Apple’s platforms are set to undergo significant changes, including a design refresh and significant multitasking enhancements for the iPad.
Apple included a number of significant updates in its keynote address at the annual Worldwide Developer Conference.
The company demonstrated the upcoming streamlined design refresh of its operating systems, as well as a variety of new features for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, and other devices, during the event.
The following is a summary of some of the most noteworthy developments that Apple disclosed during the keynote. You may view our edited version, which is less than thirty minutes in length, by clicking here.
• Apple’s operating systems are currently identified by their respective years
As anticipated, Apple has assigned new version numbers to each of its operating systems that correspond to the year following their publication, rather than the version number. iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 are the new identities. Although they are scheduled for release in late 2025, it is simpler to recall this information than iOS 19, watchOS 12, and macOS 16.
• The design of Liquid Glass has been updated on iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and other platforms
Apple is in the process of updating the design of all of its operating systems. They will now have a new Liquid Glass theme that enhances the transparency of icons, switches, sliders, text, and media controls in their interfaces.
The new design will also be implemented on the lockscreen of iOS 26, which will enable users to view their wallpaper in full behind the text. This will include the date, time, and notification previews.
• New designs for the Camera, Safari, and Phone applications
Apple disclosed updates to several of its primary applications in iOS 26 as part of its comprehensive redesign. Safari’s webpages will now occupy the entirety of your screen. The Camera app also features a simplified layout that displays two primary options: photo and video. Other modes, including Slow-Mo and Cinematic, can be accessed by swiping on the toolbar.
The Phone application is also undergoing an upgrade. The new interface will integrate preferences, recents, and voicemails into a single panel, while the keypad, contacts, and conversations will remain at the bottom of the app.
• iPadOS 26 will include enhanced windowing capabilities
Apple is introducing a significant update to iPadOS 26 that is expected to simplify the process of multitasking. The new windowing capabilities will enable you to resize app windows, position them around your display, and open multiple windows simultaneously. It is also incorporating a new menu bar and a more precise mouse pointer, which will enable users to swipe down on an application to access a variety of options and commands. The overall appearance is significantly more reminiscent of a Mac.
• Custom backgrounds and new group conversation features are added to Messages
Apple is currently in the process of updating Messages to enable users to customize the background of their discussions and generate polling within group conversations. Other updates include the capacity to filter messages from unknown senders, which will be displayed in a separate folder rather than your primary list, and typing indicators for group conversations.
• Apple introduces a new gaming center
Apple has unveiled a new Games app that enables users to access all of their Apple Arcade games and uncover new ones from a single location. You have the option to examine the games you have downloaded from the App Store by selecting the Library menu, and you can also challenge your peers by utilizing the Play Together feature.
• Apple Intelligence has the capability to search the contents of your screen
A new Apple Intelligence feature is set to be introduced in iOS 26. This feature enables users to summon the AI assistant by using the same keys that are used to capture a screenshot. Afterward, you have the option to inquire further about the object you are viewing on your screen using ChatGPT or to seek for comparable images on Google or Etsy.
