As Apple gears up to reveal its next-generation mobile operating system, currently known as iOS 19, during the upcoming WWDC 2025 event, numerous reports have highlighted potential new features and significant changes users might see from this release.
Most notably, Apple is reportedly planning a major rebranding for its software lineup. According to recent information, the company may move away from its traditional numbering convention and adopt a naming system tied directly to the release year—meaning the new version of Apple’s mobile software could debut as iOS 26. This adjustment is expected across Apple’s full software ecosystem, suggesting similar shifts for iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and the newer visionOS.
Perhaps more exciting for users will be the complete visual redesign Apple is rumored to be implementing, reportedly one on par with the massive shift seen in the move from the skeuomorphic iOS 6 to the flatter aesthetics of iOS 7. Inspired by the Vision Pro headset interface elements, insiders say the updated design introduces translucent navigation panels and more rounded app icons, aiming to deliver a consistent visual experience across all Apple devices, including CarPlay.
Key system applications—including Phone, Camera, and Safari—are also predicted to receive extensive redesigns. Within the Phone app, Apple might combine favorite contacts, recent calls, and voicemails into a unified view. Meanwhile, Camera and Safari apps are expected to adopt more refined visual elements, such as transparent navigation bars and redesigned user interface frameworks.
Another notable addition rumored for the upcoming update is a dedicated gaming hub application integrating Apple Arcade and App Store games into a single streamlined platform. This platform could include leaderboards, achievements, and curated gaming content, reflecting Apple’s deeper ambitions in the gaming space following its acquisition of game studio RAC7.
A particularly innovative update centers on health and wellness. Apple reportedly plans to launch an AI-driven virtual health coach feature, capable of analyzing personal user data from the Health app to recommend lifestyle changes and personalized wellness advice. This improvement may coincide with a Health app overhaul, introducing additional tracking abilities, such as logging dietary carbohydrate and caffeine intake.
Enhanced battery management may also be included in this forthcoming update, incorporating an AI-powered system capable of evaluating and adapting to users’ daily routines to improve battery longevity. Alongside this, the lock screen might gain a fresh battery icon, clearly indicating estimated remaining charging time, and possibly offer reverse wireless charging capabilities for future iPhone Pro-series devices.
Further, Apple Messages could benefit from new AI-driven translation tools, seamlessly translating incoming messages into the user’s desired language in real-time. Complementing this translation update, group chats might also receive AI-generated polls, making group decisions more user-friendly. Additionally, users may gain the ability to set personalized background images within messages, echoing popular messaging trends seen on other platforms.
Moreover, Apple may extend the Preview app, familiar to macOS users, to its iPhone and iPad ecosystem. This app would likely include PDF editing, annotation, and markup features, preinstalled and fully optimized for mobile.
On the emoji frontier, Apple is rumored to introduce an intriguing new feature named “Genmoji,” enabling users to combine existing emojis creatively—for example, merging a basketball emoji with a trash bin to form new expressive icons.
Interestingly absent from the latest rumors are previously anticipated improvements to Siri. Despite Apple showcasing a dramatically enhanced, context-aware Siri during its 2024 event, the rollout of these advanced capabilities now appears delayed, indicating their absence from immediate future updates.
It remains expected that during WWDC 2025, Apple will place significant focus on substantial interface revisions, alongside incremental but strategic advancements in artificial intelligence, battery management, health tracking, and app functionality. Further details are anticipated throughout Apple’s upcoming presentation and subsequent updates.
