Note: This article was first published on 10 June 2025.
Image: Apple
Apple has announced a slew of updates for visionOS at WWDC 2025. Dubbed visionOS 26 – in line with its new naming convention for its line of OS, the new update brings a mix of aesthetic, functional, and collaborative upgrades to Apple’s still-evolving spatial computing platform.
First, spatial widgets. These now “float” within your real-world environment like augmented post-its. The idea that a timer, music controller, or photo frame can simply exist around you sounds trivial on paper, but it’s another step that Apple is bringing users closer to the “Minority Report” experience. There’s also a new app to help users discover compatible widgets from their iPhone and iPad apps, which should make the Vision Pro feel a little less walled-off.
Personas also get an update. Apple’s 3D avatars now feature fuller facial detail, better rendering around the eyes and hairline, and a profile view that doesn’t immediately break the illusion. The setup experience is more refined too, and it’s clear Apple wants to make these virtual versions of ourselves less uncanny and more lifelike – pretty scary, actually.
Image: Apple
Photos take on a new dimensional twist with Spatial Scenes, which apply AI to convert 2D images into multi-angle, immersive views. Personally, it feels more like a visual gimmick when used at home right now, but real estate apps like Zillow are already using it in their immersive app for rich property visuallisations.
Then there’s also shared spatial experiences. The Vision Pro now allows multiple users in the same room to interact within the same mixed-reality environment – watching films together, playing co-op games, or working on shared projects. This might not be so relevant to a home environment -yet (considering the headset’s prohibitive cost), but could be useful in an office or industrial utility, e.g., medical or research fields.
There’s also expanded support for PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers, opening up new gameplay possibilities with precise motion tracking and haptic feedback. Developers gain more immersive tools too – web pages can now embed 3D models, Safari includes a spatial reading mode, and the platform now supports wide-angle and 360-degree content from popular action cameras.
Smaller additions round out the update. There’s eye-based scrolling, a new unlocking method using your iPhone, and the ability to relay calls from phone to headset. Enterprise users haven’t been left out either, with tools for sharing devices securely among multiple users and saving preferences directly to your iPhone for quick switching.
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