Apple’s big software developers’ conference, WWDC25, is due to open soon, at 10 a.m. Pacific on Monday, June 9, to be precise. There will be new software for the iPhone, believed to be called iOS 26, for iPad (iPadOS 26), macOS 26 for the Mac, and so on. Here’s what’s thought to be coming for the iPhone (and here’s when you can install it for yourself).
1. Apple Intelligence
More features are coming and it’s thought these will include upgraded intelligence models to power Genmoji, Writing Tools and summarization — which is currently missing from News apps, so we can hope this will return.
It’s also thought that Apple will open its on-device foundation models to developers.
2. Battery Enhancements
This could be remarkable. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, “Apple is preparing a battery optimization mode that uses AI to save power on its iPhones. This functionality may come later, though, as it was developed in concert with the company’s slimmer iPhone 17 model, which isn’t slated for release until later this year. The technology is well-suited to that device since the phone is going to have a smaller battery,” he said.
In other words, something to look forward to, but almost certainly not just yet.
3 Major New Design
There has been talk of the new design, something thought to take inspiration from the menus and interface of Apple Vision Pro with their translucent, glass-like effects. The big question was: are app icons about to become circular? Gurman says no, though they may change from how they are now. Full details of this here.
4. Live Translation
The Translate app is about to get a big upgrade, again, according to Mark Gurman, as part of “a systemwide push into translation. The …Translate app …functionality is getting integrated across its operating systems,” Gurman says. Uses include live translation of phone calls and text messages and AirPods users will get something similar at some point — read about that here.
5. Messages Improvements
If you’ve been thinking of switching to WhatsApp, Apple wants to tempt you to stay with Messages by adding the capability to set background images, which will sync between devices, including the people you’re chatting to. It’s possible that further changes to RCS integration will also come, offering much more secure messages between iPhones and Android phones.
6. Camera
The Camera app will be updated to make it look simpler to use, after successive additions of features and options led to an interface some found a bit clunky.
7. Preview
Mac users know that Preview is a splendidly useful app, especially for managing documents and PDFs, for instance. “The software looks similar to the Mac version, and its launch screen is in the same style as apps like Pages and Keynote,” Gurman claims.
There are many more than seven upgrades coming, of course. I’ve tried to pick some which will likely be front-and-center in the keynote, as well as some more peripheral items.
Check back for more coverage before and after the keynote happens.
