Everything We Think We Know About IOS 19 (or IOS 26?)
iOS 19 — or iOS 26, as rumors suggest? — is almost here. Apple will almost certainly announce the latest version of the iPhone OS next week at WWDC 2025. So rumors about iOS 26 features are coming fast, and only more are coming as we get closer to the big event. While none of these rumors can be confirmed at this point, they still give us a good idea of what Apple might be considering behind the scenes.
Is Apple Changing the Name of iOS?
It looks like it. While we (logically) thought the next version of iOS would be called iOS 19, Apple reportedly has other plans. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman , iOS 19 will be called iOS 26, taking over next year’s name. Apple is reportedly doing this with all of its OS names, including iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26.
A Fresh Look at iOS 26
While iOS has changed significantly over the years, the overall design language still follows the last major user interface update: 2013’s iOS 7. It’s been nearly 12 years since Apple made the change by giving users the ability to design their own lock screens and app icons .
However, according to Gurman , that could change with iOS 26, as well as iPadOS 26 and macOS 26. Details are scant, but Gurman reports that sources at Apple say the company wants to better align the design languages across its various products without completely unifying these OSes, as well as simplifying the way you interact with these devices. That means iOS 26 could adopt the VisionOS design, which uses circles instead of squares for app icons, translucent window elements, and an embrace of 3D — though the latter element may be difficult to translate to a 2D display.
You can see these elements on display in this concept video from Jon Prosser . If the rumors are true, we could be looking at “one of the most dramatic software overhauls in the company’s history.”
In addition to the new look, iOS could become a little less buggy. Gurman says stability is a big priority for Apple this year, and that’s music to my ears.
Live Translation for AirPods
Gurman also says that Apple is working on a live translation feature for certain AirPods models . If you’re talking to someone who speaks a language you don’t understand, your AirPods will automatically translate and dictate those words into your target language. As you speak, your words will be translated and dictated by your iPhone via the Translate app.
This feature isn’t groundbreaking — Google’s Pixel Buds have offered it for years — but it would be a great addition to iOS 26 and for AirPods users.
Special Features
Apple doesn’t reveal much about its upcoming updates until the official announcement, but accessibility features are an exception. Last month, the company listed accessibility features coming to devices “later this year.” While they don’t call iOS 26 and the other updates “26,” it’s pretty clear that those are the updates we’ll see them in.
There’s a new Accessibility Reader feature that makes text easier to read on iOS devices; a Magnifier feature is coming to Mac; “Accessibility nutrition” labels will appear in the App Store to indicate whether an app is accessible; Live Captions are coming to Apple Watch; and Vehicle Motion Cues are coming to Mac.
Desktop mode
Apple is rumored to be working on a “Stage Manager”-like desktop mode for USB-C iPhones in iOS 26. This feature will allow you to connect your iPhone to an external monitor to extend your iPhone’s screen onto a larger display.
This may not be a true “desktop mode” experience like Samsung DeX, since you won’t be able to use your iPhone as a laptop this way. But it can make it easier to share your iPhone’s display when you want to connect to a larger screen.
You only need to log into a public Wi-Fi network once.
If you use multiple devices on public Wi-Fi networks, manually connecting each one is a tedious task. That could change with upcoming Apple updates: Gurman says that after the update, you’ll only need to sign in to Wi-Fi from one Apple device (your iPhone, iPad, or Mac), and the rest will connect automatically.
Battery upgrade
Here’s a great use of AI: optimizing battery life. Rumor has it that iOS 26 will analyze your usage patterns and determine the right times to reduce performance in the name of preserving battery life. Increasing the time between charges is something we can all support.
The company could also add a charging indicator to the lock screen so you know how much time is left on the battery. This little feature has been missing from the iPhone for years. Apple does offer it on the MacBook, but only in Activity Monitor. Hopefully, it will return to the menu bar in a future update.
Your iPhone will (probably) be running iOS 26
With any luck, your current iPhone should be compatible with iOS 26 if you’re running the latest software. Citing a source within Apple, French site iPhoneSoft.fr reports that any phone running iOS 18 should be compatible with iOS 26 as well. However, the iPad 7 is said to be less fortunate, as the site reports that it won’t be included in the iPadOS 26 update.
However, a MacRumors source says Apple is planning to ditch the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max this year. We’ll have to wait and see what Apple announces on Monday to find out which phones will still be supported.
New gaming application
According to Gurman , Apple is working on a dedicated gaming app for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS that would replace the existing Game Center. The app would allow you to launch games, as well as check leaderboards, chat with friends, and see your achievements.
If true, it would be interesting timing, given that the announcement comes four days after the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. I doubt such an app would be able to compete with a gaming titan like Nintendo, or that it would really go beyond the traditional short and sweet mobile gaming experience, but who knows. Maybe Apple is about to become a serious gaming company. (I doubt it.)
Shortcuts Get Apple Intelligence Integration
The Shortcuts app lets you set up “shortcuts” that you can use to automate tasks on your Apple devices. Gurman says that with iOS 26, Apple is integrating Apple Intelligence into the Shortcuts app, which could allow you to create shortcuts in natural language — or, in other words, describe the shortcuts you want and let AI create them for you.
Minor updates
According to 9to5Mac , Apple is planning to add one or two new features to several apps. This includes:
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Messages: Automatic translation of incoming and outgoing messages, as well as surveys.
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Music: Fullscreen animated image on the lock screen
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Notes: Markdown support, a huge plus for pro note takers
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CarPlay: Redesigned UI to Match iOS 26
Siri and Apple Intelligence Merged
According to Gurman , Apple plans to merge Siri with Apple Intelligence at some point in the iOS 26 patch cycle. Yes, the assistant is currently listed as part of Apple Intelligence, but behind the scenes, a new LLM is supposedly in the works that will unify its current split architecture and allow it to handle complex queries more often. For now, its AI features are much more limited , and most of Siri doesn’t use this type of AI at all.
Gurman says he expects the merger to be completed by spring 2026 with the release of iOS 26.4. His report says Apple originally planned to launch a more conversational Siri in the same update, but that was delayed and is not expected to be unveiled at WWDC 2025.
Gurman also points out that since Apple hasn’t yet completed last year’s rollout of the Apple Intelligence feature , no unannounced features should be expected anytime soon.