Report: Apple to Unveil ‘Solarium’ UI Overhaul for All Devices at WWDC

By now, we’ve heard a lot of rumors about Apple’s design overhaul for iOS 19 and macOS 16. With just two weeks to WWDC 2025, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the UI overhaul will be applied to all of Apple’s operating systems, not just iOS or macOS.

The updated interface is codenamed “Solarium” after the glass structures that allow in sunlight. Apple was probably trying to drop a hint about the codename with the logo for the upcoming WWDC event (above). The new UI will give the operating systems a more slick and modern appearance and borrow a lot of elements from visionOS, the report adds.

Gurman previously reported that the UI overhaul would be the biggest for iPhones since iOS 7 in 2013 and for Macs since macOS Big Sur in 2020. The interface is rumored to receive translucent backgrounds and circular app icons like Vision Pro’s software. 

A leak by YouTuber Jon Prosser last month also said options within dialog boxes, app menus, and search bars are also set to receive rounded corners. His leak also tipped a floating translucent navigation menu and the repositioning of the search bar to the bottom of the screen. 

(Credit: Jon Prosser via YouTube)

According to Gurman, all the design changes announced at WWDC for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS will also be applied to tvOS and watchOS to ensure consistency. Since visionOS will be lending a lot of its elements, it is expected to receive just the minor adjustments that make sense for the Vision Pro headset, he adds.

Apple’s approach to change differs significantly from that of competitors like Google and Samsung. While recent events from those companies focused heavily on AI, Apple’s event will primarily focus on design and appearance, Gurman says.

Meanwhile, Apple has yet to release many of Siri’s AI capabilities announced at last year’s WWDC. At least three lawsuits have been filed against the company for delaying the features and circulating misleading iPhone 16 ads regarding Apple Intelligence.

Apple is also facing tariff pressure. Last week, President Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on iPhones if they are manufactured in India instead of the US.