Apple WWDC25: 5 Features You’ll Want On Your Apple Devices
The updates you've been waiting for or are they?
It’s that time of the year again, when Apple goes all out to charm its app developers with updates to its mobile and computing platforms, but for the rest of us, the announcements are a glimpse into the future of the Apple devices we’re using today. At this year's action-packed blink-and-you’ll-miss-something-important event, Apple showed off updates for all of its operating systems for the iPhone, Watch, Mac and TV platforms, all of which will be released to consumers later this year. While installing the early developer betas on my devices today, I reflected on the new features that would stand out for users of Apple devices as they roll out in the coming months.
PSA: be wise, and don’t install the beta software on your primary devices, they are beta software after all.
Liquid Glass: Familiar yet New
The star of the announcements was undeniably the new visual design Apple has applied across its iPad, Mac, iPhone and Watch line-ups, a new aesthetic that draws heavily from the glossy, translucent interface elements used in VisionOS on Apple’s Vision Pro VR/AR headset without drastically changing how things function and alienating hordes of existing users in the process. Yet, this is more far reaching than a simple, slick coat of paint; the new design uses translucency across all of the visual elements to serve up a better content experience, across all devices – showing more of each web page in Safari as you scroll or making the screen look bigger by making elements across the screen transparent to the point of looking lens-like or glassy! You really have to try it out for yourself to see the level of detail Apple has added into the lock screen UI and the Music app via specular highlights and dynamic movements as you change the viewing angle. And, with a more cohesive design language across all its platforms, you’re getting a generation leap that comes once in seven years – no but seriously, Apple has also changed how it will signify its major updates each year, now numbered based on the year following their introduction, a little bit like modern carmakers. Say hello to iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26!
iPadOS Multitasking, on steroids!
Over the past few years, iPadOS has danced around the true multitasking you may be familiar with on a Mac by introducing split screen modes and Stage Manager, but it’s with the latest release that Apple has given iPad users what they’ve been clamouring for all along - a very Mac-forward, multi-window approach to multitasking via a new windowing system which allows you to resize full-screen apps into floating windows, ready to be tiled or moved around just as you would do on a Mac. Interestingly, the one visual element that wasn’t on my bingo card for iPadOS was a Menu bar on the top, available when you swipe down gently from the top edge of the iPad. There’s even an Exposé style multi-tasking view which shows you thumbnails of all open windows so you can select the one you want, and a pointier pointer and better file management capabilities just serve to complete the picture that the iPads is well on its way to become the touchscreen Mac Apple may never publicly announce!
AI-infused Conversations
Apple has finally boosted its calling capabilities via a gentle infusion of Apple Intelligence into iPad, macOS and iPadOS. Taking a page from Google’s book, Apple has implemented a new Call Screening feature that can be set to pick up calls from unknown numbers, ask the caller for a reason why they’re calling and display the text on your screen before ringing the call through to you. Anything for less call spam! There’ another feature called Hold Assist that lets you relax during the interminable waits when you’re dialling a service provider or hospital call centre and ring you back when an agent finally answers your ‘valuable’ call. But the most jaw dropping experience arrives via the Live Translation capability across Phone, Messages and FaceTime apps. It’s limited to English, French, Brazilian Portuguese, German right now, but if you’re conversing with anyone in these languages, live captions will show up on your Facetime call or a spoken translation between both parties on a regular phone call. For the privacy conscious, Live Translation is enabled by Apple-built models that run entirely on device, so your personal conversations stay personal.
macOS, now for power users
Mac power users rejoice! macOS’s Spotlight search feature is getting a solid shot in the arm, going from just being able to search for files, apps and web results to now being able to actually do stuff right within the text prompt. As soon as apps upgrade their apps to be compatible with macOS 26, Spotlight can be used to trigger individual actions within each app, such as starting an email or playing a playlist from within your music app. And the much overlooked (but much loved by nerds and tinkerers) Shortcuts app sees an AI-powered makeover – it can now tap into Apple Intelligence models to help generate responses. For example, you can write a shortcut that compares your handwritten notes to an audio transcription, to compare what you might have missed, or leverage ChatGPT to pull up information into your shortcut and summarize/compare text.
Tag-team with Workout Buddy to crush those goals
Workouts in watchOS26 get a new Apple Intelligence-powered feature called Workout Buddy, a little chatbot that sounds a bit like a hugely motivational Gordon Ramsay that will talk to you as you’re working out with your stats, fitness history and some words of encouragement. On a run, for instance, this may mean a pep talk during your warmup and suggestions to pick up your pace during the run, and a quick recap of your workout when you’re done. If you’re the sort who exercises alone, this may be the buddy you need to stay honest.