback, UI elements stay out of the way — subtle, yet stylish.

New features like Apple Music Sing with Friends and FaceTime calls from your TV (via Continuity Camera on iPhone) turn Apple TV into a hub for shared entertainment experiences, not just passive streaming.

VisionOS 26: Refining the Spatial Experience
For Vision Pro, visionOS 26 makes AR feel more immersive. New Spatial Widgets and Scenes allow you to place digital elements in your physical space permanently — like sticking a calendar or timer on your wall.

Apple’s Persona avatars also get a major upgrade. Improved rendering now produces more lifelike digital versions of you in FaceTime and other virtual interactions.

While still a niche device, these updates point to Apple’s long-term strategy for mixed reality: blending digital life into real space seamlessly and naturally.

Apple Intelligence: AI, The Apple Way
A major thread across WWDC 2025 was Apple Intelligence — Apple’s privacy-first AI system built to run directly on your devices. Unlike cloud-heavy models from rivals, Apple emphasises local processing, powered by the Neural Engine in its chips.

Features like call summaries, AI-powered writing suggestions, photo editing, and context-aware Siri are just the beginning. Developers can also tap into Apple Intelligence to enhance their own apps.

This shift makes every Apple device not just smart, but contextually aware, enabling proactive assistance without compromising data privacy.

Release Timeline & Beta Access
All updates — iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 — will be released free in Fall 2025, likely in Apple’s typical September rollout. Public betas begin in July, and Apple advises backing up your devices if testing early versions.

Final Thoughts: WWDC 2025 Was About Cohesion
Apple’s 2025 keynote balanced visual excitement (Liquid Glass) with functional enhancements (AI, multitasking). The event made clear that the future of Apple devices is deeply integrated, proactive, and more personal.

Rather than leaning heavily on technical demos, Apple framed its updates through relatable use cases — like a mom using Live Translation to speak with her child’s nanny, or a commuter tracking flight info from the Mac’s menu bar.

Personal Reflection
As I left Apple Park, I realized WWDC25 wasn’t just about devices. It was about empowerment. From testing new features on beta builds to meeting creators and Apple engineers, I saw the future taking shape — and felt part of it.

– For behind-the-scenes reels and hands-on experience with Apple’s latest platforms, and a closer look at where tech is headed next, follow @nikhilchawla