Apple executives are confident that users will embrace what's being described as "one of the most dramatic overhauls to the company's operating systems in its history," according to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The upcoming redesign spans iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16, and will go far beyond superficial changes, fundamentally altering how people interact with their Apple devices, reports Gurman. Top executives have expressed confidence that users will "love the new look and feel," despite it facing the difficult task of appealing to both existing customers and potential new users.
The redesigned interfaces will adopt design principles first introduced in visionOS, the operating system powering Apple's Vision Pro headset. This includes greater transparency, new window styles, and reimagined buttons, creating a more consistent experience across Apple's product ecosystem. For an idea of what could be coming, check out Jon Prosser's render allegedly depicting the redesigned Camera app.
Gurman has previously said the iOS 19 design changes will be the biggest since iOS 7.
According to Apple executives cited in the latest report, the overhaul aims to make the operating systems "simpler to use, faster to navigate and easier to learn." The new software architecture will also reportedly lay the groundwork for future hardware innovations, including potential foldable devices and touchscreen Macs.
Perhaps most notably, the redesign appears to have been made to adapt Apple's ecosystem for an AI-dominated future, shifting away from the traditional app-centric model and toward one where AI assistants handle more user interactions. It's a risky gamble from Apple, given the muted user response to its Apple Intelligence features and the critical reaction to recently delayed AI-based Siri enhancements.
The redesigned operating systems are expected to be unveiled at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June, with public releases likely following in the fall alongside new hardware. For everything we know so far about the changes, be sure to check out our dedicated roundup.
