WWDC 2025 Proved That Apple Learned a Valuable Lesson

At its WWDC 2024 keynote last year, Apple previewed a more personalized version of Siri that has since been delayed until next year. Subsequently, Apple was hit with class action lawsuits that accuse the company of false advertising, and well-known Apple commentator John Gruber strongly criticized the company over the situation.

WWDC 2025 Apple Logo
Apple also missed its promised 2024 timeframe for launching next-generation CarPlay, which it first announced all the way back at WWDC 2022. The company finally announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra last month, with the software system rolling out in high-end Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada to start.

It appears that Apple learned a valuable lesson.

During its WWDC 2025 keynote, there was a noticeable lack of new software features that Apple promised as coming later this year. The company did say that Apple Intelligence will be gaining support for additional languages later this year, but most of those languages had already been announced months ago. Over the past several years, on the other hand, there were typically quite a few "later this year" labels on Apple's software pages.

Still, not every new feature announced at WWDC 2025 is available in the first betas of Apple's latest software releases. The lack of "later this year" phrasing suggests that those features will be ready by time iOS 26 and the other updates are released in September, however, as opposed to subsequent versions like iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2.

Overall, it is clear that Apple is being more cautious, as was expected. In a report last month about Apple's artificial intelligence shortcomings, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett cited sources who said that Apple planned to mostly stop announcing new features more than a few months before they are ready to launch. Based on the WWDC 2025 keynote, that does appear to be the company's approach for now.

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
airpods color prototypes

Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:06 am PST by
Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases. The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes with pink and yellow exterior casings. The interior of the charging case and the earbuds themselves remain white. They seem close to some...
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected

Tuesday December 23, 2025 5:21 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the ‌iPhone‌ mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led ...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Samsung Developing 'Wide Fold' With iPhone Fold-Like Design Ahead of Apple's 2026 Launch

Tuesday December 23, 2025 11:55 am PST by
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026. Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...
iPhone SE Cosmopolitan Clean

Apple Discontinued These 25 Products This Year

Wednesday December 24, 2025 7:24 am PST by
With the end of 2025 near, the time has come to look back at the devices and accessories that Apple discontinued throughout the year. Most of the products that were discontinued this year were simply replaced by a new model with an updated chip. However, the iPhone SE line was entirely discontinued when the iPhone 16e launched, and the iPhone Plus line is being phased out. Below, we have...

Top Rated Comments

delsoul Avatar
7 months ago
It seems they learned one lesson but failed to learn another. People want REAL upgrades, not just some cool colors here, some shiny graphics there. Many of these ‘features’ they release, majority of folks I dare say don’t even use them. There’s not a single thing released by Apple in recent times, software wise, that’s made me feel like wow I really have to have that. This also goes for Android, I’m really believing tech is out of actual fresh ideas and trying to buy themselves time to try and come up with something.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nik Avatar
7 months ago
Under-promise. Over-deliver. That's how it should be.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
poematik13 Avatar
7 months ago
The company is washed. They're just way too big now and not able to think clearly and cohesively on executing a singular vision. The "big reveal" is literally just a windows aero skin on the UI. Seriously? lol

The corporate structure is now 30-40 teams, each with a budget and headcount bigger than most startups, all fighting and competing against eachother internally for promotions.

You can tell by how robotic and soulless all the hosts were that all the employees care about is the stock price and their TC. Nobody cares anymore about being revolutionary or disruptive or making an iMac/iPod/iPhone-tier product- that era is over.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KENESS Avatar
7 months ago
I don't know if it is just me, but I'm really feeling update overload these days. Every couple of months, there's a "big" new feature coming in a point release. It's just kind of overwhelming and makes my brain "check out" and my general reaction when there's a new point release is... Ugh. Again.

I'm not complaining about lack of innovation or complaining that Apple has lost it's way or that Apple's quality control is going downhill or any of the other annoying mantras that infect the forums, I don't have an issue with any of those things.

I just feel like every time I turn around there is a significant upgrade and significant (or semi-significant) new feature.

I kind of just wish they'd release all their new features each year in the x.0 release, and then all subsequent releases for the year would be just bug fixes and refinements. And that's it. Not ready for the x.0 release? Then wait until next year!

The x.0 release should DEFINE the feature set of that release. The point updates should be fixes.

Just my opinion.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlexStudios Avatar
7 months ago

It seems they learned one lesson but failed to learn another. People want REAL upgrades, not just some cool colors here, some shiny graphics there. Many of these ‘features’ they release, majority of folks I dare say don’t even use them. There’s not a single thing released by Apple in recent times, software wise, that’s made me feel like wow I really have to have that. This also goes for Android, I’m really believing tech is out of actual fresh ideas and trying to buy themselves time to try and come up with something.
Truth be told, the tech industry is running out of features they're able to add on an already packed device.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hurley999jb Avatar
7 months ago
Seems like a heartfelt apology from Tim would have gone a long way! All he would have had to do was note that they missed the mark, and would do better in the future.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)