iOS 19: The most radical change to the iPhone in 12 years is here.

Apple is gearing up for the biggest visual overhaul to the iPhone since iOS 7. Rumors and leaks for iOS 19, which will be unveiled at WWDC in June, point to a revamped interface with round icons and a "floating" style inspired by its Vision Pro glasses.

Apple is about to unveil what is shaping up to be the most significant redesign of the iPhone's interface in over a decade. With the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2025 on the horizon, leaks about iOS 19 point to a profound visual overhaul, heavily influenced by the design language of visionOS, the operating system for its mixed reality headset, Apple Vision Pro.

The influence of VisionOS: A "floating" and translucent interface

The most radical change expected in iOS 19 is the adoption of an aesthetic that prioritizes fluidity, depth, and simplicity—core elements of visionOS. Designed for a mixed reality environment, this system is characterized by its transparent layers, 3D elements, and menus that appear to float in space.

According to leaks, this philosophy will translate to the iPhone in the following way:

* Round Icons: One of the most talked about changes is the possible abandonment of the iconic “squircles” (squares with rounded corners) in favor of completely round app icons.

* Translucent Interface Elements: Menus, pop-ups, and buttons are expected to take on a “glassy” or translucent style, similar to that seen in visionOS, creating a sense of depth and layers in the interface.

* Unified Design: Apple's goal appears to be to unify its visual identity across its entire ecosystem. Whether on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the design language will strive to be consistent, ensuring a more harmonious and intuitive user experience.

What else will change in iOS 19?

Beyond aesthetics, key functional improvements are expected that reflect Apple's focus on artificial intelligence, accessibility, and energy efficiency.

* A smarter (but patient) Siri: While a more conversational and contextual Siri powered by advanced language models (LLM), similar to ChatGPT, is expected, the strongest rumors suggest that this big update might not arrive in the initial iOS 19 release, but in a later update like iOS 19.4 in 2026.

* A battery that learns from you: iOS 19 could introduce a smart battery management system that analyzes user usage patterns to optimize charging and discharging. This would not only aim to extend daily battery life, but also the long-term lifespan of the battery.

* Camera app redesign: The camera interface is also getting a refresh, with more accessible controls for video resolution and frame rate, as well as options for recording spatial video, compatible with Vision Pro.

* Accessibility Improvements: Apple will continue to strengthen its commitment to accessibility, with improvements to real-time captioning, more natural AI-generated voices, and better support for braille displays.

"Apple is looking for a more modern interface, and for that, they'll look to visionOS. For now, that's all we know," says Mark Gurman, one of the most credible analysts in the Apple ecosystem, emphasizing that the change is imminent and significant.

The debate: Is a virtual reality design practical for a phone?

The decision to base the redesign of a handheld device on the interface of a spatial reality headset is not without debate. The ergonomics and usability are fundamentally different. While in visionOS interaction is based on gaze and gestures on an infinite canvas, on the iPhone it's limited to touch on a small screen.

Developers and power users express concerns about how certain navigation paradigms will adapt. For example, floating menus or redesigned navigation bars might be less efficient or ergonomic on a phone than classic tab bars.

The key to this redesign's success will depend on whether Apple manages to translate visionOS's philosophy of simplicity and fluidity without sacrificing the practicality and speed of interaction that iPhone users expect. The goal isn't to replicate visionOS on the iPhone, but rather to draw inspiration from it to mark a new design cycle, leaving behind an aesthetic that, for many, has been around for more than a decade.