Introduction:
At 1:00 a.m. Beijing time on June 10, when Tim Cook lit up the frosted-glass-textured Apple logo at center stage of the Apple Park campus, an annual software extravaganza officially kicked off under the name “Sleek Peek.” The WWDC25 keynote focused squarely on software, bringing new generation updates to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. These updates not only demonstrate Apple’s deep expertise in software design and functionality optimization but also signal the direction of the Apple ecosystem’s development in the months to come.
I. Design Overhaul: Liquid Glass Redefines Visual Language
At WWDC25, Apple announced the largest-scale design update to date with the launch of its new design language: Liquid Glass. This design features the optical properties of glass combined with Apple’s unique fluid responsiveness. It represents Apple’s most significant visual language iteration since it abandoned skeuomorphic design in iOS 7 (2013). The update spans all major platforms—iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
Liquid Glass blurs the boundary between hardware and software, allowing interface elements to adapt based on content and context, significantly improving clarity and intuitive control.
Inspired directly by the spatial interface concept of visionOS, the new design introduces three core elements:
- Optical Texture: Interface elements simulate glass-like transparency and refraction, dynamically changing with content and ambient lighting.
- Fluid Responsiveness: Icons and controls respond to user gestures (swipes, taps) with physical feedback resembling surface tension of liquid.
- Depth Layering: Layered translucent frosted glass effects create a sense of visual depth.
For example, in iOS 26, the Camera app interface has been dramatically simplified—only the core photo/video button remains, with settings moved to the top, resulting in a cleaner, more intuitive layout. Safari now offers a full-screen browsing experience with floating tab bars and control menus styled with Liquid Glass elements, delivering a more immersive feel. Apple Watch also received a visual upgrade—watchOS 26 now features more vivid, dynamic displays in watch faces and apps.
This new design language opens a fresh chapter in Apple’s design aesthetics and sets a new tone for users’ daily interactions.
II. System Naming Unified: Simplified Logic, Enhanced Recognition
At this conference, Apple also announced a major change to system version naming. All platforms will now adopt the unified version number “26”—iOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, macOS 26, visionOS 26, and iPadOS 26. The reason for using “26” rather than “25” is that this system version will carry through into 2026.
This unification simplifies Apple’s previously complex versioning scheme, reducing user confusion across platforms and enhancing understanding of the Apple ecosystem as a whole. It also reflects Apple’s long-term planning in system architecture.
III. System Function Upgrades: Enhanced Experience, Expanded Boundaries
1. iOS 26: Feature-Rich, Smart Upgrades
With its new name, iOS 26 introduces a comprehensive redesign. The entire system adopts the Liquid Glass visual theme. Time displays and controls are redesigned around this style—time digits dynamically resize based on spatial constraints, adapting visually in real time.
Functionally, Apple Intelligence has been enhanced, introducing real-time translation capabilities now built into Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, enabling real-time multilingual conversations processed on-device. Visual intelligence is also improved—not only via camera but also through screenshot analysis, allowing users to search for similar products or query visible content via ChatGPT.
The Phone app has been redesigned, consolidating Favorites, Recent Calls, and Voicemail. It now supports call filtering. A brand-new standalone “Games” app debuts, integrating game news, Apple Arcade titles, and social challenges—a one-stop platform for gaming enthusiasts.
2. watchOS 26: Smarter Fitness Guidance
Along with its new design, watchOS 26 adds the Workout Buddy feature powered by Apple Intelligence. It provides personalized voice coaching based on heart rate and other metrics, making workouts more scientific and efficient.
The Smart Stack has been upgraded with improved predictive algorithms, offering quicker access to frequently used functions and boosting overall usability.
3. tvOS 26: Polished Design, Enhanced Experience
The core change in tvOS 26 is also the adoption of the Liquid Glass design, providing a more refined and fluid visual experience that enhances Apple TV’s appeal in living room entertainment setups.
4. visionOS 26: Ongoing Optimization, Expanding Applications
visionOS 26 upgrades the Vision Pro experience. Although detailed changes were not fully disclosed, improvements are expected in interaction design, app ecosystem integration, and further exploration of AR/VR potential for consumer markets.
5. iPadOS 26: Productivity Breakthrough
iPadOS 26 makes a huge leap in multitasking, introducing a new windowing system. Users can now freely resize app windows and operate like on macOS. A new Exposé view lets users quickly browse all open apps, significantly boosting workflow efficiency.
The Files app has also been improved—it now supports custom folder colors and icons, and users can drag and drop files directly into the Dock. The lightweight Preview app from macOS is now ported to iPadOS, allowing for seamless PDF viewing, annotation, and editing.
These updates position the iPad further along the road to becoming a professional productivity tool that meets the needs of advanced users.
6. Developer Support: Foundation Framework Fuels Innovation
Apple announced that Apple Intelligence APIs will now be open to all apps. Through a new foundational model framework called Foundation, developers will be able to more easily integrate AI capabilities into their applications.
This move gives developers powerful tools to build more innovative, intelligent apps, enriching Apple’s app ecosystem and increasing overall competitiveness.
Conclusion
From a market perspective, Apple’s WWDC25 software updates carry significant implications. The new design language and robust functional upgrades are likely to increase user satisfaction and brand loyalty—especially in the highly competitive markets for smartphones, tablets, and wearables—further solidifying Apple’s market position.
The unified system naming and developer support also lay a solid foundation for the long-term development of Apple’s ecosystem.
However, challenges remain. Although Apple has improved its AI features, its progress appears cautious compared to more aggressive investments by competitors in the AI domain. Some features—such as split-screen multitasking and translation—have been criticized as lagging behind Android.
Additionally, the discontinuation of support for some older devices may spark dissatisfaction among long-time users.
Overall, WWDC25 demonstrates Apple’s ongoing innovation in software. Through design overhaul and function refinement, it delivers an upgraded experience for users and expanded creative space for developers. As the new system rolls out, we look forward to Apple’s ecosystem exerting greater influence across sectors—and hope to see Apple accelerate its pace in cutting-edge areas like artificial intelligence, bringing even more surprises to its users.
[Disclaimer]: The above content reflects analysis of publicly available information, expert insights, and BCC research. It does not constitute investment advice. BCC is not responsible for any losses resulting from reliance on the views expressed herein. Investors should exercise caution.