From June 9 to 13, 2025, Apple will hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), an event that promises to make an impact far beyond the developer community this year. The program promises to be packed: a massive aesthetic overhaul called "Solarium," a bold harmonization of the names of its operating systems, and a measured but strategic evolution of its "Apple Intelligence." Forget the hardware fireworks, this 2025 edition will be the year of software, design, and a completely redesigned user experience.
Summary
A breath of fresh air named "Solarium" is blowing through the ecosystem
The most persistent, and arguably most exciting, rumor concerns "Solarium," a codename that hides the biggest visual overhaul of iOS in nearly a decade. Inspired by the clean, three-dimensional aesthetic of visionOS, it would bring an interface where translucency, glass effects, rounded corners, and floating, pill-shaped navigation bars will become the norm. This facelift will not be limited to the iPhone and will extend to iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and even tvOS, with the ambition of offering greater consistency and fluidity across all Apple devices. The event's slogan, "Sleek peek," leaves little room for doubt about this direction.
At the same time, Apple is preparing to do a major cleanup of its operating system nomenclature. Gone are the sometimes confusing numbering systems; the brand is preparing to implement an annual approach. So, iOS 19 would become iOS 26, macOS 16 would become macOS 26 (probably codenamed "Tahoe"), and so on for watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 26 (or 3, before falling into line).
iOS 26: more than a beautiful face, real advances
Beyond the design, iOS 26 looks rich in features and would offer AI-powered battery management, capable of learning from your habits to extend battery life. AirPods could become universal translators with "Live Translate" for real-time conversations. The Messages app would become more practical with machine translation and the integration of surveys. Notes would finally support Markdown, Music would offer a new animation for album art, and the camera would be redesigned for more minimalism. The Health app could also benefit from personalized coaching thanks to AI.
Be careful, however, this makeover could mean the end of support for the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max.
iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 “Tahoe”: increased productivity and consistency
The iPad will continue its transformation into a more assertive productivity machine. Aside from the "Solarium" aesthetic, iPadOS 26 could finally offer significant improvements to multitasking and window management, with persistent rumors of a Mac-style menu bar when the device is paired with a Magic Keyboard.
For its part, macOS 26 "Tahoe" will not be left behind, adopting the visual overhaul to perfectly match its mobile cousins. Expect refreshed icons and menus, and the integration of new features shared with iOS, such as a potential new dedicated games app. Apple Intelligence will also be more present, notably with improved writing tools.
watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 3/26: the refined experience
The Apple Watch, with watchOS 26, will see its user interface modernized by "Solarium." While the onboard AI could be limited by the hardware, major advances in health, such as blood pressure or glucose measurement, continue to fuel hopes. tvOS 26 will also benefit from the visual overhaul, with translucent menus and a simplified design, emphasizing the content. Finally, VisionOS, the Vision Pro's operating system, expected in version 3 or 26, should be "quite feature-rich," integrating Apple Intelligence more deeply for text writing or controlling third-party apps.
Apple Intelligence: l'évolution discret mais stratégique
On the artificial intelligence front, Apple seems to be playing the card of caution and refinement rather than revolution. While a major overhaul of Siri, capable of competing with market leaders, could be delayed until 2026, conversational and contextual improvements are nevertheless planned. The real challenge for Apple at WWDC 2025 will undoubtedly be the opening of its "Foundation Models" (on-device AI models) to third-party developers. A way to infuse intelligence into the entire application ecosystem while preserving its core value: confidentiality.
Video games in the spotlight?
A persistent rumor reports the launch of a new centralized gaming application, modernizing or replacing the current Game Center. Pre-installed on all devices, it would bring together games, leaderboards, messaging, achievements, and recommendations, signaling Apple's renewed ambition in this lucrative sector.
A meeting for developers, with a hardware surprise?
As its name suggests, WWDC is primarily aimed at developers. They will have access to a plethora of technical sessions, online labs, and extensive documentation to help them get to grips with "Solarium" and the new APIs. However, those hoping for new Macs, iPads, or iPhones will likely have to wait.
For the past few hours, rumors have been circulating suggesting the possible presence of a new device at WWDC 2025. The Cupertino company could present the "HomePad," a sort of HomePod with a screen that has been the subject of rumors for several months. Halfway between the iPad and the HomePod, it would help Apple compete with Google (and its Pixel Tab) and Amazon in driving connected homes.
WWDC 2025, a turning point for Apple?
In any case, WWDC 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for the Apple brand. By unifying the aesthetics and nomenclature of its operating systems, and by opening its AI more widely to developers, Apple is not content with a simple brushstroke. It is preparing the ground for the future, seeking to strengthen the cohesion of its ecosystem and acclimatize its millions of users to the interfaces of tomorrow, potentially those of spatial computing. A bold gamble that will be closely scrutinized by the entire industry. Join us on June 9th for the curtain-raiser, and all the announcements will be posted on Journal du Geek.
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