Massive iOS 26 makeover is all about the revolutionary iPhone 20 design

Apple will host its annual developers conference on Monday, but WWDC 2025 will be unlike the event in recent years. All of Apple’s operating systems are getting a big redesign this year. iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 will look more alike than ever thanks to a huge design makeover.

Identical UIs will make switching from iPhone to iPad to Mac even easier than it is now. Everything will feel familiar because everything will look the same. Also, everything should resemble the glass-like visionOS software that runs on the Vision Pro. You’ll see translucent elements everywhere, whether it’s on the iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

This is also the year Apple gives its operating systems a big name change. Instead of iOS 19, we’re getting iOS 26. The same “26” moniker will apply to all the Apple OS updates this year. It might be confusing to some, but it also makes sense. It’ll be easier to know what OS you’re using and what features to expect.

Name changes aside, I’ve written more than once that the purpose of the big iOS 26 redesign isn’t just about giving users a new visual experience.

Apple is preparing its operating systems for what’s coming next. A foldable iPhone could arrive as soon as next year. A foldable iPad or Mac will follow. Apple is also working on smart glasses and aiming to manufacture AR glasses down the line. For all that, you need a fluid user interface and operating systems that look the same, even if they function differently.

It turns out the big iOS 26 redesign also relates to a non-foldable iPhone of the future, the 20th anniversary iPhone expected in 2027, which we’ll call iPhone 20 for now.

The foldable “iPhone Fold” will need to switch from iPhone mode to iPad mode depending on how it’s used. The same goes for the foldable iPad, which will need to work more like a Mac when used as a desktop. The updates in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 will help make those transitions seamless. Apple wants to ensure all app experiences feel consistent.