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The largest visual change can be found in the Liquid Glass design language. It looks like a see-through liquid that reflects its environment and changes with motion. All the icons, buttons, sliders, and notifications now look more unified and well-designed. There are now more intelligent navigation features, with toolbars that rearrange and interfaces that disappear when they’re not in use.

At the 2025 Worldwide Developer Conference, Apple focused on making improvements rather than introducing big changes. Nearly every device in Apple’s family, including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26, received updates with the latest releases. Instead of a big revolution, the updates provided practical changes that improved daily life.

iOS 26: Subtle upgrades, big impact

iPhone now offers more helpful features for daily living. The Phone app combines your favourites, recent calls, and voicemail messages into one. Having a call screening and hold assist feature reduces exposure to spam and saves you from long waits. Now, you can tell apart messages from people you don’t know and use the option to make polls or add special backgrounds to your chats. The lock screen changes according to your chosen wallpaper.

Visual intelligence is present from the start. Highlight some text and ask ChatGPT for further information. Adding events or translating information takes place right on your device. It helps your phone become both visually appealing and more intelligent.

iPadOS 26: Multitasking finally gets serious

The Preview app arrives on iPad now, so you can use a Pencil to mark up PDFs and fill in forms. Now, background tasks can work even when you close the related app. The iPad is now more similar to a real laptop than ever before.

iPad users can now enjoy the biggest boost in productivity ever. Now, you can open several windows, move them around, resize them, and use them in the same way you would on a desktop. The Exposé view displays all open windows, and the Files app allows you to use different backgrounds for folders, add them to the dock, and collapse their sections.

macOS 26 Tahoe: Refinement, not redesign

The Mac version of Liquid Glass looks the best out of all the versions. The menu bar is see-through, folders can be coloured as you wish, and icons follow the chosen theme. The Control Centre has more options, while the Dock is easier to use. Search results in Spotlight are now more accurate and include direct actions.

Apple is making it simpler for Macs and iPhones to work together. The menu bar presents the option for live flight or ride tracking, and you can handle calls from your Mac, including turning them down. Metal 4 brings improved gaming, and Apple Games is a new way to keep track of and manage your games.

The new design unlocks even more ways to personalize the Mac. (Image Credit: Apple)

watchOS 26: More personal, less distraction

Apple Watch also uses Liquid Glass for its display. Better context in widgets and more voice help from Workout Buddy make the app seem like a true fitness coach. A simple wrist flick can dismiss alerts on your Apple Watch, which is useful for those who use their watch a lot.

Smarter system intelligence everywhere

Recurrently, Apple is adding smarter intelligence to its products. Features like translation during calls and messages, smart emoji, visual recognition, and local automation are the most notable. Everything is handled on your device to ensure your privacy. AI tools can now be included directly in the development of an app.

Safari states that it loads websites at a quicker rate than Chrome. AirPods allow you to start recording videos by just tapping them. No matter where you are, you can use the Journal app, and the calculator app now features 3D graphing. Apple TV’s Sing mode now lets you use your iPhone as a microphone for karaoke. Braille and audio features are both improved with the new updates.

visionOS 26: Breaking isolation

The updates in visionOS 26 aim to reduce the sense of isolation that comes with using a VR headset. Spatial widgets will always remain where you put them in your room. Generative AI helps photos look more real by giving them extra depth and layers. People can enjoy the same games together by being in the same room. PlayStation VR2 and other external controllers are designed to transform the Vision Pro into a true gaming device.

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