Apple appears to be moving to the next-generation Qi 2.2 wireless charging standard, according to regulatory filings on Taiwan's NCC certification website. Qi2.2 is the forthcoming update to the Wireless Power Consortium's (WPC) Qi standard, building on improvements introduced with Qi 2.1.
Spotted by 91mobiles.com, the filings reveal two new MagSafe charger models – A3503 and A3502 – that support the upgraded Qi 2.2 standard. The chargers feature the familiar white puck design with braided cables in 2-meter and 1-meter lengths, respectively. The new MagSafe chargers are rated for 45W output (15V × 3A) when connected to a compatible USB-C power adapter.
It's a notable upgrade mainly because of the faster charging speed. The Qi 2 standard maxes out at 15W (although iPhone 16 models support upgraded MagSafe charging – with a 30W charger, the iPhones can charge at up to 25W). The WPC has since released the Qi 2.1 standard, but no Apple devices officially support it.
Testing documents show the chargers work with devices ranging from the iPhone 16 back to the iPhone 11, indicating the Qi 2.2 pucks will have broad compatibility with existing devices, but charging speeds are going to be limited when using older models. Devices looking to take advantage of the faster charging speeds will need a corresponding advanced charging chip, similar to Samsung's Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC).
In addition to faster charging, Qi 2.2 offers improved magnetic alignment and charging efficiency compared to its predecessor. The standard also features backward compatibility with older Qi chargers.
Apple has not officially announced these new chargers, but their appearance in Taiwan's regulatory databases indicates we're likely to see a public release in the coming months. It also increases the likelihood that the upcoming iPhone 17 models will support the new charging standard. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 lineup around September, while the broader industry is expected to launch Qi 2.2-compatible phones, chargers, and accessories later this year.
Nintendo Switch 2 has now officially released and is available for purchase online (or will be very soon – midnight ET). Years in the making, and years of waiting, it has finally happened and the next-generation of Nintendo gaming is now out in the wild. If you’re not picking up your pre-order in-store, waiting for it to land on your doorstep tomorrow morning, or lining up to buy one on location right now, Walmart and others now have the new console up for sale!
Walmart will be your best source to buy one tonight:
Today, Meta shared (via The Verge) a few new details about Aria Gen 2, its next-generation experimental smart glasses.
While they’re still not meant for consumers, the hardware show just how fast Meta is moving and how far ahead it is thinking when it comes to the future of wearables, AI, and spatial computing. It also signals how quickly Apple will have to work if it really intends to do more than simply try to catch up. Again.
We're still counting down the days until the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference, and Apple's big event is creeping closer. We haven't heard too much about what we might see in watchOS 26, but there are a few hints based on rumors, info about other updates, and features that Apple often adds to on a yearly basis.
Naming
Rather than naming the next-generation version watchOS 12, Apple is going to call it watchOS 26. All of the software updates coming this year will be numbered "26," reflecting the September 2025 to September 2026 release cycle.
watchOS 26 will launch alongside iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26, all of which are being renamed.
Design Update
The overhauled design that Apple is introducing for iOS 26 will also extend to the Apple Watch, though the changes to watchOS may not be as dramatic as the iOS 26 refresh.
With iOS 26, Apple is introducing a design referred to internally as "Solarium." As the name suggests, it focuses on a glass-like look that's actually inspired by visionOS. Buttons, search interfaces, tab bars, and windows could adopt a translucent design reminiscent of frosted glass.
Floating menus, rounder buttons, and simplified navigation have been rumored, too. watchOS already uses round app icons and buttons, so it will fit right in. Apple could adopt the Solarium look for things like the app drawer, notifications, and Control Center.
Apple's aim is a more consistent design across all of its software platforms.
New Watch Faces
If watchOS is getting a design update to match iOS 26, Apple will likely add new watch faces that are designed with the new style.
Apple Intelligence
The Apple Watch doesn't have the processing power to run Apple Intelligence on-device, but it is rumored to be getting some "powered by Apple Intelligence" features that could rely on its link to the iPhone.
There are rumors that Apple will add an AI-powered battery management feature to iPhones running iOS 26, and similar functionality would make a lot of sense for the Apple Watch. On the iPhone, the feature will analyze device usage and make optimizations to maximize battery life.
Right now, features like ChatGPT Siri integration and Writing Tools don't extend to the Apple Watch, but these are options that Apple could add. The Apple Watch also doesn't support notification summaries or content summaries in general.
AirPods Sleep Detection
The Apple Watch could integrate with the AirPods to pause content that's playing when the wearer falls asleep. It's a rumored feature for iOS 26, but the AirPods have no sleep detection functionality, so the option would need to use Apple Watch data.
Health App
Apple is developing an updated version of the Health app for launch in iOS 26, but it's not clear if we'll see it at the keynote event because it's not going to be ready right away.
Apple wants to add AI-powered health coaching features that will provide users with personalized health recommendations, and any feature like that will rely on Apple Watch data and features.
Coaching could include expert information on health conditions, fitness tips, and ways to make positive lifestyle changes.
Apple is also said to be developing a food tracking feature that would let users log what they eat throughout the day, and the Apple Watch would be a convenient way to add foods to a daily intake list.
Health Features
Apple has been developing a blood pressure monitoring feature for the Apple Watch, and if it's ready to go for the 2025 models, there could be a new blood pressure app in watchOS 26. The feature will alert users if hypertension is detected, but it won't provide specific systolic and diastolic readings.
It's not yet clear if blood pressure monitoring is ready to launch due to developmental problems, so it's something that we might not see until the 2026 Apple Watch models.
Fitness
Apple typically adds new workout types and features with new watchOS releases. One area that's lacking is strength training, and Apple Watch users need to download third-party apps for counting reps. That's something that the Apple Watch could get in the future. Apple has patented a method for rep tracking that uses the iPhone's camera.
Safety
In 2024, Apple submitted a patent for an Apple Watch feature that would be able to determine when the wearer is drowning, which would be a logical addition to crash detection and fall detection. There's no word that Apple has plans to launch this feature in watchOS 26, but it's something that's in the works behind the scenes.
WWDC 2025 Event Info
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.
OpenAI is full steam ahead in its plan to turn ChatGPT into a true productivity assistant, especially for teams and small businesses. Starting today, these users will get access to a new Record Mode and cloud drive integration. Here’s how it works.
Apple will not be able to walk back the anti-steering App Store changes it was ordered to implement in May while the legal process plays out, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said today. That means Epic Games, Spotify, Patreon, and others will be able to continue to direct customers to web purchase options that are available outside of the App Store, and Apple won't be able to collect fees on those web purchases.
Shortly after being forced to update its U.S. App Store rules to support external purchase links, Apple filed an emergency motion with the appeals court. Apple wanted to be able to hold off on implementing the new rules until it was able to mount a full appeal, but the appeals court denied the motion.
To be granted a stay, Apple needed to prove that its appeal is likely to succeed and that it would be irreparably injured without a stay, while the court also needed to consider whether the stay would injure other parties and where public interest lies. The court said that after "reviewing the relevant factors" it has not been persuaded that a stay is appropriate.
Apple argued that the original order was "extraordinary" and forced it to "give away free access" to Apple products and services, including intellectual property. Apple said that it should be able to collect commission on external purchase links and control the way those links look, both of which are currently prohibited. Apple claimed that keeping the App Store rules as is will cost it "hundreds of millions to billions" of dollars annually.
The App Store changes that Apple implemented in the U.S. are a result of the ongoing Apple vs. Epic Games legal battle that started in 2020. The judge overseeing the case originally ordered Apple to tweak the App Store rules to allow developers to direct customers to web purchase options instead of using in-app purchases. Apple complied after a multi-year appeals process, but levied 12 to 27 percent fees on developers who opted to do so and implemented strict rules around link styling.
Epic Games protested Apple's implementation, and the judge sided with Epic. In a scathing ruling, Apple was ordered to immediately change its U.S. App Store rules. As of now, Apple is not allowed to charge any fee on purchases that consumers make outside of an app, nor is it allowed to restrict the language or design that developers use for buttons or links to web purchase options.
Update: Apple has responded to the ruling with a statement provided to 9to5Mac, saying it “strongly disagrees” with the court’s opinion. You can find the full statement below.
Apple has just taken yet another hit in its ongoing legal standoff with Epic Games. As reported by Reuters, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Apple’s emergency request to pause key parts of a lower court order that forces the company to immediately open its App Store to greater competition.
Believe it or not, we are less than a week away from the announcement of iOS 26. Ahead of that launch, rumors about new iOS 26 features, supported devices, and more have started to surface. Here’s everything we know so far.
As Apple continues its years-long breakup with Qualcomm, the chipmaker’s CEO says he is already looking beyond the iPhone, as he tries to reassure investors that the company’s long-term plans don’t depend on Cupertino’s roadmap.
WhatsApp is getting its own version of OpenAI’s Custom GPTs, Google Gemini’s Gems, and so on. These are custom-made chatbots that can be created without a single line of code and with whom the user can have conversations afterward.
Severance’s season 2 finale left viewers reeling when it aired earlier this year, leading to a lot of questions about what’s coming for Mark S. and company in season 3. Here’s everything we know so far about Severance season 3 on Apple TV+.
This year, Apple TV 4K stands to capitalize on the growing success of Apple TV+ with both new hardware and software coming. tvOS 26 will be the next major software update, and these three features are expected to be announced next week.
The iOS 26 and macOS 26 updates could bring several new features to the AirPods, including sleep detection features and camera control options, reports 9to5Mac. The AirPods features would be introduced through firmware updates that would accompany Apple's new software.
Here's what's rumored:
New head gestures - Apple could add new head gestures, such as a gesture for adjusting the volume of Conversation Awareness. Last year, Apple added a nod and a head shake to answer or decline calls.
Auto-pause for sleep - The AirPods could pause audio when the wearer falls asleep, presumably using sleep data gleaned from the Apple Watch, as the AirPods have no sleep detection functionality.
Camera trigger - Apple is planning to add trigger functionality to the AirPods, capturing an image on a linked iPhone with a press on the AirPods stem. It's possible this might work with a timer so the iPhone user isn't touching an ear when the photo is taken.
Microphone enhancement - AirPods could get a "studio quality" microphone mode that's similar to the Audio Mix feature on iPhone that lets users choose from sound recording options like studio and cinematic.
Better pairing - Apple is apparently working on a feature that would improve how AirPods pair with shared iPads for use in the classroom.
It is not clear if these rumored features would work across all AirPods models or if some features might be limited to the AirPods Pro. 9to5Mac warns that Apple could "choose to delay or tweak" the AirPods features before they are announced.
Apple is also expected to introduce a live translate feature for the AirPods, which would translate in-person conversations from one language to another.
Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote kicks off on Monday, June 9, and Apple plans to unveil iOS 26 and macOS 26. That's where we're likely to hear additional details about any new AirPods functionality that's coming alongside the software updates.
As noted by 404 Media, Apple has quietly updated its Transparency Report page with data from January through June 2024, revealing some interesting trends in the cat-and-mouse game between the company and worldwide governments regarding our data.
Yesterday, 9to5Mac exclusively reported a handful of iOS 26 features that Apple has been working on and may announce on WWDC for its native apps. Today, we are sharing five previously unreported features that may also be announced as early as Monday, during the keynote.
Everyone knows the iPhone is Apple’s most popular product. But per a newly published study, what you might not have known is how well the iPad stacks up to Apple’s top seller, and laps the Mac’s popularity at the same time.
In the aftermath of a meeting between Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade and Apple’s Director of Government Affairs for the Middle East and Pakistan, Egypt is hoping to convince Apple to expand its footprint in the country.
Among all the big and small iOS 26 features expected next week, there’s one rumored change that we’re unlikely to hear about from Apple: the ability to replace Siri. That’s because this ‘nuclear option’ is being mandated against Apple’s will, and will be limited in reach—at least for now.
Apple's efforts to bring Apple Intelligence to the critical Chinese market have been stymied by tension resulting from the tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump put in place, reports Financial Times.
To deploy Apple Intelligence features in China, Apple is working with Alibaba, and the two companies have not yet received regulatory approval in China for the AI products that Apple wants to debut. China's Cyberspace Administration (CAC) must test and approve all AI models before companies can roll out AI services in China, and that's where the process has stalled.
CAC is delaying application approval due to "increasing political uncertainties" between the United States and China. Trump significantly increased tariffs on goods imported from China back in April, and fees reached 145 percent. Apple was exempted from some of the tariffs and the tariffs were later paused for 90 days, but the trade war has been escalating in recent days as the U.S. and China have failed to reach a deal.
Earlier this week, China said that the U.S. had "severely violated" a trade agreement that had been reached at a Geneva meeting in May by limiting sales of jet engine and semiconductor design software to Chinese companies, controlling chip exports, and canceling Visas for Chinese students. Trump claimed that China violated the deal by refusing to roll back some tariffs and restrictions for critical minerals needed for chip production, and he announced plans to raise tariffs on steel back to 50 percent on June 4. Earlier today, he further said that President Xi is "very tough" and "extremely hard to make a deal with."
Chinese regulations prevent Apple from using its own AI technology for Apple Intelligence, so Apple is planning to use models developed by Alibaba. Because of the restrictions, Apple has faced delays expanding Apple Intelligence to China, which is a key market. Chinese smartphone manufacturers like Huawei and Xiaomi have a suite of AI features available for customers, which puts Apple far behind in the AI race in the country.
The Trump administration is "considering" putting Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu on an entity list that would prevent them from engaging in trade with the United States, according to The New York Times. If that happens, Apple will face further issues trying to bring Apple Intelligence to China. The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security has raised concerns about Apple's plans to partner with Alibaba as well.
Rumors suggest that Apple plans to debut Apple Intelligence in China in an iOS 18.6 update, but it is not clear if that is still going to happen nor do we know when we might get iOS 18.6 due to the approval delays. It has been three weeks since the launch of iOS 18.5, and Apple's beta updates usually come just a few days after a software release.
Apple Intelligence is available in almost every part of the world, with China the lone exception. But it’s not for lack of effort on Apple’s part. According to a new report, it seems that Chinese regulatory holdups are behind the ongoing AI delays.
Apple is rumored to be working on a smart home hub that has been nicknamed the "HomePad." The device is expected to have a square iPad-like screen that can be attached to a HomePod-like speaker base, or it can be mounted on a wall.
We know, it probably won't look like this
One question on the minds of Apple fans: will the HomePad be previewed at WWDC next week?
In his Power On newsletter last weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple has no major new devices ready to ship, so it appears that the HomePad will not be launching soon. However, Apple could still provide an early preview of the device at WWDC 2025, providing developers with ample time to prepare for its release.
To be clear, there are no rumors indicating that Apple does plan to preview the HomePad next week, but surprises happen sometimes.
Keep in mind that in November 2024, Gurman reported that the first-generation HomePad would not have an App Store, but Apple could still release a set of developer APIs for the device. WWDC 2025 would be a fitting moment to do that.
Apple has a long history of announcing all-new product categories many months in advance of those products launching. The original iPhone was announced in January 2007, ahead of a June 2007 release. The original Apple Watch was unveiled in September 2014, and it launched in April 2015. The original HomePod launched in February 2018, eight months after being introduced at WWDC 2017. There are many other examples.
In March, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the HomePod with a screen would enter mass production in the third quarter of 2025. If that timeframe remains accurate, then a WWDC 2025 preview really could make sense.
In addition, the upcoming iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, and watchOS 26 updates are all rumored to feature sleek new glass-like designs, and that look will likely extend to the HomePad's software. Apple could show it all off at once.
This is all speculation, of course, and we do not want to get anyone's hopes up. WWDC 2025 is generally not expected to have any hardware announcements, but perhaps the timing might just be right for a "sleek peek" at the HomePad.
Apple's smart home hub is rumored to feature a 6-inch or 7-inch display, and an A18 chip. It would allow users to control smart home accessories, make FaceTime video calls, use Apple's intercom feature between rooms in a house, and more. It might even double as a home security system with an Apple-designed camera.
Even if the HomePad is shown off at WWDC, it might not ship for many months, as Apple delayed the personalized Siri features that are expected to be core to the device. We might have to wait for those features to be ready before getting our hands on the home hub. A release by some point next year seems likely at this point.
Apple's keynote begins on Monday at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.
Apple is reportedly preparing its next iPad Pro for release later this year. Rumored new features are scarce other than the M5 chip, but there’s good reason to believe Apple plans to lean hard on one specific strength with its new iPad Pro: versatility.
Apple's Live Photos, introduced in 2015, are photos that capture 1.5 seconds of video before and after you take a picture, with the aim of adding a little bit of life and movement to still images.
Since introducing Live Photos, Apple has added some effects to its Photos app that let you turn them into fun animated clips, which you can then share with family, friends, or the wider world.
There are three effects in total that you can try on your own Live Photos. Loop repeats the action in a continuous looping video, Bounce rewinds the action backward and forward, and Long Exposure simulates a DSLR-like long exposure effect by blurring motion.
The following steps show how you can apply them to your own Live Photos on iPhone and iPad.
Open the Photos app and select a Live Photo. (If you look under "Media Types" in the Albums section, you'll find all of your Live Photos collated in a folder of the same name.)
With the Live Photo open, tap the LIVE icon in the top-left corner of the interface.
From the dropdown menu that appears, choose from Live (the default), Loop, Bounce, Long Exposure, and Off.
The effect you choose will be applied immediately, ready for you to share your creation using the Share icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
It's worth noting that with Live Photos, if you get a blurry image, you can open it up and see if other frames you captured are clearer, and then select a replacement "key photo" for it. Click the link to learn how it's done.
iOS 26 will be compatible with the iPhone 11 and newer, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing iOS-related information.
We are unable to identify the source, but we consider them to be very reliable.
If this rumor proves to be accurate, iOS 18 will be the final version that supports the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. However, the devices will continue to receive security updates for the foreseeable future, even after iOS 26 is released.
iOS 26 would be compatible with the following iPhone models, per this rumor:
iPhone 16e
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
Of course, iOS 26 will also be compatible with all future iPhone 17 models.
As usual, some features will be unavailable on older iPhone models. For example, Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.
Last year, the same account accurately leaked iOS 18 compatibility details, so there is a good chance that their latest information is true.
Anker this week introduced a big collection of discounts on numerous charging accessories on Amazon, with devices like MagSafe-compatible chargers and portable power stations that make perfect Father's Day gifts. Some of these deals will require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the final sale price, and some others will require a Prime membership.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
It's also worth noting that MacRumors readers can still get 20 percent off a collection of Anker's best charging accessories over on Anker's website. In order to get this deal, head to Anker's website and add an accessory to your cart, then enter the code Ankermacrumors2025 at checkout to see the discount.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Next week, Apple will unveil major new software updates including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26, but rumors indicate these releases will drop support for a variety of existing devices. Here are the iPhones, Macs, and iPad that may miss out on the latest software.
Two payment companies have teamed up to let developers sell in-app purchases outside the App Store, offering a single service that works across iOS and web.
Even small businesses can save money on the deal, paying 10% on payments of under $10, and 5% plus $0.50 above that threshold. For users, the experience is almost as seamless as Apple’s own system when you opt to use Apple Pay …
Phishing isn’t going away, especially in the enterprise. GenAI has made it easier to spin up realistic scams with voice matching, etc. MFA codes aren’t perfect if you end up handing them over. Coinbase reported a massive loss of customer data, and that has created a whole host of problems. That’s why what Dashlane just announced is very timely, because it takes phishing off the table completely. Dashlane’s latest update brings us a big step closer to a world where phishing just doesn’t work. Dashlane is now letting customers unlock their vaults with FIDO2 security keys like a or Google Titan Key instead of a “master password”.
iOS 26 is expected to feature a sleeker, glass-like design with added translucency for app icons, menus, buttons, and other elements.
Sound Recognition for Crying Babies
CarPlay gained support for Sound Recognition with iOS 18 last year. The accessibility feature can alert drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing to horns and sirens outside of the vehicle, such as from a police car, ambulance, or fire truck.
Last month, Apple previewed new accessibility features coming in iOS 26, including an expansion of Sound Recognition for CarPlay. With the update, the feature will be able to provide a notification if it hears a crying baby inside the vehicle.
Apple said CarPlay will also be getting a Large Text option, which has long existed on iPhones.
Reddit has announced the ability to curate your profile, tailoring what is shown to users in different subreddits. You can, for example, choose to display posts and comments from some communities, while hiding those from others.
Apple Music could get more visual flair in iOS 26 with full-screen animated artwork coming to the Lock Screen, according to 9to5Mac.
The rumored feature would expand on recent changes to the Lock Screen's Now Playing view. Currently, maximized album artwork from the Now Playing widget tints the entire interface, creating a more immersive experience when controlling music playback.
iOS 26 appears set to take that concept further by introducing animated artwork that fills the entire Lock Screen, making album covers and other visuals more dynamic and engaging.
The new iOS 26 features are expected to be unveiled at the WWDC keynote event on Monday, June 9. It starts at 10:00 a.m. and while Apple will livestream it, if you can't watch, you can follow along here on MacRumors.com or on our MacRumorsLive X account. For everything else we're anticipating, check out our iOS 26 roundup.
At The Information’s The Future of Influence event on Tuesday, Substack co-founder and CEO Chris Best praised recent changes to Apple’s App Store policies, calling them “fantastic”, and a major win for independent media.
While current wireless charging has its benefits, that just moves the visible wire from the device to the charging pad. The long-term dream is long-distance invisible wireless power transmission, and a new video demonstrates that we can take a big step closer to that today.
The setup embeds a large charging loop beneath the desk itself, enabling a keyboard, mouse, speakers – and even a monitor – to be powered without a cable or charging pad in sight …
Apple's Notes app is rumored to be getting limited Markdown support in iOS 26 and macOS 26, according to 9to5Mac. The feature would allow users to export text in the markdown format.
Markdown is a lightweight markup language that some writers prefer to use over rich text. Rather than using HTML for bold, italics, links, and headers, Markdown uses quick character shortcuts like **bold** or #header. It sounds like the feature will only add support for exporting text with markdown formatting and not writing in markdown directly.
Designer Sebastiaan de With has published an impressive preview of what Apple's rumored iOS redesign might look like, complete with detailed mockups and a design philosophy that he believes could reshape how users interact with their devices.
With WWDC just days away, de With – co-founder of photography app maker Lux and former Apple designer – has created what he calls "Living Glass" concepts that imagine interfaces matching the material properties of Apple's glass-screened devices.
"Philosophically, if I was Apple, I'd describe this as finally having an interface that matches the beautiful material properties of its devices," de With writes. "This brings an interface of a matching material, giving the user a feeling of the glass itself coming alive."
The designer's vision extends far beyond cosmetic changes, however. Using visionOS as a cue, De With proposes a fundamental shift toward "physicality" – interfaces that behave like real materials through dynamic lighting, reflections, and environmental responsiveness.
Tracing iOS Evolution
To provide historical context to his vision, De With traces iOS design through three distinct eras. He identifies the "Shaded Age," running from iPhone OS through iOS 6, that relied heavily on skeuomorphism, using realistic textures and shadows to help users transition from physical buttons to touchscreens.
Then came the so-called "Flat Age," beginning with iOS 7's controversial redesign, which stripped away visual effects in favor of clean typography and minimal chrome. It was initially stark, but de With notes that iOS gradually regained depth through blur effects and subtle shadows over the years.
Now, de With sees hints of a third era emerging through features like Dynamic Island and the new Siri animation – elements that behave like physical materials rather than static graphics.
"We've come back, in a sense, to skeuomorphic interfaces – but this time not with a lacquer resembling a material," he explains. "Instead, the interface is clear, graphic and behaves like things we know from the real world."
Glass as Interface Material
The designer's "Living Glass" concept treats all UI elements as dynamic glass surfaces that reflect, refract, and respond to their environment, so buttons cast realistic shadows, reflect bright content, and exhibit properties like surface tension when merging together.
As he sees it, the approach would create a visual hierarchy through different glass treatments, such as glossy elements for primary actions, frosted surfaces for secondary controls, and inlaid elements that appear embedded in the screen itself.
De With's mockups show tab bars floating above content, app icons with dynamic reflections, and controls that emerge from background surfaces when activated. As envisioned, the system would handle these effects automatically, ensuring consistency across all apps.
The designer points to recent changes to iOS to support his theory, such as Apple's work on automatic icon masking in iOS 18, as evidenced in Dark Mode and tinted icon effects on an identical black gradient icon backdrop. De With suggests these could be preparation for more dynamic backdrops.
Beyond Visual Polish
De With argues that current design tools like Figma are unable to create the dynamic lighting and responsive behaviors that he envisions, and that could potentially give Apple a competitive advantage if it's difficult to replicate.
His concepts also echo Apple's broader design philosophy of hardware-software integration. For example, just as early Mac OS X's translucent Aqua interface complemented colorful iMac enclosures, "Living Glass" could make software feel native to glass-screened devices.
De With isn't blind to the challenges in bringing such complexity to a platform used by millions of third-party developers, but he argues there are parallels to Apple's previous platform transitions, which ultimately raised the bar for interface design across the industry.
WWDC Expectations
Recent reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman describe Apple's coming redesign as featuring "glassy" effects inspired by visionOS. Apple has also tagged WWDC as its "sleek peek" event.
Whether Apple's actual plans match de With's vision remains to be seen. But his detailed reasoning should be enough to make even the most cynical Apple device users excited about what the company is set to preview next week for iOS 26 and its other operating systems.
"Only Apple can push the state of the art to a new interface that brings the glass of your screen to life," de With concludes. "We'll see at WWDC." For more insight into the design philosophy that inspired his concepts, be sure to check out De With's full write-up over at the Lux Camera website.
If you want to promote the idea of buying refurbished tech rather than new, displaying your message on one of the world’s most iconic Apple Stores is a pretty good way to do it. Back Market projected its message on the exterior wall of London’s Covent Garden Store.
The projected message “Let’s end fast tech” is arguably mis-targeted, as Apple products are generally known for their longevity, but Back Market is calling for more thoughtful purchases and better re-use of discarded tech …
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.
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.
The iOS 26 Messages app will include a new translate feature, according to 9to5Mac. Messages will apparently be able to automatically translate incoming and outgoing messages when you're conversing with someone who speaks another language.
You can already long press on an incoming message and choose the translate option to translate it to another language, but it seems the process could be sped up with automatic translation options.
Apple is also said to be planning to add an option for a polls in the Messages, which would allow people in group chats to vote. The polls option could be powered by Apple Intelligence, with Apple suggesting polling categories.
9to5Mac claims that Apple is also working on several other features:
Music - Full screen animated art on the Lock Screen.
Notes - Markdown export support.
CarPlay - Updated user interface to match iOS 26.
All of the new features in iOS 26 will be unveiled at the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference, which is set to begin next week.
Connexion
We know, it probably won't look like this
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A render of iOS 26's alleged redesigned Camera app, from Front Page Tech
