iOS 18 was pegged to be one of the biggest software updates to the iPhone, ushering in Apple Intelligence – Cupertino’s answer to AI. So far, things haven’t gone exactly to plan. The roll-out has been a nightmare, with some features still not available almost a year after it’s debut. But good news, we’ve got some better software changes from Apple on the way with iOS 19.
In fact, I think that iOS 19 will be the biggest free iPhone upgrade yet. Early leaks and rumours point to a major redesign – in fact, the biggest change in design since the launch of iOS 7 in 2013. One leak from Jon Prosser allegedly reveals the entirety of the new update. Couple that with Apple Intelligence’s roll-out finally finishing (so we can put it behind us), and we’re in for a big treat.
Bloomberg reports the software versions will now be named after the year ahead – ie: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, etc – to bring naming consistency. For the sake of this article, we’ll still refer to the next iPhone update as iOS 19, as that’s what most people are familiar with.
What to expect from iOS 19
Reports reckon iOS 19 will deliver the biggest revamp since Apple dropped skeuomorphism and ushered in flat, minimal design. And it’s not just the iPhone, Apple’s apparently planning to overhaul iPadOS and macOS as well. With this redesign, it sounds like Apple’s aiming for consistency across the board. We expect a new design that loosely follows the aesthetic of visionOS.
Expect this to include a new style of system animations, shinier onscreen elements (they shimmer slightly when you tilt the device), and a more dynamic, glassy interface. This should extend right the way from redesigned icons which may now be squircles, to menus, apps, windows, and system buttons.
Apple’s focusing on simplifying navigation and controls. A more intuitive Settings app (with slightly different sliders) and a new “tab view” throughout first-party apps shows this. The tab view puts all your bottom menu icons into a floating bar, sort of like the current Pinterest app. In the Messages app, the search bar may also now live at the bottom of your screen.
We also expect clearer visual tweaks in Control Center – which looks more or less the same, but with rounder sliders. We’ve seen a taste of this with the menus in the Apple Sports app, and the more recent Invites app. Details beyond that are, as usual, locked up tighter than an Apple Park boardroom.
There are whispers about a massive Camera app overhaul, which makes sense. Apple’s been quietly beefing up its camera hardware year after year, but the app itself has felt a bit stuck in 2015. Maybe iOS 19 will finally make it less of a chore to switch between different camera modes or settings. One new feature we’re hearing about is the ability to record video using the front and rear cameras at the same time. I just hope it doesn’t try to involve the godforsaken Camera Control button more than it already has.
And (I do have to mention it, sorry), Apple Intelligence’s roll-out should finally be complete. Apple officially delayed the new version of Siri with personal context to later this year – most likely in iOS 19. When this rolls out, the year-old software suite will finally be finished. Although, you’ll probably have to wait another year for the full conversational version of Siri. It really is getting hard to see how the assistant will ever actually get better.
When will Apple release iOS 19?
We’ll have to wait until June at Apple’s WWDC conference to get the full picture. The invite to the event hinted to the new design with some transparent elements – so that’s an encouraging sign.
Expect the usual months of beta testing to follow before the full release in September, likely timed with the iPhone 17 launch. After the mess of Apple Intelligence and iOS 18, Apple really needs to score with iOS 19. And based on what we’ve heard, I think the brand can do so.
Now, if Apple could just sort out the mess that is the Settings app and maybe give us proper home screen customisation without jumping through Shortcuts hoops, we might really be onto something.
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