Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 kicked off on June 9, 2025, at 10:30 PM IST, bringing a wave of exciting updates for iPhone, Apple Watch, and other Apple devices. Held at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, this year’s event is all about software, with iOS 26 and watchOS 26 stealing the spotlight. For Indian Apple fans, developers, and tech enthusiasts, WWDC 2025 offers a glimpse into how your iPhone and Apple Watch will look and work smarter in the coming months. With a fresh design, practical AI features, and a new naming style, Apple is making its devices more fun and user-friendly. Here’s a simple, detailed breakdown of what’s new, crafted especially for the Indian audience.
A New Name: iOS 26 and watchOS 26
Apple has shaken things up this year by changing how it names its software. Instead of calling the new iPhone software iOS 19 (following iOS 18), Apple is jumping to iOS 26, tying the name to the year 2026, when the software will be fully rolled out. The same goes for the Apple Watch, with watchOS 26 replacing what would have been watchOS 12. This new naming style makes it easier to keep track of updates across Apple’s devices, like iPads (iPadOS 26), Macs (macOS 26 Tahoe), and Apple TV (tvOS 26).
iOS 26: A Fresh, Glassy Look for Your iPhone
The biggest highlight of WWDC 2025 is iOS 26, which brings the most significant iPhone design change since iOS 7 in 2013. Apple is calling this new look “Liquid Glass”, inspired by the futuristic design of visionOS, the software that powers Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Imagine your iPhone’s home screen with translucent, shiny menus, rounder app icons, and smooth, floating buttons that feel like they’re part of a sci-fi movie. This design will make your iPhone look modern and sleek, whether you’re scrolling through Instagram in Chennai or checking WhatsApp in Kolkata.
Here’s what makes iOS 26 exciting for Indian users:
- Cool New Look: The “Liquid Glass” design adds a shiny, transparent effect to menus, app icons, and notifications. It’s like giving your iPhone a stylish makeover that feels fresh and premium.
- Fun Messaging Features: The Messages app gets two big upgrades. You can now create polls in group chats—perfect for deciding where to eat out in Gurugram or planning a weekend trip with friends in Pune. Plus, you can set custom background images for chats, making your conversations with family or colleagues more personal and fun.
- Smarter Apps: Apps like Safari, Phone, and Camera are getting small but useful updates. For example, the Camera app might have fewer options upfront, making it easier to snap quick photos at a Diwali celebration or a cricket match in Ahmedabad.
- Gaming Gets Better: Apple is launching a new Gaming Hub app to replace Game Center. This app will bring all your games, like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty, into one place, with leaderboards and achievements. For Indian gamers, this means a smoother way to enjoy Apple Arcade games or compete with friends online.
watchOS 26: Your Apple Watch Gets Smarter and Stylish
For Apple Watch users in India, watchOS 26 brings a fresh coat of paint and some handy features. The update borrows the “Liquid Glass” look from iOS 26, with translucent menus and rounder buttons that make your watch feel modern. While the changes aren’t as drastic as on the iPhone, they keep your Apple Watch in sync with Apple’s new style.
Here’s what Indian Apple Watch users can look forward to:
- New Watch Faces: watchOS 26 introduces new watch faces designed to match the glassy, futuristic look of iOS 26. Whether you’re at a meeting in Hyderabad or jogging in Bangalore, these faces will make your watch stand out.
- Customizable Control Center: Apple is opening up the Control Center to third-party apps. This means you could add shortcuts for apps like Swiggy or Fitbit right to your watch’s side button, making it easier to order food or track your steps during a busy day in Jaipur.
- Health and Fitness Boost: Rumors suggest watchOS 26 might include AI-powered health tracking. For example, it could use data from your heart rate, sleep, or workouts to give personalized tips, like reminding you to stay hydrated during a hot summer day in Chennai or suggesting a quick stretch after a long workday in Noida.
Easy AI Tricks to Make Life Simpler
Apple is bringing practical AI features to iOS 26 and watchOS 26 under its Apple Intelligence platform, but don’t expect a big, flashy AI show at WWDC 2025. Instead, Apple is focusing on small, useful AI tricks that fit into your daily life in India. Here’s what’s coming:
- Smart Battery Life: iOS 26 introduces an AI-powered battery management system that learns how you use your iPhone. For example, if you’re always on video calls for work in Delhi or streaming Netflix in Mumbai, the AI will adjust settings in the background to save battery without dimming your screen or slowing things down. This is perfect for Indian users who rely on their phones all day, especially during long commutes or power cuts.
- Live Translation for AirPods: Imagine chatting with a colleague in London or a friend in Japan while wearing AirPods. iOS 26 might bring live translation to AirPods, letting you hear their words in Hindi, Tamil, or another language in real-time. This is a game-changer for Indian professionals or students connecting globally.
- Genmoji Fun: iOS 26 lets you mix two emojis to create a new one, like a cricket bat + a smiley face for a fun chat during an IPL match. This playful feature will make WhatsApp and Messages chats more lively for Indian users.
- Siri Gets a Small Upgrade: While a major Siri overhaul is delayed, iOS 26 and watchOS 26 will include small Siri improvements. For instance, Siri might better understand Indian accents or handle tasks like setting reminders for a family event in Surat or finding a nearby dosa joint in Bengaluru.
Why This Matters for Indian Apple Users
For India’s growing Apple fanbase, WWDC 2025 is a big deal. iOS 26’s new design and features make iPhones more exciting to use, whether you’re a student in Lucknow snapping photos, a professional in Gurgaon managing emails, or a gamer in Kochi diving into Apple Arcade. The “Liquid Glass” look feels premium, aligning with India’s love for stylish, high-end tech. The Gaming Hub is a nod to India’s massive mobile gaming community, while features like polls in Messages cater to our group-chat culture.
WatchOS 26 keeps Apple Watch users in the loop with a modern look and practical upgrades. The AI-powered health tracking could be a hit for fitness-conscious Indians, especially those tracking runs in Marine Drive or yoga sessions in Rishikesh. Plus, the live translation feature for AirPods could make international calls or travel easier for Indian users exploring global opportunities.
How to Get These Updates
Apple will release developer betas for iOS 26 and watchOS 26 right after the WWDC keynote, but these early versions are for developers and might have bugs. For most Indian users, it’s better to wait for the public beta in late June or July 2025, which you can try by signing up for Apple’s beta program. The final, stable versions of iOS 26 and watchOS 26 will roll out in September 2025, likely alongside the iPhone 17 series. If you have an iPhone XR, XS, or newer (from 2018 onward), or an Apple Watch Series 7, SE (2022), or Ultra, you should be able to enjoy these updates.
What’s Next for Apple in India?
While WWDC 2025 is all about software, there’s buzz about future hardware like the slim iPhone 17 Air or a new Mac Pro, which might appeal to Indian developers and creators. Apple’s focus on AI and gaming shows it’s listening to India’s young, tech-loving crowd. With iOS 26 and watchOS 26, Apple is making its devices more stylish, smarter, and tailored to how Indians use technology—whether it’s chatting with friends, gaming on the go, or staying connected globally.
Stay tuned for more updates as Apple rolls out these features, and get ready to give your iPhone and Apple Watch a fresh, futuristic upgrade!
