Apple is preparing for its highly anticipated announcement of iOS 19 at the upcoming WWDC 2025 event, which industry insiders suggest could bring about some of the most significant changes in years. According to reports, the company might even retire its longtime numerical naming convention, opting instead to label its operating systems by the year of release—transforming iOS 19 into iOS 26. This new naming scheme would extend across Apple’s full line of operating systems, including iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS.
One of the most discussed updates is a complete visual redesign influenced heavily by Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Recognized as potentially the biggest visual overhaul since iOS 7, iOS 19 (or iOS 26, if the new naming convention takes effect) could feature elegant translucent UI elements like navigation bars and distinctive circular application icons. Apple reportedly plans this cohesive design refresh across its entire ecosystem, extending even to CarPlay.
Key built-in apps—Phone, Camera, and Safari—may see substantial changes as well. A noteworthy modification to the Phone app might include a unified interface combining favorite contacts, recent calls, and voicemails onto a single screen. Meanwhile, the Camera and Safari apps are expected to gain additional visual refinements, including a transparent address bar in the Safari browser.
Additionally, Apple is rumored to launch a dedicated gaming application, bringing together its Apple Arcade and regular App Store game content. This central app would serve as a hub for achievements, leaderboards, and gaming experiences, a move possibly motivated by Apple’s recent acquisition of the game development studio RAC7.
Health-conscious users have reason to anticipate another significant addition: an artificial intelligence-powered virtual health coach capable of offering tailored advice and lifestyle recommendations based on personal metrics gathered via Apple’s Health app. The company is also likely to enhance the Health app’s capabilities by allowing meticulous food tracking features, including carbohydrate and caffeine monitoring.
Battery management is another area expected to get smarter with artificial intelligence. Reports indicate Apple’s AI technology will analyze device usage patterns more effectively, adjusting battery consumption and potentially prolonging device lifespan. A new battery-charging indicator might appear on the lock screen, displaying how long charging will take to complete. In addition, Apple may introduce reverse wireless charging to iPhone 17 Pro models, enabling smartphones to power accessories such as AirPods or Apple Watch by contact.
Messages could also receive substantial AI-powered enhancements, including live message translation and an innovative polling feature designed for group conversations. Users might gain the option to personalize their messaging experience further by setting distinctive background images, a feature familiar from platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram.
Furthermore, Apple’s Preview application, long exclusive to macOS, may finally arrive as a standard pre-installed app on iPhones and iPads, allowing easy PDF annotations and edits.
New expressive opportunities could arrive with an update to Apple’s Genmoji, enabling users to combine existing emoji symbols in creative and amusing ways—such as placing a basketball into a trash can.
Conspicuously absent among the circulating rumors is mention of significant upgrades to Siri, despite Apple’s prior showcase of a more contextual, cross-app integration capability anticipated earlier. In March, Apple indicated that major updates to the voice assistant would be delayed.
While the spotlight at WWDC 2025 is expected to remain predominantly focused on the sweeping design changes, we can also look forward to both improvements to the existing suite of Apple Intelligence features and brand-new additions that underscore the company’s deepening emphasis on artificial intelligence integration throughout its offerings.
