Apple’s iOS 26 is predicted to have a radical redesign, and it is most likely going to mark the start of a wholly new numbering system. Here is all the pieces that is rumored to be within the replace.
Whereas the iOS 18 replace centered largely on Apple Intelligence options, comparable to Picture Playground, electronic mail summarization, and a brand new Clear Up device within the Pictures app, its successor is predicted to take a noticeably totally different strategy.
Slightly than merely being an iterative improve, with a couple of new apps and capabilities added to the combination, the subsequent technology of iOS may introduce a significant visible overhaul. A wholly new model numbering system seems to be within the works as effectively.
Leakers, analysts, and even YouTubers have all chimed in with particular claims in regards to the upcoming iPhone working system over the previous few months. Here is what they’ve claimed to date.
iOS 26 as a substitute of iOS 19?
In line with a report from Could 2025, Apple needs to make a big change to the way it numbers its working system variations. The aim of the obvious endeavor is to simplify issues and make it simpler for customers to know the way latest their presently put in working system actually is.
Slightly than having separate model numbers for iOS, macOS, and visionOS, which might be iOS 19, macOS 16, and imaginative and prescient OS 3, respectively, Apple will use only one model quantity for all of its platforms. The iPhone maker plans to implement an strategy much like that utilized by automakers, the place the software program model corresponds to a selected 12 months.
Provided that the brand new iOS replace is predicted to grow to be accessible to most people in September 2025, Apple has seemingly determined to call model its working methods as model “26.” Which means as a substitute of iOS 19, we would see iOS 26, macOS 26, and so forth. That is successfully what Microsoft did in the course of the Nineties with Home windows 95, Home windows 98, and Home windows 2000.
Although the rumor itself appears far-fetched at first look, AppleInsider was in a position to independently affirm the existence of Apple’s “26” model branding. Individuals accustomed to the matter have revealed the change is already seen inside sure components of Apple’s next-gen working methods.
Nonetheless, it seems as if Apple could also be making an attempt to cover the brand new numbering system with placeholder names comparable to iOS 19 and macOS 16, which have appeared alongside the model 26 branding.
This info was obtained by AppleInsider from folks accustomed to Apple’s next-gen working methods. We additionally obtained particulars seemingly derived from a development-fused iPhone operating an early construct of “iOS 19.”
Design modifications — iOS 26 might echo visionOS
In February 2024, rumors of a deliberate person interface change for Apple’s working methods surfaced. On the time, it was anticipated {that a} new design would debut in both 2025 or 2026, however that it could not bear a big resemblance to visionOS.
iOS 26 might characteristic a radically totally different person interface.
The identical 12 months, two separate experiences steered {that a} visionOS-style redesign would arrive with iOS 18. Whereas these claims in the end turned out to be incorrect, provided that such a design change by no means materialized, a redesign may occur in 2025.
Two experiences from a usually dependable supply, in March 2025, mentioned that Apple was engaged on a large visible alteration with its next-gen working methods. The declare was later reiterated in a Could 2025 report, which added that “Solarium” was the mission codename of the UI overhaul.
The important thing level of the transfer is to attraction to present customers, whereas nonetheless attracting new customers down the street. The design change will not be nearly aesthetics, nevertheless, as rumors counsel the brand new UI is meant to make iOS quicker to navigate, simpler to study, and easier general to make use of.
The strategy is claimed to concentrate on consistency and unification. This in the end implies that customers might expertise related interfaces, UI components, and possibly even options after they use the identical capabilities throughout totally different Apple gadgets and working methods. We have even seen rumors about particular apps throughout the subsequent technology of iOS.
Sketchy app mockups triggered a stir between leakers
In January 2025, YouTuber Jon Prosser posted a video detailing among the modifications allegedly deliberate for the Digicam app. He claimed he had seen the person interface of iOS 19, because it was largely recognized on the time. Prosser’s crew supposedly “recreated” what they noticed because the Digicam software.
iOS 26 might characteristic rounded app icons, in accordance with an April 2025 leak.
The YouTuber then resurfaced in March 2025, with extra claims of UI modifications throughout the working system. With a extra well-rounded look, the interface was described as extra “fluid,” with condensed settings that reveal themselves as you swipe away.
The mockups primarily steered that easy light-reflective circles can be added to buttons, together with an elongated modal window UI, and that there can be gentle stylistic cues or references to Apple’s Sports activities and Invitations apps.
Trying again on the earlier Digicam app leak, there are some similarities, however odd variations to visionOS. The Digicam app screenshot exhibits one thing a lot nearer to Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional‘s UI, however lacks the sunshine reflections on button edges.
Prosser claims engineers at Apple do not totally perceive how he had entry to completed pictures, which serves as a sign of his confidence. There may be loads of room for doubt, nevertheless, because the YouTuber has a less-than-stellar monitor report.
The Digicam app might get a brand new look with iOS 26.
Regardless of his preliminary success, being the primary individual to leak the AirTag design, a lot of Jon Prosser’s more moderen claims have outright did not materialize. As an example, he spoke of a rumored iPhone 4-style redesign for the iPhone 14, an Apple Watch with flat edges, and Steve Jobs version Apple good glasses, none of which ended up turning into a actuality.
As for his iOS 19 mockups, one other leaker dismissed them in March 2025, saying they had been based mostly on outdated on incomplete info. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman mentioned the photographs weren’t consultant of actuality. He added that they had been doubtless “based mostly on both very outdated builds or obscure descriptions, lacking key options.”
Prosser then shared one other video in April 2025, which featured noticeably totally different Dwelling Display app icons. The YouTuber confirmed a more-rounded squircle that is nonetheless not fairly a circle. The video suggests apps with tabs will get extra animations, and floating bars dubbed TabView. These mimic floating UI components already current in iOS, however have energetic animations just like the Dynamic Island.
The April 2025 video additionally confirmed off a brand new search UI in iMessage that wasn’t featured within the authentic iOS 19 Digicam leak. It’s merely a floating pill-shaped button that sits on the backside of the app. The supposed leak might have proven potential new icon shapes, but it surely actually wasn’t a lot along with what was proven earlier than. It doubtless means Prosser will proceed to push again in opposition to Gurman and try to seek out one thing extra vital to share.
Mockups are all the fashion lately, as we additionally obtained a very doubtful tip in January 2025 that mentioned the Clock app would obtain UI modifications. We’ll have to attend and see what Apple unveils throughout WWDC in any case.
iOS 26 — Supported system rumors
With every replace to an working system, more often than not, some gadgets get left behind and might’t improve. This could possibly be on account of technical limitations or just the dearth of help for growing older {hardware}.
The 2018 iPhone XS might not help iOS 26.
In the case of iOS 26, beforehand known as iOS 19, a rumor claimed in December 2024 that help will proceed to be extraordinarily broad for the working system.
The complete listing of alleged suitable iPhone fashions is:
- iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Professional, 17 Professional Max (2025)
- iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Professional, 16 Professional Max (2024)
- iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Professional, 15 Professional Max (2023)
- iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Professional, 14 Professional Max, iPhone SE (third gen) (2022)
- iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Professional, 13 Professional Max (2021)
- iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Professional, 12 Professional Max, iPhone SE (2nd gen) (2020)
- iPhone 11, 11 Professional, 11 Professional Max (2019)
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR (2018)*
This listing seemingly signifies that iOS 19 can be accessible on all gadgets that ran iOS 18. Nonetheless, the venue that revealed the compatibility listing is not all the time correct, and an April 2025 rumor steered that Apple would discontinue help for the iPhone XS and iPhone XR.
The more moderen declare comes from a personal social media account with a verifiable monitor report, so there is a greater probability Apple will lower off help for its 2018 iPhones.
iPadOS 26, or iPadOS 19, because it was previously referred to as, will reportedly help the next iPad fashions, in accordance with each the December 2024 and April 2025 rumors:
An April 2025 rumor, from a leaker with a poor monitor report steered that the subsequent technology of iPadOS might introduce a menu bar much like the one present in macOS. Whereas this explicit concept is far-fetched, loads of different claims have appeared in regards to the options and apps we would see in iOS 26.
New Apple Video games app, AI battery administration, AirPods dwell translation, and extra
In line with a Could 2025 report, Apple will introduce a devoted game-related app throughout WWDC 2025. Supposedly, Apple needs to promote players and builders on the concept it’s a chief available in the market with a brand new app. This declare aligns with an analogous rumor from October 2024.
Apple is reportedly engaged on a brand new devoted sport app.
The brand new Apple Video games app will reportedly act as a mesh between Apple’s disparate gaming methods. It’s rumored to indicate editorial content material about video games, the App Retailer video games web page, Apple Arcade, leaderboards, and extra. Mac customers may additionally get an app which might tie to video games downloaded exterior of the App Retailer. This explicit rumor doubtless applies to the sport launching facet of the app.
In line with a separate Could 2025 rumor, Apple is getting ready to introduce a brand new Apple Intelligence characteristic with iOS 26. It is mentioned to be an replace to the battery administration system of iOS, which might work based mostly on utilization habits.
The proposed system will allegedly monitor the way in which that the person really makes use of the iPhone, and use that as a foundation for energy administration choices. This will embrace making setting or configuration modifications to preserve vitality at sure instances.
Siri can be anticipated to obtain a chatbot-type Apple Intelligence improve, in accordance with a November 2024 report. By Siri chatbot, the report mentioned it could be a big language mannequin (LLM)-based Siri, which might be capable to deal with extra conversational options. Apple nonetheless has but to ship Siri’s private context options, which had been promised at WWDC 2024, after which delayed.
iOS 26 might use AI for battery-related enhancements.
The corporate’s iconic AirPods, in the meantime, are rumored to obtain a wholly new characteristic that interprets in-person conversations from one language to a different. The rumored dwell translation functionality will make it considerably simpler for audio system of two totally different languages to speak. In line with a March 2025 report, it is anticipated to debut with iOS 26.
In Could 2025, a rumor steered that there can be two modifications associated to the Apple Pencil, applied to assist customers within the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to put in writing in Arabic. The primary is the introduction of a complicated bi-directional keyboard, designed to modify between the right-to-left Arabic and the left-to-right English languages.
The second change entails a brand new digital reed calligraphy pen for Apple Pencil customers. It’s possible that Apple’s take will supply a writing expertise nearer to how a Kamish reed pen is dealt with and used, versus any present calligraphy pen already utilized in apps. These are all solely rumored modifications, although. Formally, Apple has unveiled just a few tidbits about its next-gen working methods forward of WWDC.
New Accessibility options, outdated Apple Dwelling structure getting discontinued
On Could 13, Forward of International Accessibility Consciousness Day 2025, Apple unveiled a slew of recent options coming to iOS. Although they’re technically new software program options, the enhancements themselves are meant for folks with disabilities.
Whereas Apple has introduced new Accessibility options for iOS 26, the software program won’t help the older Apple Dwelling structure.
The brand new options embrace:
- Accessibility Diet Labels on the App Retailer
- Magnifier for Mac
- Braille Entry
- Accessibility Reader
- Dwell captions on Apple Watch
- Dwell Recognition in Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional
Apple says that it is usually updating:
- Eye Monitoring on iPhone and iPad
- Head Monitoring to regulate gadgets with head actions
- Change Management for Mind Laptop Interfaces
- Assistive Entry for the Apple TV app
- Customizable Music Haptics on iPhone
- Sound Recognition positive factors Title Recognition
- Voice Management for Xcode
- New languages in Dwell Captions
- Massive Textual content in CarPlay
Alongside all of those new and up to date options, Apple says it’s including an possibility referred to as Share Accessibility Settings. It is meant in order that customers can shortly share their settings when borrowing another person’s system.
On Could 12, a day earlier than the corporate revealed its new software program options, Apple additionally defined that it could be discontinuing help for the outdated Apple Dwelling structure in 2025, which strains up with the discharge of iOS 26.
Potential launch date
The discharge of the most recent variations of its working methods tends to occur within the fall, because it has been for years. That is to coincide with the most recent {hardware} releases at the moment, which this 12 months contains the iPhone 17 vary.
Nonetheless, that will not be the primary time anybody will pay attention to iOS 26 itself. Apple introduces its working methods months prematurely of launch in order that builders can make the most of operate modifications and different alterations. This additionally lets builders and testers see if any of the modifications they hoped for really made into the OS.
Developer betas usually get examined repeatedly with common builds up till the eventual public launch. Apple normally introduces the autumn working system releases throughout WWDC, and we are going to get our first glimpse of iOS 26 (or iOS 19) on June 9.
