(Credit: Eric Zeman/PCMag)
Apple's next-gen operating systems could look a lot different from their predecessors.
According to Bloomberg, Apple is working on a major redesign for iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16, which should make the interfaces more consistent across devices.
With the upcoming refresh, Apple will change the style of its icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons. The final design will borrow elements from visionOS and provide users with a more simplified way to navigate and control devices, sources tell Bloomberg.
For iOS, this will mark the biggest overhaul since iOS 7 in 2013; for macOS, it will be the biggest change since macOS Big Sur in 2020. Apple has no plans to merge the two operating systems since the company believes it can make better Macs and iPads by providing separate software, the report adds.
The user interface for visionOS uses circular app icons as opposed to the square-shaped ones on macOS and iOS. Additionally, the Vision Pro has more translucent backgrounds for its navigation bars, menus, and windows compared with the solid ones on Macs and iPhones.
Apple's change in approach is evident in its latest app for iOS, Apple Invites. The app's interface is much more vibrant than other native apps, and its settings page showcases a prominent use of the translucent backgrounds seen on visionOS.
As usual, Apple is expected to unveil the latest iterations of its operating systems at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which is typically held in early June.