A year of housekeeping, under the hood too
The running theme of WWDC 2026 — a year of refinement, not revolution — is also reflected in the performance promises. Engadget reported the figures Apple stated on stage: AirDrop transfers up to 80 percent faster, messages loading in Mail and playback starting in Apple Music at the same speed, and photos appearing in the camera roll 70 percent faster than last year. Apps launch up to 30 percent more quickly.
Apple also cited improvements to CPU schedulers for multitasking and a smoother transition to a cellular connection when moving out of Wi-Fi range. TechCrunch described it as part of a focus on stability and everyday usability, consistent with what Federighi read from the marketing team's note at the start of the keynote.
Numbers to verify
Figures like these should be taken with appropriate caution: Apple measures them under controlled conditions and real-world improvements can differ. That said, the direction is clear: after years in which new iOS versions were accused of slowing down older devices, Apple is explicitly stating it has invested in efficiency. Beta testers over the coming weeks will provide a more reliable answer.