Apple is said to be preparing a major visual overhaul for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, one of the most significant updates in years. Bloomberg says that the next iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 will bring a new look, with emphasis on refreshed icons, menus, apps, system buttons, and windows.
The redesign is intended to make the experience more uniform across Apple’s environment, making it easier to use while borrowing from visionOS, the OS that supports Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
Greatest UI Overhaul in More Than a Decade
This redesign will likely be the biggest user interface overhaul for the iPhone and iPad since iOS 7, which ushered in a contemporary, flat design in 2013. For Mac users, it will be the largest change since macOS Big Sur, which introduced a revamped interface in 2020.
Although the updates will bring visual consistency to Apple’s platforms, Apple is not consolidating its operating systems, according to Bloomberg. Rather, the updates will polish and develop each OS without losing their respective functionalities.
Apple’s WWDC 2024 to Reveal the Redesign
Apple is set to unveil the updates during its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, where it usually releases its significant software updates. Yet Apple has not confirmed the date of WWDC 2024.
In the past, Apple’s design changes have evoked strong responses from users. While some welcome modernizations, others are slow to adapt to radical UI changes. Since visionOS is an inspiration for the redesign, users should anticipate features such as improved transparency effects, more rounded icon edges, and a generally more streamlined appearance.
Apple has not commented on questions regarding these reported changes, but the tech community is waiting with bated breath for what may be the most extreme visual overhaul for Apple products in more than a decade.
