From iPadOS 26 to macOS 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26: A Complete Guide to Apple’s Biggest Announcements at WWDC 2025

Apple hosted its highly anticipated yearly event, WWDC 2025, today, unveiling a wave of significant software updates as well as hardware glimpses. It is the company’s 36th annual Worldwide Developers Conference that came with several essential updates.

While iOS 26 stole much of the spotlight, Apple brought equally important and sweeping changes to iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26.

macOS 26 Tahoe

At the 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple unveiled the next-generation version of macOS, macOS 26. Developers will get access to the macOS 26 beta right away which is actually a beginning of the period of thorough testing before the official release.

The macOS 26 brought the fresh and translucent design similar to the iOS 26 with navigation bars, windows, and other interface elements adopting a floating and layered look. In addition, this new design features a glossy, glass-like effect where menus and buttons seem to reflect light.

We will witness rounded corners on buttons, menus, and navigation bars and it will become more prominent, creating a softer and more modern appearance. This extends across both macOS and iOS.

Other than these updates, the tech giant is bringing a fresh new look along with a completely transparent menu bar. This will give users more screen space and clean interface. Continuity features are updates and enhanced so that users can interact between Mac and other Apple devices seamlessly. In addition, Live activities are now extending to macOS.

Talking about the Phone app, it finally arrives on Mac and hence this will make calls and managing contacts easier than before. Now, users will be able to automate their tasks more efficiently with some of the intelligent actions that are powered by the Shortcut app.

Spotlight App:

iPadOS 26: Mac-Like Multitasking Meets a Glossy New Look

With the arrival of the iPadOS 26, the Apple made sure that it is bringing the iPad experience even closer to the Mac that too not just visually but also in its functionality too. At the core of the new iPadOS 26 lies the new Liquid Glass UI, a new interface design that takes cues from VisionOS. There are floating toolbars, glassy backgrounds, and refined animations under the iPadOS 26 that actually gives the entire system a futuristic and immersive feel.

One of the most essential additions is the persistent menu bar, that’s already available in Mac. This makes easier to access core functions without hunting through hidden gestures. Additionally, the developers and users will also be benefit due to the better app window management and smoother multitasking.

iPadOS 26 takes a significant leap forward in turning the iPad into a more capable productivity device. Users can now open more windows at once, offering better multitasking and improved app navigation. Pointer support is more refined, making trackpad and mouse use feel smoother and more natural.

For better organization, folders can now be added directly to the dock, helping users access frequently used files and apps faster. Apple is also bringing the Preview app from macOS to iPadOS, allowing users to view and annotate PDFs and images with desktop-level ease.

In a major creative upgrade, users can now record studio-quality vocals using AirPods, ideal for musicians and podcasters on the go. iPadOS 26 also introduces Local Capture, letting apps access the microphone, camera, or screen while operating in the background.

These background tasks are now reflected as Live Activities, giving users real-time progress updates. All of these changes bring iPadOS even closer to bridging the gap between tablet and full-fledged computer.

watchOS 26: Simpler Navigation and Smarter Health Insights

Apple’s smartwatch software gets a major overhaul in watchOS 26 and hence making it visually refined but also more capable. Like other platforms, it also embraces the Liquid Glass aesthetic along with a translucent UI. There are reworked Control Center, and support for rounder, more tactile-looking icons.

What makes watchOS 26 stand out is its enhanced focus on health and wellness. New health metrics now offer energy recovery insights, improved sleep tracking, and even blood pressure estimation, which marks a significant step in the Apple Watch’s evolution into a true health companion.

Not just this, Apple also introduced new accessibility tools including Live Captions for audio content. There is also an addition of easier navigation option for users with mobility differences. The tech giant introduced smarter notifications that prioritize urgency based on context. The quick replies are now powered by on-device AI to suggest better responses.

tvOS 26: Sleek Design, Smarter Content

Apple didn’t leave out tvOS 26 either and hence it is also equipped with the Liquid glass inspired visuals to your home screen, making menus and overlays feel more elegant and immersive. This update not just enhances the visual quality, but it also enhances the system settings that too keeping the interface fast and responsive.

One of the key upgrades in tvOS 26 is the integration of Apple Intelligence for smarter content suggestions and voice interactions. In addition, there is parental control settings that can keep a track of what kids are watching. Siri on Apple TV now understands more nuanced queries. It can also suggest content across apps based on your recent activity or preferences.

visionOS 26:

Apple Vision Pro brings a fresh wave of innovation with its new widget system, allowing quick access to music, photos, and more all within the Widgets app. Photos can transform dynamically, thanks to advanced AI algorithms that make images more lifelike, while Vision OS now remembers your spatial scenes for a seamless experience. The introduction of a new Spatial Gallery app enhances how you interact with your media in 3D space.

Personas in visionOS 26 receive major upgrades, becoming more realistic with detailed hair, eyelashes, and natural features, making interactions feel authentic. These enhanced Personas enable deeper social connections, letting you and your friends watch movies, play games, and share experiences together in immersive virtual spaces.

Collaboration with GoPro, Insta360, and Canon

With VisionOS 26, Adobe introduces powerful new capabilities by partnering with GoPro, Insta360, and Canon, allowing users to seamlessly embed 3D objects into their creative projects. The update features spatial browsing, enabling intuitive navigation through 3D environments. Adobe’s Jupiter environment further enhances this experience by providing a rich, immersive space for designing, editing, and interacting with digital content.