What we anticipate together with new iOS software program updates, macOS, AI and extra

Apple‘s huge 2025 software program reveal is nearly upon us. On June 9, the Worldwide Builders’ Convention (WWDC) keynote will showcase the adjustments coming with its 2025 software program. That features — deep breath — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS.

Leaks counsel this 12 months shall be a biggie. Along with the requisite Craig Federighi gags and a California-themed identify for the newest macOS replace, anticipate a big visible overhaul — one among Apple’s largest ever — and (shocker) new Apple Intelligence options.

Visible redesign

The corporate is reportedly set to unveil a platform-wide visual overhaul. The revamp is alleged to be a dramatic change, drawing inspiration from Apple’s mixed reality headset.

In keeping with Entrance Web page Tech’s Jon Prosser, that will even include (practically) spherical icons on the house display screen and in Management Heart. He additionally famous subtler adjustments, like a redesigned tab view inside apps and the search field in Messages being moved to the underside of the display screen.

One in all Apple’s core objectives with the brand new software program is to unify the design language of its working techniques. The concept is to make it much less visually jarring to hop between gadgets. If executed nicely, leaping from iPhone to iPad to Mac (and so forth) will really feel like touring completely different flavors of the identical OS.

Apple’s final huge macOS makeover was with 2020’s Big Sur. For the iPhone’s software program, you need to go all the best way again to 2013. That is when iOS 7 kicked skeuomorphic design to the curb, replacing it with a flat, minimalistic look. Minus some iterative adjustments, it is nonetheless the UI you see right this moment.

A brand new naming scheme

Together with the massive visible refresh, Apple can also be rumored to be altering the way it names its working techniques. As an alternative of getting random model numbers on the finish, the corporate is seemingly planning to unify the names by 12 months — so iOS 19 would change into iOS 26, because it’ll be Apple’s platform for the approaching 12 months. The identical goes for all of Apple’s different software program, so we’re taking a look at iPadOS 26, macOS 26 and so forth.

After all, it goes with out saying that macOS ought to nonetheless get a California-themed identify; hopefully Apple will not be throwing that custom within the bin simply but. It will stick round, according to Bloomberg: the present rumor is that the subsequent model of macOS shall be named Tahoe.

The iPad goes to work

May 2025 be the 12 months the iPad Pro begins to really feel… Professional? The high-end variations of Apple’s pill have been greater than succesful on a {hardware} degree for generations. (Particularly after they switched to M-series chips.) However the software program has held it again. That is presumably as a result of the corporate would not need to cannibalize Mac gross sales. In spite of everything, if the iPad Professional can really exchange a laptop computer, then fewer individuals would purchase each.

The dangerous information for these wanting a full-on Mac expertise: The iPad will not swap to macOS. The excellent news: iPadOS may get much more Mac-like. This 12 months’s replace will reportedly deal with productiveness, that includes improved multitasking and app window administration.

It isn’t that Apple hasn’t inched the iPad’s software program in that route. It incrementally did so with Stage Manager in iPadOS 16. The 12 months earlier than, it added the multitasking menu on the high of app home windows. However for a lot of, these tweaks fell far in need of the full-on productiveness overhaul they craved. Will it’s sufficient this time? Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman thinks it’ll “seemingly go far sufficient” for many energy customers. (Is {that a} “Hallelujah!” I hear?)

Apple Intelligence

Even when leaks hadn’t already prompt as a lot, this one can be a no brainer. In spite of everything, AI has been each tech firm’s obsession since ChatGPT took the world by storm over two years in the past. Anticipate a wholesome portion of the keynote to be dedicated to Apple’s AI advances. These will reportedly embody enhancements to current options and some new ones.

Siri

Bear in mind when Apple promised a more personalized Siri ultimately 12 months’s convention? The one which many wished would come ahead of the visual overhaul? Properly, we’re nonetheless ready on that. The final official replace we heard was in March, when the corporate told Daring Fireball, “It may take us longer than we thought.” (Oops!) Apple expects the brand new Siri options to reach “within the coming 12 months,” a clear-as-mud description if ever there was one.

A report from The Info final month hinted that the upgraded Siri was nowhere close to prepared. The 2024 demo, the place Siri condensed minutes of multi-app planning into mere seconds, reportedly got here as a shock to staff members engaged on Siri. (By no means an encouraging signal.)

Separate reporting this month from Bloomberg sheds a bit extra mild, including that we most likely will not hear a lot about these Siri upgrades at WWDC 2025. The publication described these updates as being months away from transport. The corporate can also be reportedly separating its Apple Intelligence and Siri advertising and marketing. The logic behind that is that customers are so fed up with Apple’s assistant that it is hurting Apple’s AI push.

The corporate’s 2024 presentation was undoubtedly spectacular. It confirmed a extra context-sensitive Siri that higher understands what you are doing. It pulled data from varied apps and spliced them collectively in a seamless move. It recorded a selected kind of video in a third-party app. It shared a gathering abstract through e-mail with a teammate. And it discovered lacking data the consumer remembered studying… someplace. It even managed system settings and defined them when wanted.

The underside line: If or when Apple pulls off what it promised final 12 months, that is huge information for Siri. However do not maintain your breath for it to point out up at WWDC 2025.

In keeping with Bloomberg, the Siri updates we do see shall be a lot subtler. These would come with including the choice to make use of Gemini as an alternative of ChatGPT with the assistant.

AI battery administration

One other iOS 19 scoop factors to an Apple Intelligence function that is simple to get behind. A brand new AI-powered battery management mode will reportedly analyze how you employ your cellphone. It will probably then use that to make power-saving changes on the fly. If it really works nicely, that might be fairly nifty.

It could even be a key ingredient to a brand new machine: the “iPhone Air.” No matter Apple calls it, the rumored ultra-slim handset is anticipated to hitch Apple’s lineup this 12 months. With out this function, the cellphone’s smaller battery would possibly battle to make it by way of a typical day. (In keeping with Gurman, it could final a number of hours lower than Apple’s different iPhones.) However with the AI battery function activated, the svelte iPhone might change into extra sensible.

Will we see this slim-jim iPhone at WWDC? Properly, for example you’ve gotten nearly as good an opportunity of Valve randomly displaying as much as announce Half Life 3 at Apple’s convention. First, the svelte handset is anticipated to be part of the iPhone 17 lineup, which usually arrives round September. Second, Apple hasn’t unveiled a brand new iPhone at WWDC since Steve Jobs confirmed off the iPhone 4 in 2010. So, briefly, nope.

Digital well being coach

Apple is reportedly working on a virtual health coach. Allegedly codenamed Challenge Mulberry, the AI function would pair a refreshed Well being app with an AI-powered coach. Bloomberg says the function would, to a point, provide you with recommendation you’d often search from a health care provider.

The digital coach would gather knowledge out of your Apple gadgets and use AI to supply personalised well being recommendation, chatbot-style. Apple is reportedly coaching the AI agent with knowledge from firm physicians. In the meantime, outdoors specialists would shoot academic movies.

In March, Bloomberg‘s Gurman said the digital coach might arrive as early as iOS 19.4, which would not seemingly come till early to mid-2026. However a fast apart in a report this month from Gurman and Drake Bennett talked about that it might be some extent of focus at WWDC.

A brand new gaming app

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman is predicting that Apple will introduce a centralized, pre-installed app for gaming on the Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple TV. It will embody among the options within the long-neglected Recreation Heart service like leaderboards and matchmaking and pair them with a devoted recreation launcher and editorial content material together with suggestions —together with a push in direction of the Apple Arcade service.

Hair Power One

It would not be an Apple keynote with out some wacky Craig Federighi hijinks. Final 12 months, Apple’s software program lead strapped on a hair-shaped helmet and skydived into Apple Park. At earlier occasions, he confirmed off his parkour abilities, summoned an iPad like he is a Jedi and jammed out on a three-necked guitar.

Say what you’ll about “Hair Power One.” Federighi is aware of how one can promote a sight gag. (With possibly only a teensy little bit of assist from Apple’s visible results artists.)

Betas and launch dates

Following Apple’s typical schedule, you may anticipate the primary developer betas to reach after the convention ends. (Doubtless the identical day!) Public betas would observe early this summer season. And you may anticipate the ultimate variations of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16 and so forth to reach alongside new iPhones this fall.

What to not anticipate at WWDC

Whereas Apple’s developer convention shall be jam-packed in the event that they serve up even a fraction of the expectations above, there are some things we will fairly confidently take off the board, too.

With the attainable exception of the Mac Professional, practically all of Apple’s {hardware} strains have both simply completed an improve cycle (client Macs, most iPads) or are going to get up to date within the fall as traditional (iPhone, Apple Watch). As such, we’re not anticipating any main {hardware} bulletins. Apple has talked in regards to the Mac Professional at previous WWDC occasions, however that pc is up to date so sometimes that it is arduous to say with any confidence that we’ll see any adjustments.