Apple is gearing up for a major software update for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, set for late 2025. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman calls it a “dramatic software overhaul,” one of Apple’s most significant ever, aimed at unifying and enhancing the user experience across platforms.
What’s in the Update?
The redesign refreshes icons, menus, apps, windows, and buttons for a consistent look. Inspired by the Vision Pro’s software, it simplifies navigation and control, unnamed sources familiar with the project said.
Codenamed iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 “Luck” and macOS 16 “Cheer,” it’s the biggest Mac update since Big Sur in 2020 and the most extensive iPhone revamp since iOS 7 in 2013.
Expected Key Features
- Circular App Icons: A sleek, modern design.
- Translucent Panels: Streamlined navigation.
- 3D Depth and Shadows: Enhanced visual clarity.
VisionOS, introduced with the 2024 Vision Pro headset, drives these changes. However, its immersive hand-gesture interface won’t fully apply to the 2D screens of iOS and macOS.
Why the Overhaul?
Apple aims to boost demand after a rough period. iPhone sales unexpectedly dropped during the recent holiday season, post-pandemic tech surge.
With growth recovering slowly, this update seeks to reignite interest, the report noted. Unlike rivals merging systems, Apple keeps macOS and iPadOS separate, optimizing each device and encouraging users to own both.
Though the Vision Pro has seen weak sales since its 2024 launch, its software—featuring circular icons, simplified windows, and translucent panels—shapes this update. The headset’s immersive features remain exclusive.
Leadership and Team Dynamics
Alan Dye, Apple’s software design head, leads a team of over 300, the report added. A veteran of iOS 7 and Apple Watch design, Dye reports to COO Jeff Williams and works with hardware design lead Molly Anderson. Since Jony Ive’s 2019 exit, the team has lost members to Ive’s firm, LoveFrom, and faced morale challenges over management and creativity, yet it maintains Apple’s focus on intuitive design.
With over 2 billion active devices worldwide, Apple’s updates matter. Last year’s Photos app redesign drew complaints, and this full-system overhaul heightens the stakes. Rooted in the Mac’s 1980s debut, Apple’s commitment to simple, user-friendly interfaces faces a major test, the report highlighted.
WWDC 2025 Spotlight
The updates will debut at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2025, showcasing its software vision. This could shift focus from AI delays—Siri’s enhancements, initially slated for iOS 18.4, lack a clear timeline, possibly arriving with iOS 19 or later.
Apple’s iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 seek to recapture pandemic-era momentum and redefine its ecosystem. As growth steadies, this 2025 overhaul could set a new standard for its platforms.