Apple will have a response for Samsung’s One UI 7 at WWDC 2025

Apple will kick off its yearly developer conference, WWDC 2025, later today. The iPhone maker will reportedly announce its most ambitious iOS update in years, and judging by industry reports, Apple appears to be responding to Samsung's One UI 7. At least to a degree.

Last year, when Samsung revealed glimpses of One UI 7 at its developer conference (SDC24), it discussed how it planned to revamp the software experience based on three core design principles. Samsung labeled them “Simple,” “Impactful,” and “Emotive.” In more practical terms, one crucial element of One UI 7 is its new blur engine. And Apple appears to be working on similar improvements for the next iOS version.

According to reports (via Tom's Guide), Apple's new iOS 26 will bring significant aesthetic changes through a design language called Liquid Glass, or Solarium UI. And like One UI 7, one of the main elements of this new iOS interface consists of modernized transparency effects, i.e., a new blur engine.

Redesigned glassy surfaces and transparency effects inspired by VisionOS — Apple's software for the Vision Pro headset — will give iOS 26 a different look.

Now, if there is any confusion regarding the naming scheme, it's because Apple will reportedly change it at WWDC 2025. Instead of calling the new update iOS 19, Apple will name it iOS 26.

In the past, Samsung also jumped a few digits for some of its products, including the Galaxy S and Note lineups. Years ago, Samsung's Galaxy S10 was succeeded by the Galaxy S20, and similarly, the Galaxy Note 20 came right after the Galaxy Note 10.

But more to the point at hand, much like One UI 7 is considered the first step in a new chapter for Samsung's software design, so is Apple's iOS 26. The latter will reportedly set the stage for Apple's revamped design philosophy, which will continue to evolve in the coming years. Similarly, Samsung's One UI 8, which is presently in beta testing, is said to be a refinement of the foundation laid down by One UI 7.

Furthermore, reports say that iOS 26 and its Liquid Glass design will set the tone for many future Apple products, including the rumored 20th Anniversary iPhone, which could be announced in 2027. Fittingly, it is codenamed Glasswing.