WWDC 2025: iOS 26, Liquid Glass technology and what all to expect

At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) today, Apple is set to reveal exciting advancements that could redefine user experience. Among the highlights is iOS 26, which promises a significant visual transformation, marking the most substantial interface change the company has made in over a decade. This upcoming operating system, anticipated to launch this fall, may introduce a revolutionary 'Liquid Glass' interface. This design approach leans towards a glossy and translucent aesthetic, diverging from the flat minimalism introduced with iOS 7. Under the guidance of human interface chief Alan Dye, Apple appears poised to embrace a richer visual narrative in its software, moving away from the skeuomorphic trends of early iPhone applications. Industry analyst Mark Gurman from Bloomberg has characterized this update as Apple's most significant visual enhancement since 2013. iOS 26 is not merely an aesthetic upgrade; it’s expected to pave the way for Apple's flagship 2027 device, codenamed Glasswing. This innovative device, inspired by the transparent wings of a butterfly, is rumored to feature a seamless glass body, ultra-slim bezels, and nearly invisible sensors—an ambition that the new software aims to acclimate users to. By introducing these glossy interface elements now, Apple may be strategically preparing users for future innovations, similar to how they gradually introduced eye-tracking features in the lead-up to the Vision Pro headset's launch. Furthermore, Apple is likely to synchronize version numbers across all its platforms this year, unifying devices such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV to share the version number 26. This move hints at deeper integration across Apple’s ecosystem, especially as the company extends its focus to automobiles and spatial computing. While the redesign of iOS is expected to dominate discussions, Apple is also rumored to introduce its own artificial intelligence framework, tentatively named Apple Intelligence. However, with competitors like Google and Microsoft already making significant strides in the AI sector, some analysts question whether Apple is arriving late to this critical technological frontier.