The Mobile Platform Shift: How Apple and Google Are Elevating Native Experiences

Apple and Google both rolled out bold updates to their respective operating systems, putting design innovation and on-device AI at the forefront. While new features often generate buzz, the announcements from WWDC and Google I/O this year signal a fundamental shift in how apps are built and experienced. For brands still relying on outdated mobile strategies, the gap between industry leaders and late adopters is about to widen significantly. 

At One North, we look beyond the surface of new platform updates to uncover what truly matters for brands. Here are the updates we think clients and partners need to pay attention to. 

Apple’s Liquid Glass and On-Device AI: A New Design Language for Native Apps 

At WWDC 2025, Apple unveiled iOS 26 and introduced a system-wide design evolution called Liquid Glass. This new visual layer brings translucent, real-time-rendered UI components that adapt fluidly to content and motion, creating a sense of depth, clarity, and motion across Apple’s entire ecosystem. This isn’t just a visual flair; it’s a new standard that will make static interfaces feel outdated. 

Alongside these design updates, Apple also launched a Foundation Models Framework, allowing developers to tap into Apple’s multimodal AI models directly on the device. This unlocks features like summarization and image analysis without relying on external servers, helping preserve privacy while delivering fast, intelligent experiences.  

Apple is also investing in developers through Swift Assist in Xcode 26. This new on-device AI assistant offers context-aware code suggestions, refactoring help, and debugging tips, all within the IDE. The result? Faster development cycles and more sophisticated apps reaching market sooner. 

For brands building native iOS apps, these changes offer more than visual polish. They present a chance to create richer, more responsive, and more personalized user experiences while aligning with Apple’s privacy-first philosophy.

Google Doubles Down on AI and Flexibility with Android 16

Google introduced Android 16 with a refresh of its Material 3 design system. The update brings smoother motion, adaptive theming, and improved support for foldables and large screens, encouraging more expressive and flexible UI design. 

The bigger leap came with Google’s Gemini-powered tools. Android Studio Narwhal now includes AI-assisted features like Compose preview generation and UI transformation using natural language. Developers can fix crashes, write tests, and iterate on UIs more efficiently than ever before. 

On the application side, ML Kit’s new GenAI APIs bring on-device capabilities for summarization, rewriting, and image descriptions. These features no longer require server calls, which makes them more responsive and private. 

These updates make Google’s direction clear: Android apps are becoming more intelligent, adaptive, and developer-friendly. Brands that embrace these changes can deliver differentiated mobile experiences with faster time to market. 

What This Means for Your Mobile Strategy 

If you’re building mobile experiences for your audience, here are key takeaways from these platform shifts: 

• AI is now table stakes. From powering internal development tools to driving in-app features, on-device AI is central to both platforms’ visions for the future.
• Design matters more than ever. Whether it’s Liquid Glass or Material 3, modern UI is immersive, responsive, and dynamic. Brands that invest in visual sophistication will stand out.
• Native leads the way. Many of these features are only available when using the tools built directly for each platform (like iOS or Android). Tools like React Native and Flutter, which are designed to work across platforms, often take longer to support the latest updates.
• Your brand needs to be platform ready. These capabilities require thoughtful integration with your brand identity and user experience goals. Success isn’t just about adopting new features; it’s about ensuring they align with and enhance your brand’s unique value proposition.

Ready to Get Started? 

As mobile platforms continue to evolve, our multidisciplinary team can help turn platform innovation into real-world value. Now is a good time to audit your existing mobile experiences, identify underused native capabilities, and align your UI with the latest design patterns. You might also explore how on-device AI can simplify user tasks and enhance engagement. With thoughtful design, strong architecture, and intelligent features, we create mobile experiences that stand out while staying true to your brand. 

Ready to turn platform innovation into a competitive advantage? One North can help you strengthen your mobile strategy and bring it to life.  

Photo Credit: Steve Johnson