iOS 19

Apple doesn't plan to unveil iOS 19 until the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote on June 9, but some details about the next-generation operating system update are already starting to leak out, and we're hearing a big design change is coming. Apple will update iOS 19's interface, introducing visionOS-like design changes that will also extend to iPadOS 19 and macOS 16.

iOS 18 focused heavily on Apple Intelligence, Apple's version of artificial intelligence, and it should come as no surprise that iOS 19 will further Apple's push into making its devices smarter. iOS 19 was supposed to be focused on new Siri functionality, but some of those features have been delayed and will instead come in iOS 19.

With iOS 18, Apple rolled out AI features over several months and across multiple updates rather than releasing everything at once in the 18.0 update, and it's sounding like Apple will use the same tactic with iOS 19. In fact, rumors suggest that Apple's continued work on iOS 18 features is pushing back development on iOS 19, so we will likely see new iOS 19 capabilities come out on a rolling basis like we did for iOS 18.

This roundup includes all of the iOS 19 tidbits that we've heard so far. As with all iOS updates, iOS 19 will be accompanied by iPadOS 19, a version of iOS with some features that are specific to the larger displays of Apple's iPad lineup.

iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 will "fundamentally change" the look of the operating system, introducing a more consistent cross-platform experience.

Apple will update the style of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons, with plans to simplify navigation and control. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman described the design change as the biggest update to iOS since iOS 7.

iOS 19 is expected to feature a visionOS-like design, adopting design principles adopted with the Vision Pro. Apple plans to use more transparency and new types of windows and buttons.

iOS 19 will overhaul apps with a glassy, floating look that's reminiscent of visionOS, with Apple focusing on a more rounded, translucent design that puts content front and center.

Leaker Jon Prosser shared several mockups based on images of iOS 19 that he allegedly saw, though Gurman says that the mockups are out of date and not representative of what we'll actually see. Still, these could give an early look at the design direction that Apple is planning, if they are in any way accurate.

Prosser showed off a redesigned Camera app, featuring a design that provides more screen space for the photo preview, with translucent pop-out menus that can be swiped through to select various camera modes.

There are separate menus for photo and video categories, and the options change based on what's selected. The menus appear to be similar to the translucent menus that visionOS uses.

Prosser's Messages app mockup shows an interface with rounded, translucent bubble-shaped navigation buttons at the top and softer, rounder corners for the keyboard and word suggestions. The return button, a button for going back to the Messages list, and the FaceTime button have a deeper blue shade that has a bit of a glow about it, but Prosser's mockup does not show fundamental changes to the layout.

Prosser claims that menu elements, popups, buttons, and other interface elements will have a more rounded aesthetic with "glassy" styling, and these same design changes will be brought to apps, primarily in menus and buttons.

The design of Apple's most recent apps, Invites, Apple Sports, and Apple Playground, could hint at the visionOS-like redesign we could see in iOS 19. The apps have more translucent user interface elements, expanding buttons, and an emphasis on content.

Apple is expected to expand some existing Apple Intelligence features to more of its built-in apps. While there are no specific rumors yet about new Apple Intelligence features for various apps, there are areas where it would make sense for Apple to incorporate AI. We previously heard rumors about Apple using Apple Intelligence for Apple Music playlist generation, but that has yet to happen. It's possible we could see the feature and others like it in iOS 19.

Apple delayed some of the Apple Intelligence Siri features that it expected to release in iOS 18, and now we may be waiting until iOS 19 to get the functionality. Apple is working on a more personalized version of Siri that will be more capable and more intelligent.

The functionality includes personal context, onscreen awareness, and improved app integration. A quick summary:

Personal Context

With personal context, Siri will be able to keep track of emails, messages, files, photos, and more, learning more about you to help you complete tasks and keep track of what you've been sent.

• Show me the files Eric sent me last week.
• Find the email where Eric mentioned ice skating.
• Find the books that Eric recommended to me.
• Where's the recipe that Eric sent me?
• What's my passport number?

Onscreen Awareness

Onscreen awareness will let Siri see what's on your screen and complete actions involving whatever you're looking at. If someone texts you an address, for example, you can tell Siri to add it to their contact card. Or if you're looking at a photo and want to send it to someone, you can ask Siri to do it for you.

Deeper App Integration

Deeper app integration means that Siri will be able to do more in and across apps, performing actions and completing tasks that are just not possible with the personal assistant right now. We don't have a full picture of what Siri will be capable of, but Apple has provided a few examples of what to expect.

• Moving files from one app to another.
• Editing a photo and then sending it to someone.
• Get directions home and share the ETA with Eric.
• Send the email I drafted to Eric.

Apple is working on a feature that will let the AirPods translate in-person conversations from one language to another, and the firmware update will be tied to iOS 19.

The AirPods will be able to provide a simpler translation process for people who are speaking different languages, though the process will rely on the Translate app on the iPhone.

If an English speaker with AirPods is talking to someone who is speaking Spanish, the iPhone will detect the audio, translate the speech, and relay it back in English to the person wearing AirPods. The person speaking English will then be able to respond and have their response translated to Spanish and spoken aloud by the iPhone. Apple's iPhone Translate app can already be used for conversations like this, but having the function included in the AirPods will streamline the exchange.

To go along with the new AirPods feature, Apple is also planning to improve the Translate app in iOS 19.

Apple is developing a much smarter version of Siri that utilizes advanced large language models or LLMs, allowing the personal assistant to better compete with AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT.

An LLM is trained on huge amounts of data, which allows it to understand and generate natural, human-like language, perform tasks, and solve problems. LLMs are the backbone of generative AI, or AI that can create content. LLMs are typically trained on text, art, languages, math, coding, and more.

A chatbot version of Siri would likely be able to hold ongoing conversations with ease and provide the same kind of help and insight as ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Apple is aiming for a Siri that's able to better converse with iPhone, iPad, and Mac users, with Siri responding like a human would.

LLM integration would allow Siri to perform more complex tasks, which the current version of Siri is not capable of. As of right now, Apple has to rely on ChatGPT integration in iOS 18.2 for queries that are beyond Siri's capability. ChatGPT can analyze images, generate images from scratch, answer complex questions, give advice, and more.

Apple is testing the new Siri internally in a separate app on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but it will eventually replace the current version of Siri. Apple was expected to announce LLM Siri as soon as WWDC 2025, but development on the ChatGPT-style Siri is behind schedule.

Apple does not plan to unveil the new LLM version of Siri at WWDC 2025, and it may not launch in iOS 19 at all. Apple may choose to hold the update until iOS 20.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that a "larger-than-usual number of features" slated for release in iOS 19 have been postponed until spring 2026. It's possible that the release version of iOS 19 will be light on major new features, with Apple rolling them out over a longer span of time.

Earlier this year, Gurman suggested that Apple is slowly moving away from timed software releases that come on an annual basis, focusing instead on debuting new functionality when it's ready. A more laid back schedule allows Apple to make sure its software is more polished and ready to go without having to rush to meet an annual timeline.

Apple could continue on with what it did for the iOS 18 launch. New features like Apple Intelligence were announced at WWDC, but the capabilities have seen a staggered release. Apple won't finish releasing all of the features previewed at WWDC 2024 until spring 2025 or later, just in time to start gearing up for iOS 19.

iOS 19 is rumored to be able to run on all devices that support iOS 18, which include the following iPhone models:

• iPhone 16e
• iPhone 16
• iPhone 16 Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)

Some iOS 19 features will be limited to newer devices, such as Apple Intelligence capabilities.

Apple will preview iOS 19 at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2025. After WWDC, iOS 19 will be made available to developers for testing purposes, and then Apple will roll out a public beta later in the summer.

Following the beta testing period, iOS 19 will launch in September 2025 alongside new iPhones, but not all planned iOS 19 features are likely to be available right at launch.

Instead, Apple will have a staggered rollout, much like it did for the iOS 18 Apple Intelligence features.