At WWDC 2025, Apple didn’t issue a formal apology – but everything they unveiled felt like one. This wasn’t a keynote full of bold experimentation or flashy risk-taking. Instead, it was a strategic retreat from the missteps of recent years, with a heavy focus on user feedback.
Apple didn’t just roll back some unpopular changes – it quietly acknowledged that listening might be the new innovation.
The Photos App Is Finally Usable Again
Remember when the iOS 18 Gallery was redesigned into a bloated, AI-infused labyrinth? Apple tried to “modernize” it and ended up making it an absolute mess. Navigation was confusing, useful features were buried, and the interface felt like it was built for someone else entirely.
iOS 19 simplifies it all. The app now opens to just two tabs: Library and Collections. It’s a return to basics, clearly designed for people who want to find their photos – not get lost in an AI-powered maze. Subtle AI enhancements are still present, but only where they make sense. No one mentioned this change on stage – probably because it would sound too much like “we messed up.”
iPad Multitasking, Finally Done Right
Stage Manager tried to reinvent multitasking on the iPad. It was bold, ambitious – and almost universally disliked. Users were left swiping through half-baked windows, with an interface that seemed allergic to user intuition.
In iPadOS 26, Apple has taken a far more grounded approach. Real multitasking has arrived, including window snapping, a proper and responsive pointer, and smooth workflow options. For once, the iPad feels like the productivity device it has always pretended to be. Stage Manager still exists – somewhere in the settings – but the writing is on the wall.
Files App Becomes an Actual File Manager
It only took seven years, but the iPad’s Files app is now functional. The iPadOS 26 update gives it a proper list view with metadata, file previews that open with a double-tap, and contextual sorting options like size or date modified. You can even drop folder shortcuts onto the desktop. It’s the Finder clone everyone wanted since day one – and Apple finally delivered it, silently.
Genmoji Learns the Value of Limits
When Apple first launched Genmoji, it was meant to be a playground for unlimited emoji creativity. But it turns out, endless choices make for a boring conversation. The fun of emoji lies in making do with a limited set – not creating one for every emotion on the spot.
Genmoji 2.0 introduces emoji combinations instead. Now, users can blend two or more existing emoji into clever hybrids – just like Google’s Emoji Kitchen. It’s structured, it’s fun, and it’s just unpredictable enough to stay interesting.
Apple’s Silent Apology
Apple’s 2025 update cycle isn’t about bragging rights – it’s about course correction. Each UI tweak, feature rollback, and hidden “fix” is an unspoken admission that things haven’t been perfect. And that’s okay.
In some ways, this is the most exciting Apple has been in years – not because of what’s new, but because of what they’re willing to fix. Maybe Apple is finally letting the user guide the experience again. Let’s just hope they keep listening.