The 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference is coming up quick, with less than a week to go before the big keynote event. We're sharing a series of rumor recaps this week, for those who want to get a sneak peek at some of the features expected in Apple's upcoming software updates.
iOS 26 is definitely the OS that we've heard the most about, and rumors suggest that it's going to get a major design overhaul. We've highlighted everything we know below.
Naming
iOS 18 is not going to iOS 19, with Apple instead opting to change the numbering for its software updates. Instead, we're going to get iOS 26, which will be released alongside iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
The "26" in the name marks the September 2025 to September 2026 release season for iOS 26. Next year we'll get iOS 27, then iOS 28, and so on. All software updates now share the same year number, which makes it easier to keep new releases straight.
Design Updates
iOS 26 is going to get a
major design revamp, adopting some visual elements from the visionOS operating system. Inside Apple, the design project is referred to as "Solarium," which hints at what we can expect.
A solarium is an all-glass room that's designed to let in sunlight, and rumors suggest that iOS 26 will adopt a more translucent, glass-inspired aesthetic.
visionOS has a translucent interface to allow people to see their surroundings in AR or VR while also interacting with app menus and windows. visionOS windows blend into the background for an unobtrusive look, and on the
iPhone, Apple could adopt the same translucent focus to let content shine through.
iOS 26 is also expected to get some of the floating on-screen windows and menus that are used in visionOS, with rounded pop-up navigation and menu bars that float above the content on the display. Apple could use shading, shadowing, and subtle lighting effects to give buttons and other interface elements a slight lift.
App icons could be rounder, and notifications, menus in apps, search bars, card-style interfaces, and other parts of the iOS user interface could have more rounded corners than we're used to. The floating navigation bars are expected to be pill-shaped, for example.
iOS 26 has been described as having a glossy or glass-like look, which is also how visionOS looks. Apple's
WWDC 2025 teaser images feature a frosted glass rainbow with soft colors, and those images might hint at what's coming. Apple could use a soft, frosted glass style across iOS 26.
Mockups that are allegedly based on real iOS 26 designs were shared earlier this year
by Front Page Tech, demonstrating some of the design changes that might be in store.
A render of iOS 26's alleged redesigned Camera app, from Front Page Tech
A mockup of the Camera app, for example, has translucent pop-out menus that better blend into the background to put the focus on the images.
Newer Apple apps like Apple Sports and Invites have simpler, translucent interface elements with expanding buttons, and could also serve as an example of the design language Apple is debuting in iOS 26.
Apple is planning to overhaul its built-in apps with the updated design, though some will get bigger refreshes than others. Apple will also provide developers with design guidelines and assets so that third-party apps can adopt the new aesthetic as well.
Navigation Simplification and Streamlining
Along with a new look, Apple is also going to streamline navigation options in iOS 26. Apple is tweaking menus, buttons, and navigation to make the operating system simpler to learn and navigate.
Some of the design and interface changes will also extend to macOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS, improving design consistency and navigation across Apple's operating systems.
Apple Intelligence Features
There are several new
Apple Intelligence features that are expected in iOS 26.
AI Battery Management
An AI-powered
battery management feature will analyze how you use your iPhone and make adjustments to maximize battery life. The option will be able to limit the power draw of apps and other system features based on device usage.
Battery management will be particularly useful for the
iPhone 17 Air that will have a smaller battery than other iPhones, but it will be available on iPhones that are able to run iOS 26.
Shortcuts App
Apple plans to
update the Shortcuts app with Apple Intelligence, allowing users to create actions that use Apple Intelligence models. With this functionality, Shortcuts could be easier to use, with even casual users able to create useful shortcuts using natural language.
Google Gemini
Apple and Google are close to
establishing a deal that will add Google Gemini to the iPhone as an alternative to ChatGPT, and that's a feature that we'll likely see in iOS 26. Google Gemini would integrate with
Siri like ChatGPT, with Siri able to hand requests over to Gemini for more in-depth AI-powered answers.
Siri
We're
still waiting on all of the Apple Intelligence personalized Siri features that Apple debuted at WWDC 2024. Those updates are expected to come at some point in iOS 26, but they may not be ready for the launch version of the software. If the functionality isn't ready to go, Apple isn't going to mention it at WWDC 2025 to avoid further embarrassment.
Here's what's coming, eventually:
- Personal Context - Siri will be able to keep track of everything on your device, like emails, messages, files, and more, helping you complete tasks and find things.
- Onscreen awareness - Siri will know what's on your screen and will be able to complete actions involving whatever you're looking at.
- Deeper App Integration - Siri will be able to do more in and across apps, performing actions and tasks that are not possible with the personal assistant right now. This will be a feature available for Apple's apps and third-party apps.
Gaming App
Apple has a new gaming app planned, and it'll replace Game Center and add more functionality than ever before. It's going to house the games section of the
App Store, so you'll be able to find and launch games from one convenient gaming-centric spot.
The app is also expected to feature communication options for connecting with other players, in-game achievements, editorial content and recommendations, and leaderboards.
New Features for Existing Apps
Rumors suggest that there are several new features coming to existing Apple apps.
- Messages - Automatic translations and support for polls.
- Music - Full screen animated art on the Lock Screen.
- Notes - Markdown support.
- CarPlay - Updated user interface to match iOS 26.
AirPods Live Translate
With an AirPods firmware update, an iOS 26 feature will allow the AirPods to
translate in-person conversations from one language to another. If an English speaker with AirPods is conversing with someone who is speaking Spanish, the iPhone will detect the audio, translate the speech, and relay it back in English to the AirPods wearer.
Connectivity
Apple is adding a new feature that
will synchronize captive Wi-Fi portal login information across devices, so you'll only need to enter login details for a captive Wi-Fi network once, and it'll be available on all of your Apple products. Captive networks are common in hotels, airports, coffee shops, and other locations with shared or paid internet options.
Apple might also
make it easier for iPhone users to transfer an eSIM to an Android smartphone.
Health App
There's a new Health app coming, but it might not be ready when iOS 26 launches, so Apple might not be planning to unveil it just yet. The revamped app will apparently offer AI-powered health coating features with personalized health recommendations.
There may also be new food tracking functionality that would allow users to keep track of their calorie intake each day.
Stage Manager
There's a possibility that Apple will add a
Stage Manager feature for iPhone models that have a USB-C port, with the feature activating when an iPhone is connected to an external display over USB-C.
Stage Manager would allow multiple apps to be opened at once, offering a more Mac-like experience when an iPhone is used with a display.
Accessibility Features
Apple previewed new Accessibility features coming to iOS 26 earlier this year, and there are some interesting new additions.
- Music Haptics - Music Haptics will get customization options so haptics can be enabled for an entire song or just vocals, plus there will be options to adjust the intensity of taps, textures, and vibrations.
- App Store Labels - App Store product pages will get Accessibility Nutrition Labels that highlight accessibility features in apps.
- Accessibility Reader - Accessibility Reader is a systemwide reading mode that will make text easier to read thanks to customization features for adjusting font, color, spacing, and more.
- CarPlay - CarPlay is getting support for Large Text, and Sound Recognition will be able to alert drivers to the sound of a crying baby.
- Background Sounds - Background Sounds will be customizable with new EQ settings, timers, and automation actions in Shortcuts.
- Personal Voice - Personal Voice will let users preserve their voice faster and more easily. It will use on-device machine learning to create a smoother, more natural-sounding voice in under a minute.
- Tracking - Head tracking and eye tracking are getting updates, plus Apple is adding support for Brain Computer Interface devices.
iPadOS 26
iPadOS 26 is going to get the same design updates that are coming to the iPhone, so it will have the same glass-like, translucent look.
Apple is also rumored to be working on
adding new features that will make the
iPad experience more like using a Mac, introducing improved productivity, new multitasking features, and expanded window management options.
iPadOS 26 may have a Mac-like menu bar when connected to a Magic Keyboard, plus Apple is adding a new reed calligraphy pen option for
Apple Pencil users that need to write Arabic script.
Compatibility
Rumors suggest that iOS 26 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, but it will run on all other iPhones that support iOS 18.
While these iPhones will support iOS 26, advanced features may be limited to newer iPhones with faster processors. Apple Intelligence in iOS 18, for example, only runs on the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 16 models.
Read More
More info on all of the rumored features that we know about so far can be
found in our iOS 26 roundup.
WWDC 2025 Keynote
Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple will live stream the event on its website, on YouTube, and in the TV app.
If you're not able to watch live, we'll have a live blog and coverage of the announcements here at MacRumors, plus we'll be live tweeting the event
on the MacRumorsLive account.
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WWDC 2025: iOS 26 Rumored Features" first appeared on
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