According to a well-informed journalist, iOS 19 is set to introduce a significant visual redesign for the iPhone, enhancing the consistency of controls, icons, and buttons across Apple’s ecosystem. The anticipated announcement of the successor to iOS 18 is scheduled for the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, which kicks off on June 9. This update is expected to minimize visual discrepancies among devices, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and the Apple Vision Pro, offering users a more integrated experience.
Visual Overhaul Coming to iOS 19
During an hour-long Q&A session with Tim Stenovec, host of Bloomberg Businessweek Daily, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman revealed insights about Apple’s iOS 19 plans. He stressed that this upcoming operating system will see the most significant redesign since the introduction of iOS 7 in 2013. The user interface is expected to feature elements similar to visionOS, which operates on the Apple Vision Pro headset.
One of the anticipated modifications includes glass effects across the user interface. Although these effects were initially expected to debut with iOS 18 last year, the update ultimately focused more on enhancing Apple Intelligence features, leading to minimal visual changes. With the launch of iOS 19, Apple is reportedly intending to introduce new visual elements that will provide a more cohesive user experience.
Gurman indicated that iOS 19 will encompass a “pretty dramatic set of changes,” aimed at streamlining system actions, such as hamburger menus and various buttons including the menu bar and application closure features. The company is expected to revamp core applications to help a new generation of users better understand their devices. While specific applications slated for redesign remain undisclosed, the expectation is that foundational apps will align visually with other operating systems.
Prior insights suggest that the home screen in iOS 19 might feature rounded icons, moving away from the traditional rounded square design Apple has used for years. This change is expected to align the interface more closely with the aesthetics seen in visionOS, placing greater emphasis on visual updates rather than merely introducing new features for the iPhone.
