WWDC 2026: iOS and Apple Intelligence — All the Announcements Shaping Apple’s Products for the Rest of the Year
Apple opened its 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference at Apple Park with its traditional keynote, using the event to preview the next generation of software for its devices, including iOS, iPadOS and macOS, expected this fall. The main focus of the presentation was Apple Intelligence and the long-awaited upgrade to Siri, which Apple has positioned as a more capable, modern assistant.
Among the announcements, macOS 27 will be called Golden Gate, a name that pays tribute to San Francisco’s most famous bridge and the strait it crosses. Apple also introduced updates to its Liquid Glass design language, first launched in 2025. The interface now offers more customization of transparency, allowing users to improve contrast and visibility across the system. On macOS, icons are becoming more dimensional, with a stronger visual effect that gives them a more sculpted appearance. Apple said apps will also benefit from this enhanced Liquid Glass treatment, with a more pronounced 3D look that highlights different layers of each icon.
Apple also revealed important compatibility details for iOS 27. The iPhone 11 will be the oldest supported model, meaning Apple is maintaining support for a relatively wide range of devices, even if some advanced features, especially Apple Intelligence, will not be available on older hardware. The company’s approach suggests that iOS 27 is centered more on software refinement and incremental improvements than on a radical redesign of the mobile experience.
A major part of the conference was devoted to parental controls and child safety. Apple announced new tools designed to help parents better manage what children can access online and how they use their devices. With a feature called “Ask to browse,” parents will be able to approve or deny access to websites before children can open them, depending on the restrictions already set on the device. The same principle will apply to app downloads, with clearer information about the minimum age required for each app.
Apple is also expanding screen time management options, giving parents more detailed controls based on apps and specific activities. The company said it worked with the leading U.S. pediatric association to help design these tools, underlining its effort to strengthen child protection features across its ecosystem.
Further details are expected as WWDC 2026 continues, with more announcements likely to follow from Apple’s software teams.
