Apple is expected to introduce significant changes in its upcoming OS updates for all its devices, including iPhones and MacBooks. As part of this update, the Cupertino-based giant plans to revamp the design. In the latest edition of Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter, technology journalist Mark Gurman reveals that Apple is actively reimagining the design of both iOS and macOS.
While this update is said to be less dramatic than the visual overhaul witnessed during the transition from iOS 6 to iOS 7, Gurman notes that we can expect an iOS redesign as early as this year. However, while iOS 18 will incorporate some design cues from visionOS, it won’t be a complete mirror of the OS. “The company is indeed working to update the design of iOS as early as this year, but I don’t believe it will be a total overhaul that mirrors visionOS,” Gurman clarifies.
Apple is expected to announce iOS 18 at its annual developers conference, WWDC, in June 2024. As for macOS, Gurman states that Apple has started early work on design changes for that operating system, which could debut in 2025 or 2026. Interestingly, MacOS received a major redesign with macOS Big Sur in 2020.
iOS 18 rumoured features
Meanwhile, Apple is believed to be introducing iOS 18 as its most significant software update yet. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is placing high expectations on iOS 18, considering it to be one of the biggest updates in the iPhone’s history. Gurman reported in his January 2024 edition of the Power On newsletter: “I’ve been informed that the new operating system is regarded within the company as one of the most significant iOS updates-perhaps even the largest-in the company’s history.
In addition to the anticipated UI changes, the iOS update is rumoured to bring a series of generative AI capabilities across various native applications, including Siri, Shortcuts, Messages, Apple Music, and Pages. During a February 2024 earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook also hinted at the company’s commitment to generative AI, promising further details later in the year.
In line with the AI updates, Gurman earlier suggested that the integration of generative AI would significantly enhance Siri and the Messages app. These enhancements will empower Siri to handle inquiries and auto-complete sentences more effectively. Wayne Ma from The Information also revealed that Apple is aiming to integrate its large language models into Siri, enabling users to automate intricate tasks-potentially through deeper integration with the Shortcuts app.
Additionally, certain generative AI features may be exclusive to the rumoured iPhone 16 models, which are expected to feature a Neural Engine with significantly more cores.
In addition to AI enhancements, iOS 18 is anticipated to introduce RCS (Rich Communication Services) support in the Messages app, as announced by Apple in November 2023. This support is slated to roll out later in 2024, likely as part of the iOS 18 update.
Once released, RCS integration is expected to elevate the default messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices, offering improvements such as higher-resolution media sharing, audio messages, typing indicators, read receipts, Wi-Fi messaging between different platforms, enhanced group chat functionality, and improved encryption compared to SMS.