While Apple unveiled iOS 26 at WWDC 2025 on Monday, there were many rumors that surfaced ahead of the event, including the new name for the operating system, a dedicated gaming app, and a virtual health coach.
Here’s a roundup of the most notable features rumored to be coming to iOS 26 that came true. And be sure to check out our live coverage of the keynote right here.
New name
Apple renamed its operating systems to reflect the release year rather than using version numbers. This means that iOS 19 will be renamed iOS 26, similar to how car model years are designated. This name change will also apply to other software updates, such as iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
Major design overhaul
Referred to as the most significant design change since iOS 7, the operating system features a complete visual overhaul inspired by Apple’s Vision Pro headset, which the company refers to the new interface as Liquid Glass. This includes translucent panels for navigation and circular app icons. The visionOS-inspired design will be made across Apple’s entire ecosystem (including CarPlay) with the goal of creating a more cohesive experience.
Additionally, three apps underwent the most changes — the Phone app, Camera, and Safari. For instance, the Phone app has a new option that allows users to merge their favorite contacts, recent calls, and voicemails into a single view. Meanwhile, both the Camera app and Safari have more visual updates, such as a transparent address bar for Apple’s browser app.
Dedicated gaming app
Apple also unveiled a new gaming app that integrates Apple Arcade and the App Store’s game offerings, featuring a central hub for achievements, leaderboards, and App Store content. This comes after the company acquired its first game studio, RAC7, according to DigitalTrends.
Virtual health coach
Apple also announced Workout Buddy, an AI feature to serve as a personal coach. The new chatbot aims to motivate users through workouts in real-time and gathers data from the Health app, such as pace and total miles logged.
Bloomberg previously reported that the Health app may be revamped to include a food-tracking feature, allowing users to log their carbohydrate and caffeine intake. However, Apple didn’t mention this during the event.
AI translation for Messages
The Messages app is getting an Apple Intelligence-powered translation feature that can automatically translate messages as soon as they hit users’ inboxes. Apple Intelligence also powers a new polling feature that lets people in group chats vote and offers AI-generated poll suggestions. 9to5Mac reported both features.
Additionally, Messages added the ability to set a background image, following in the footsteps of WhatsApp and Instagram.
Preview app
Apple is bringing its Preview app from macOS to iPad users, allowing them to annotate and edit PDFs. This was reported by Bloomberg.
What about Siri?
One notable absence from today’s keynote was the impressive Siri capabilities highlighted in Apple’s 2024 presentation, which featured a more context-aware assistant that can gather information and perform actions across different apps. The company stated in March that the new features are delayed.
Additionally, Apple was rumored to be announcing AI-powered battery management, which was missing from the slew of announcements. The feature was reported to analyze device usage and make adjustments to conserve battery life. The rumor of reverse wireless charging, which would have allowed users to charge accessories such as AirPods or the Apple Watch directly from their iPhone, was also not announced.
Another update missing from the keynote was a rumor about Genmoji, which was said to allow users to combine existing standard emojis, such as a basketball going into a trash can.
This story was originally published June 3 and has been updated after rumors were confirmed.
