Apple Inc. is preparing one of the most dramatic software overhauls in the company’s history, aiming to transform the interface of the iPhone, iPad and Mac for a new generation of users.
The revamp — due later this year — will fundamentally change the look of the operating systems and make Apple’s various software platforms more consistent, according to people familiar with the effort. That includes updating the style of icons, menus, apps, windows and system buttons.
A key goal of the overhaul is to make Apple’s different operating systems look similar and more consistent. Right now, the applications, icons and window styles vary across macOS, iOS and visionOS. That can make it jarring to hop from one device to another.
Apple is planning one of the biggest software overhauls in its history for iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 later this year. The changes go well beyond a new coat of paint like iOS 7. This is a fundamental revamp.
iOS 19 will be “one of the most dramatic software overhauls” in Apple’s history, according to a new report from Bloomberg. This will include some of the biggest design changes we’ve seen in over a decade.
The company is reportedly planning similar updates for Mac and iPad as well. The goal is to make Apple’s platforms “more consistent.”
iOS 19: The biggest revamp since iOS 7
The report outlines that the changes will “go well beyond a new design language and aesthetic tweaks.” For the iPhone, it will allegedly be “the biggest revamp since iOS 7” in 2013. As a refresher, iOS 7 marked a dramatic top-down redesign of the iPhone’s software interface, setting the stage for the next era of Apple’s design language.
For the Mac, Bloomberg says macOS 16 will mark the “most significant upgrade to the Mac” since macOS Big Sur was released in 2020. macOS Big Sur brought significant design changes to the Dock, Notification Center, Messages, and more.
As part of the revamp, Apple will update the “style of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons.” The new design is “loosely” based on visionOS, and Apple’s goal is to make the design of its software platforms “more consistent,” the report says. Apple also plans to “simplify the way users navigate and control their devices.”
More information on what exactly Apple has planned for iOS 19 and its other updates remains to be seen. The report doesn’t dive into specific details about iOS 19 design changes, new features, and more. A previous rumor suggested that iOS 19 will significantly overhaul the Camera app.
Apple will announce iOS 19 at WWDC in June, followed by several months of beta testing. The update will be released to everyone in September alongside the iPhone 17 lineup.
