iOS 19 is just around the corner; or at least a developer beta is certainly around the corner. As we get closer to WWDC 2025, my excitement around the new version of the iPhone software experience is steadily rising to a crescendo. Whether you’re reading this months in advance, as I find myself writing this, or a day before the big keynote, here are all the iOS 19 expected features you need to know (or get hyped about; take your pick).
1. Completely Revamped UI
Obviously, the biggest change that’s expected with iOS 19 is a complete overhaul of the iPhone user interface. This includes a visionOS-inspired appearance, along with translucent interfaces. iOS 19 is also expected to bring in more rounded “squircle” icons, and slightly more elongated toggles within the Settings app.
2. Floating Pill Shaped Tab Bar
Continuing the theme of visionOS inspired look, iOS 19 might also bring a floating tab-bar in apps like Music. This is similar to what we’ve already seen on the Vision Pro, so it’s not that big a surprise, and it does kind of look cool as per renders and leaks.
We have seen a working render of what this will look and feel like, and as far as UI is concerned, it definitely looks fresh and nice.
3. Redesigned Camera App
The camera app is also expected to be redesigned in iOS 19. It is expected that Apple will make the interface more simple this time around with the primary interface just showing “Photo” and “Video” as the options. Other options will appear once you select the Photo or Video mode within the app.
The rest of the camera app is also expected to feature translucent designs and menus to keep everything in-line with the visionOS inspired design language.
4. Smarter Siri
There’s really no new iOS version without something about making Siri smarter. Every year, we hear about Siri getting smarter, and every year it disappoints. This time around, reports suggest that Siri will use LLMs to be smarter and more conversational, like ChatGPT.
I wouldn’t hold my breath for a smarter Siri, especially since the Apple Intelligence rollout was such a fiasco already. However, whenever Apple does finally release the LLM Siri, it should be a pretty big jump in terms of its usability.
5. Live Translation in AirPods
Another iOS 19 feature that we are expecting is support for Live Translations in AirPods. Basically, you will be able to use your AirPods to translate conversations in real-time.
The feature will use the Apple Translate app, and as per reports, it will automatically start translations when you’re having conversations with someone who speaks in a different language.
6. Health+ Subscription Service
Subscription services are the bread and butter of companies these days, even trillion dollar companies, it seems. So after Apple Music, Apple TV+, and iCloud+, a new Health+ subscription service is also an expected iOS 19 feature.
As per reports from Mark Gurman, the new service will include an AI Health Coach that will provide you with personalized reports and feedback about your health based on your health metrics. What’s more, the AI will also be able to analyze your workouts, which is definitely something that can come in handy.
7. Generative Photo Editing
As easy as photo editing is, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. If you don’t like editing photos manually, iOS 19 will probably excite you. iOS 19 is expected to feature AI in the Photos app, and will bring support for generative AI based photo editing.
This has the potential to be really useful, especially if it is capable enough to do things like “make the subject in this photo brighter but keep the shadows moody” without you having to manually twiddle the exposure, contrast, shadows, black point, and other settings.
8. Dynamic Playlists in Apple Music
I love using Apple Music, but the one thing I dislike about it so far are the playlists. Apple Music’s playlists just aren’t on the same level as Spotify. With iOS 19, however, it seems Apple wants to fix that. As per reports, iOS 19 will feature dynamic AI-based playlists in Apple Music.
This means that recommended playlists will be based on your listening habits and the kind of music you enjoy.
I really hope this feature makes it to iOS 19 because it will fix the only issue I have with Apple Music.
9. RCS 3.0
Apple finally confirmed that it will support RCS 3.0 in a “future software update”, and I think that basically means iOS 19 at this point. The good thing is that with RCS 3.0, iPhones will have access to the features that came along with RCS 2.7, plus messages will be end-to-end encrypted as well.
So, if you have friends or family that prefer Android smartphones, you will be able to use RCS to have rich, encrypted conversations with them from your iPhone.
10. New iPhone “Desktop” Mode
Lastly, there are rumors in the tech-leaks ether that iOS 19 will bring a “Desktop Mode” for iPhones with USB-C. Think Samsung DeX, but implemented by Apple.
While I’m not too certain about the possibility of a feature like this, I would definitely love to have it.
That said, the leaks also maintain that while this feature will support Stage Manager, it’s not going to be as feature-rich as the iPadOS experience.
There are a lot of things that are expected at WWDC 2025, but as far as iPhones are concerned, these are the features we’re expecting to see in iOS 19. Meanwhile, check out which devices are compatible with iOS 19, so you know whether your iPhone will get the latest update.
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