Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote brought several notable design changes and new features to its latest operating systems. The company’s new “Liquid Glass” design language aims to make the digital feel more natural and alive. This feature is available across iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS, and visionOS, with a focus on creating an immersive experience.
A major redesign of common components system-wide allows Apple to rethink elements like bottom bars and menus. Instead of traditional top-bottom layouts, floating pills and FABs (floating action buttons) are introduced, which provide more space for content. The new design also eliminates the need for alerts to span across the entire screen, instead displaying them from where you tap.
Context menus now expand into easily scannable lists, further enhancing the user experience. Apple’s goal is to create a sense of familiarity while introducing fresh features. However, some critics argue that the new look and feel may lack warmth compared to Google’s Material 3 Expressive design.
iOS Call Screening + Hold Assist brings silent answering of unknown numbers and automated hold assistance for live agents. The feature automatically detects hold music and presents “Hold This Call?” as an option.
Apple Maps now includes a feature similar to Google Maps Timeline, called “Visited Places.” It tracks specific locations you’ve been to and allows searching those places. Apple touts end-to-end encryption for this feature.
The lock screen clock has also seen some changes with the introduction of Circle to Screen, integrated into the existing screenshot workflow/button combination. This feature can tap into Google Search and third-party apps, while also sending images with a prompt to ChatGPT or extracting information from captured events and adding it to calendars.
Other notable features include Digital ID creation based on US passports, which supports age and identity verification, as well as simplified camera system apps that evoke the Pixel Camera design.
Source: https://9to5google.com/2025/06/09/ios-26-android