AI Features and Apple Intelligence
Despite the flashy presentation of Apple Intelligence and its integration with OpenAI, it still feels like Apple is playing catch-up in the AI space. Moreover, the company remained silent about delays in release — unlike Google or Microsoft, Apple chose not to disclose specific timelines for launching its flagship AI features.
Xcode and Codex
The biggest draw for developers is the new version of Xcode, which now includes features reminiscent of Cursor. The involvement of OpenAI raises some doubts, especially given the unique nature of Swift and the structure of Xcode projects. It’s possible that Codex — a third-party editor with AI capabilities — may be more convenient for certain tasks.
Liquid Glass: Visually Impressive but Technically Controversial
The “liquid glass” design was one of the most talked-about visual updates. However, increased transparency could harm usability — backgrounds may interfere with focusing on interface elements. For developers, this change also means a higher risk of bugs and the need for additional adaptation, potentially more disruptive than past transitions like the notch or Dynamic Island.
Speech Translation and Local Limitations
The real-time speech translation feature didn’t have a wow factor — it mostly brought Apple up to par with already familiar AI services. The same goes for features like number recognition and spam warnings: useful, but unlikely to work properly in Russia due to local restrictions and lack of service support.

Updated Spotlight
Spotlight is now more flexible: users can specify the type of search — documents, photos, apps, and more. This is a welcome improvement for power users and developers.
Privacy vs. UX
Apple continues to emphasize user privacy, but it raises the question: how does the company collect data on user behavior (e.g., which buttons are pressed most) if that data supposedly never leaves the device? There are no official answers. Still, the new UI approach seems effective — simplified camera settings make navigation easier and more intuitive, especially for everyday users.
Vision Pro Lives On — Without Breakthroughs
Despite ongoing user skepticism, Apple continues to develop the Vision Pro platform. The new focus is on watching videos and “anchoring” digital objects to physical surfaces (like putting a clock on a wall). While this may not become mainstream anytime soon, the fact that Apple hasn’t abandoned the project commands respect.
iOS 18 → iOS 2026
Dropping the ordinal numbering of iOS versions in favor of year-based naming is mostly symbolic. However, it signals Apple’s intent to establish a more unified and clear ecosystem.
Apple is taking steps toward AI and new interface paradigms, but many of its decisions still seem reactive to market trends rather than visionary. As always, the true impact of these new features will only become clear through active use and with time.