At WWDC 2025, Apple introduced visionOS 26, a significant update for Apple Vision Pro that advances spatial computing with new robust Apple Intelligence integrations, enhanced tools for productivity, collaboration, and entertainment. This release focuses on seamless user experiences, enterprise capabilities, and immersive media the company announced.
Refined System Design
visionOS 26 adopts a sophisticated “Liquid Glass” design, characterized by translucent interfaces and fluid animations, aligning with Apple’s unified ecosystem aesthetic. Spatial widgets integrate into users’ environments, persisting across sessions and offering customization options for frame width, color, and depth. New widgets for Clock, Weather, Music, and Photos provide intuitive functionality, while the Widgets app streamlines discovery. Developers can leverage WidgetKit to create tailored widgets, enhancing app integration.
Collaborative Spatial Interactions
visionOS 26 enables shared spatial experiences, allowing multiple Vision Pro users in the same physical space to collaborate on 3D projects, engage in gaming, or enjoy immersive media. FaceTime extends these capabilities for remote collaboration. For example, Dassault Systèmes’ 3DLive app utilizes these features for real-time 3D design visualization. Personas are enhanced with advanced volumetric rendering and machine learning, delivering improved expressivity, precise hair and complexion details, and over 1,000 customizable glasses options.
Immersive Media and Spatial Scenes
The Photos app introduces spatial scenes, powered by generative AI, to add multidimensional depth to images, enabling dynamic perspectives. This feature is supported in the Photos app, Spatial Gallery, and Safari, with the Spatial Scene API available for developers. Zillow’s Immersive app, for instance, uses this to enhance virtual home tours. visionOS 26 also supports native playback of 180-degree, 360-degree, and wide field-of-view content from Insta360, GoPro, and Canon, optimizing action footage experiences. Safari’s spatial browsing mode minimizes distractions and supports embedded 3D models for interactive web content.
Gaming Advancements
Support for PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers introduces high-precision motion tracking, finger touch detection, and vibration feedback, enabling developers to create immersive gaming experiences. The new Apple Games app serves as a centralized hub, aggregating titles, events, and Apple Arcade content for streamlined access and engagement.
Enterprise-Grade Capabilities
visionOS 26 enhances enterprise functionality with new APIs, including the Protected Content API, which secures sensitive data by restricting access and preventing copying or screen sharing. Team device sharing simplifies management of shared Vision Pro devices, with secure transfer of user settings via iPhone running iOS 26. The Logitech Muse accessory supports precise input for collaboration tools like Spatial Analogue. The redesigned Control Center consolidates settings like Guest User, Focus, and Travel Mode, while Home View supports app folders for improved organization.
Apple Intelligence and Accessibility
Apple Intelligence expands with updates to Image Playground and adds support for additional languages, including French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and regional English variants. Accessibility features include Look to Scroll for eye-based navigation and call relaying from iPhone, allowing users to manage phone calls directly from Vision Pro. Users can also unlock their iPhone during immersive experiences, enhancing workflow continuity.
Availability
The developer beta for visionOS 26 is available starting today, with a public beta expected in July 2025. The full release is slated for fall 2025, with some features potentially arriving in later updates.
What is your favorite visionOS feature that was announced today? Comment down below!
