iOS 26 Rumors That Came True at WWDC - Apple News

iOS 26: Rumors Confirmed After WWDC 2025

Apple officially presented iOS 26 during the WWDC 2025 event held on Monday. Prior to the unveiling, numerous speculations circulated regarding the operating system’s name, potential features like a specialized gaming application, and the inclusion of a virtual health assistant.

Key Rumors That Became Reality

A compilation of the most prominent features anticipated for iOS 26, which were subsequently confirmed, is presented below. For comprehensive details, our live coverage of the keynote address is available for review.

The pre-release period saw significant discussion surrounding potential enhancements. Many predictions accurately foreshadowed the innovations now present in iOS 26.

The operating system’s evolution reflects Apple’s commitment to user experience and technological advancement.

Further details regarding specific features and functionalities can be found in our detailed WWDC 2025 coverage.

Operating System Renaming by Apple

Apple has implemented a shift in its operating system naming convention. Instead of traditional version numbers, the systems will now be identified by the year of their release.

The Transition to Year-Based Naming

This adjustment signifies that what was previously anticipated as iOS 19 will now be known as iOS 26. The change mirrors the system utilized in the automotive industry for designating model years.

Impact Across Apple’s Software Ecosystem

The revised naming scheme won't be limited to iOS alone. It will be consistently applied across Apple’s entire software suite.

• iPadOS will be updated to iPadOS 26.
• macOS will also transition to macOS 26.
• watchOS is set to become watchOS 26.
• tvOS will be rebranded as tvOS 26.
• Furthermore, visionOS will be designated as visionOS 26.

This comprehensive update ensures a unified and easily understandable system for identifying Apple’s operating system releases.

Significant Interface Redesign

Widely considered the most substantial design shift since iOS 7, the latest operating system introduces a comprehensive visual transformation. This new interface, dubbed Liquid Glass by Apple, draws inspiration from the company’s Vision Pro headset.

Key elements of this redesign include translucent navigational panels and redesigned, circular application icons.

Expanded Ecosystem Integration

The visionOS-influenced design language is slated for implementation throughout Apple’s entire product ecosystem, extending even to CarPlay.

This broader application aims to establish a more unified and consistent user experience across all Apple devices.

App-Specific Enhancements

Three core applications – Phone, Camera, and Safari – have received the most extensive updates as part of this overhaul.

The Phone app now offers a consolidated view, integrating frequently contacted individuals, recent call history, and voicemail messages.

Safari benefits from visual refinements, notably a transparent address bar, enhancing the browsing experience.

Similarly, the Camera app has been updated with a more modern and visually appealing interface.

Further Details on Updates

• Phone App: A unified view for contacts, calls, and voicemails.
• Camera App: Visual updates for a streamlined experience.
• Safari: A transparent address bar for improved aesthetics.

These changes collectively contribute to a more intuitive and visually engaging operating system.

A New Dedicated Gaming Application

Alongside other announcements, Apple introduced a specialized application designed for gaming. This new app consolidates access to both Apple Arcade and the extensive game selection available on the App Store.

Centralized Gaming Experience

The application functions as a unified center for gamers. It provides a single location to view achievements, track leaderboard standings, and discover new content within the App Store.

Recent company activity includes the acquisition of RAC7, Apple’s inaugural game studio, as reported by DigitalTrends.

This move signifies a heightened focus on gaming as a core component of the Apple ecosystem.

• The app streamlines the gaming experience for users.
• It offers a comprehensive view of gaming progress and opportunities.

By integrating Apple Arcade and the App Store, Apple aims to create a more engaging and accessible platform for mobile gamers.

The Introduction of Virtual Health Coaching by Apple

During its recent announcement, Apple unveiled Workout Buddy, a novel application of artificial intelligence designed to function as a personalized health coach.

This innovative chatbot is engineered to provide real-time motivation throughout workout sessions.

Workout Buddy leverages data collected from the Health app, including metrics like pace and cumulative mileage, to tailor its guidance.

Data Integration and Personalized Guidance

The system dynamically adjusts its support based on the user’s performance and established health data.

This integration allows for a more responsive and effective coaching experience.

Potential Health App Enhancements

Prior reporting by Bloomberg suggested a potential overhaul of the Health app, with the inclusion of advanced food-tracking capabilities.

Specifically, the rumored update would enable users to meticulously record their consumption of carbohydrates and caffeine.

However, it’s important to note that Apple did not address these prospective features during the official event presentation.

Looking Ahead

While the food-tracking functionality wasn't highlighted, the introduction of Workout Buddy signifies Apple’s continued investment in proactive health management.

The focus remains on utilizing technology to empower individuals to achieve their wellness goals.

Enhanced Messaging with Apple Intelligence

A new translation capability, driven by Apple Intelligence, is being integrated into the Messages application. This feature will provide real-time translation of incoming messages, delivering translations directly to users’ inboxes upon receipt.

Beyond translation, Apple Intelligence is also introducing a novel polling function for group conversations. This allows participants to create and vote on polls, with the system even offering AI-assisted suggestions for poll topics.

These developments were initially reported by 9to5Mac, highlighting the ongoing evolution of the Messages platform.

New Features Expand Functionality

The Messages app is also gaining a feature previously found in other messaging services like WhatsApp and Instagram: the ability to customize chat backgrounds with images.

This addition allows users to personalize their messaging experience, adding a visual element to their conversations.

• Real-time message translation powered by Apple Intelligence.
• New polling feature with AI-generated suggestions.
• Customizable chat backgrounds with image support.

These updates collectively aim to enhance the user experience within the Messages app, providing both practical tools and personalization options.

Preview App Expansion to iPad

Apple is extending the functionality of its Preview application, previously exclusive to macOS, to users of the iPad. This development enables iPad users to directly annotate and modify PDF documents.

PDF Editing Capabilities

The information regarding this expansion was initially reported by Bloomberg. The Preview app will provide tools for marking up and altering PDF files on iPad devices.

This update offers a more streamlined workflow for individuals who frequently work with PDFs on the go. Previously, iPad users relied on third-party applications for comprehensive PDF editing features.

Benefits for iPad Users

With the arrival of Preview, iPad users gain a native solution for tasks such as highlighting text, adding notes, and signing documents. This integration simplifies the process of managing PDF-based workflows.

The inclusion of Preview on iPad aligns with Apple’s strategy of feature parity between its macOS and iPadOS platforms. It aims to provide a consistent user experience across devices.

Siri's Absence from the Keynote

A significant omission from today's presentation was the advanced Siri functionality showcased in Apple’s 2024 unveiling. This earlier demonstration featured a more perceptive assistant, capable of collecting data and executing tasks across multiple applications.

Apple communicated in March that the rollout of these new features would be postponed.

Furthermore, expectations for AI-driven battery optimization were not met during the announcements.

Reports indicated this feature would assess device utilization patterns and implement changes to maximize battery duration.

The anticipated introduction of reverse wireless charging also failed to materialize.

This capability would have enabled users to power accessories, like AirPods or the Apple Watch, directly from their iPhone.

Other Unannounced Updates

A rumored update, known as Genmoji, was also not revealed during the keynote.

Genmoji was projected to permit users to merge existing emojis, creating novel combinations – for example, a basketball entering a wastebasket.

This article was initially published on June 3rd and has been revised following confirmation of circulating reports.