Apple's iOS 19 is set to shatter expectations with its biggest redesign in a decade—here’s what’s coming

Apple has officially announced that its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 will take place from June 9 to June 13, featuring an online format open to all Apple developers and an in-person keynote at Apple Park on June 9. The event will unveil the next-generation software updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, along with new developer tools.

While the official release of these updates will come later, leaks and rumours have been circulating—particularly about iOS 19. Notably, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has covered Apple for 16 years, described iOS 19 as “the biggest redesign to iOS since iOS 7 over 10 years ago” during a Q&A session with Bloomberg’s Tim Stenovec on March 26.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from iOS 19 and whether your device will be eligible for the upgrade.

The upcoming iOS 19 is expected to introduce a significant design overhaul, inspired by Apple's visionOS, across various devices, including the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This update is rumoured to focus on creating a seamless user experience with consistent, fluid UI changes—introducing rounded icons, glassy effects, and a more immersive, spatial design. These changes will be reflected in apps, menus, system buttons, and even the keyboard, offering a refreshed and cohesive aesthetic across platforms.

“The big thing with this redesign is consistent controls, icons, buttons, user interface dynamics, and mechanisms across both iOS and macOS,” said Gurman.

A major highlight is the redesigned Camera app, which is expected to feature translucent controls and a new toggle for switching between photo and video modes. Additionally, quick-access options like Depth, Spatial, Pano, and Style might be included, along with top-bar buttons for Live Photos, Flash, Resolution, and Frame Rate.

AI integration, if any, could enhance the user experience, making the system more intuitive—particularly within first-party apps.

Another significant change is the anticipated overhaul of Siri, which is expected to receive new Apple Intelligence capabilities, including enhanced conversational abilities and more personalised on-screen interactions. While Siri 2.0 has been delayed, these updates are expected to improve the voice assistant’s functionality.

Apple is also expected to refine the Control Centre, with rumours suggesting new customisation options and potential icon changes, though details remain sparse. Despite some leaks showing early design builds, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that more surprises are in store for the official announcement at WWDC in June.

However, for existing iPhone users, the bigger question surrounding iOS 19 is whether their devices will remain compatible. Some speculate that older models like the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max will be dropped from the eligibility list. The update is expected to be available for the iPhone 16 series, iPhone 16e, iPhone 15 series, iPhone 14 series, iPhone 13 series, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 11 series, and iPhone SE (2nd generation or later). However, some advanced features, such as Apple Intelligence, might be limited to newer devices powered by the latest chipsets, including the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and future models.

As the world eagerly awaits Apple’s showcase at WWDC 2025, questions remain about the company’s artificial intelligence ambitions and upcoming innovations. During the Q&A session, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman noted, “The Apple of today is a company trying to squeeze as much juice as possible out of its existing product portfolio.” Whether Apple will reinvent itself with groundbreaking advancements or continue refining its existing ecosystem will only become clear when the conference kicks off on June 9.