From Spatial Widgets to Realistic Avatars: All visionOS Updates Announced by Apple at WWDC

Apple has rolled out an update for visionOS 26, the operating system that powers its mixed-reality headset, based on last year's Apple Vision Pro. This spatial computer integrates digital content with the physical world. At WWDC, Apple announced a series of updates for both consumer and business users, featuring new spatial widgets and content, as well as more realistic avatars.

Customizable Spatial Widgets

Apple’s widgets offer personalized and practical information at a glance. With the release of visionOS 26, they have become more spatial, blending into your environment. You can customize the size, color, and depth of the widgets according to your preferences and place them wherever you like.

New widgets include a decorative clock, a weather widget that changes based on the local weather, a music widget for quick access to music, and a photo widget that can transform into panoramic views or "a window to another space."

Adding Depth to 2D Images

An update to the visionOS Photos app uses a new AI algorithm to create multiple perspectives for your 2D photos by calculating depth, making the images come to life. Apple claims this will make you feel as if you can "lean in and look around."

Spatial browsing on Safari also makes web browsing a more immersive experience. For some supported articles, spatial browsing can hide distractions and display embedded photos that "come alive as you scroll." Developers can also integrate the spatial browsing feature into their own apps.

Talking Avatars

Apple has introduced Personas on Vision Pro, an AI avatar for video calls, which was a beta feature last year. With visionOS 26, Apple says Personas now "more accurately represent you."

The new Personas utilize "volumetric rendering and machine learning techniques" to enhance everything from side panoramic views to more accurate hair, eyelashes, and skin tones. All Personas are created on the device in just "a few seconds," according to Apple.

Shared Immersion

visionOS 26 allows you and a friend wearing the headset to watch movies or play spatial games together.

This feature is also being extended to enterprise customers, enabling collaborative work. For example, Dassault Systèmes is using this feature through its 3DLive application to visualize 3D designs on-site with remote colleagues.

Enterprise APIs and Tools

visionOS 26 also allows organizations to easily share a common set of devices among team members. It can securely save your eye and hand data, vision prescriptions, and accessibility settings to your iPhone, allowing users to quickly use shared team devices or a friend's Vision Pro as a guest user.

Apple plans to add more APIs so businesses can create apps designed specifically for visionOS. There is also a new "eyes-only" mode ensuring only authorized individuals can view any confidential materials.

Finally, Apple announced Logitech Muse for Vision Pro, a spatial accessory designed for the headset, allowing you to draw and collaborate precisely in 3D.

Other visionOS 26 Updates

More Apple intelligence features are coming to Apple Vision Pro. For instance, visionOS 26 supports new languages such as French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish, as well as English for Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, and the UK.

Users can now "navigate" apps and websites using just their eyes. They can also unlock their iPhone while wearing the Apple Vision Pro, and even when wearing the headset, visionOS supports call handover from iPhone, allowing you to answer calls directly from the Apple Vision Pro.