The start of June usually marks the launch of the subsequent iteration of the platforms that energy the iPhone and iPad lineup, and this 12 months was no exception, with Apple debuting a radical new software program course for its present and future gadgets.
Like Google and the Materials 3 Expressive design on Android 16, which was unveiled simply earlier than Google I/O 2025 in Might, Apple selected WWDC 2025 to debut an entire new design language, dubbed Liquid Glass. It’s constructed upon VisionOS, which powers the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, and it brings the identical interface to Apple’s different gadgets, together with the Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.
I’ve been utilizing the beta on my iPad, iPhone, and Mac for a number of weeks, and whereas the brand new design is refreshing like Android 16, it additionally represents a big shift in Apple’s strategy to software program. Consequently, iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 are main leaps ahead in each performance and usefulness.
This consists of Safari, which immediately advantages from Apple’s new strategy to context menus and the simplification of the platform. To me, that is the place Google must take a web page from Apple’s e book.
Liquid Glass is greater than only a new design
As an alternative of the segregated strategy to apps and options like earlier than, the brand new Liquid Glass design is concentrated on being as versatile as doable for the top person.
Alongside many new options, Apple additionally launched a spread of small, but important, quality-of-life enhancements that make the platforms far simpler to make use of. As an alternative of requiring a number of clicks, the brand new platforms and redesigned first-party apps are designed to require much less.
Picture 1 of 2
Apple did showcase a few of these enhancements throughout the keynote, together with the brand new unified dialer, in addition to the improved Recordsdata and all-new Preview apps. Every of those new options additionally highlights top-of-the-line, but underrecognized, quality-of-life enhancements within the OS: context menus.
As a part of its drive in direction of better flexibility, Apple now consists of extra menus and shortcuts all through the OS, and likewise offers direct entry to the app’s settings web page within the international settings menu. These little enhancements are additionally clearly obvious within the new Safari, which has gained a big benefit over Chrome for Android.
The brand new Safari presents true desktop shopping on cell
In case you’ve ever used an iPhone, you’ll most likely know that Chrome for iPhone is totally different in design, options, and rendering engine from Chrome on Android. One different factor chances are you’ll know is that Safari on iOS can be extra superior than Chrome on Android.
Regardless of additionally carrying one of many finest Android telephones, usually together with one of many finest folding telephones with a bigger show, I normally turned to the iPhone or iPad for all my shopping. Till final 12 months, Safari provided a key function that Chrome didn’t — native web page zoom that you might management like a desktop laptop, which made it excellent for shopping on the go.
Chrome ultimately added this function, however now Safari has gained one other key function: desktop-level shopping historical past. Specifically, the way in which it’s applied. As an alternative of requiring the person to faucet the again and ahead keys like Chrome on Android, the brand new Safari presents an simply accessible checklist of your shopping historical past.
Picture 1 of 2
It’s applied in a near-identical interface to the one you’d discover on a desktop browser, and it’s a enormous quality-of-life enchancment that ensures I’ll most likely nonetheless use an Apple system for shopping. It’s a disgrace, as I really like folding telephones, and I’m eagerly awaiting the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is ready to launch very quickly.
It is value noting that that is nonetheless a developer beta, and Apple has already switched from a central again and ahead historical past menu to the person keys pictured, so it could change additional earlier than the general public beta subsequent month and the discharge within the fall.
The expanded menus are my sleeper hit to date, however a unbelievable throughout replace nonetheless pic.twitter.com/QevANX6xm7June 14, 2025
The brand new context menus additionally affect your shopping expertise in small and important methods, particularly on the iPhone. For instance, press and maintain a cellphone quantity, and you’ll select to name it from both of your energetic SIM playing cards, in addition to from internet-based apps, comparable to FaceTime, WhatsApp, Telegram, or Google Voice.
Previously, you’ll have needed to copy the quantity, open the corresponding app, after which place the decision. The brand new strategy requires fewer steps and offers a considerably improved expertise.
Each Android cellphone can place a name immediately from the browser, however few allow you to select which SIM card to make use of for the decision, and I don’t recall one other cellphone maker that has built-in third-party apps like Apple. Concerning third-party apps, calls from these apps are additionally integrated into the dialer app, simply as they had been within the early HTC Sense Android interface.
Google must take Chrome on foldables significantly
The largest problem for Google is that Chrome on Android is designed to work on each single system, which may make it tougher to supply optimized experiences for newer kind components.
This strategy has been profitable for years, nevertheless it has meant that Chrome on Android is normally slower to roll out new browser options. Whereas Chrome has gained key Safari options, comparable to on-page zoom, Apple continues to guide in general shopping expertise.
Google ought to think about Apple’s general strategy to iPadOS 26 as a warning, not only for the finest Android tablets, but additionally for the finest foldable telephones. Apple is broadly tipped to launch an iPhone Fold late subsequent 12 months or early the next 12 months. It’s additionally fairly possible that Apple will proceed to optimize Safari and will introduce new iPhone Fold-specific options in Safari as nicely.
The unique iPhone was billed as a breakthrough web communicator, and the rumored larger foremost display on the iPhone Fold will make it excellent for internet shopping. Safari already has a step up over Chrome, however Google wants to make sure that it optimizes Chrome so this hole doesn’t develop.
The iPhone and iPad are larger opponents than ever
General, iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 have been shocking as a result of they really feel extra like Android than they ever have earlier than. Apple makes it simpler to do issues; the UX staff lastly realized that fewer clicks are higher, and the consequence is without doubt one of the most intuitive software program platforms ever.
But, there are nonetheless many ways in which Android 16 is an enchancment over its Apple different. The iPad positive factors an entire new windowing engine (beneath) for radically improved multitasking, which is analogous however distinct from the new windowing choices in Android 16. Nevertheless, this function remains to be not accessible from the iPhone.
Whereas iOS 26 is a significant enchancment for the iPhone, it’s additionally inferior to Android 16 for general productiveness, though it does now lastly help background duties for true multitasking. That stated, the brand new platforms are visually and functionally radically improved over earlier variations. Consequently, they are going to make the iPhone and iPad larger opponents than ever earlier than to the very best Android telephones and tablets.