Apple's next iPhone update is shaping up to be the most dramatic makeover since iOS 7, blending a fresh, glassy look with long‑delayed AI tricks that should finally make Siri feel truly smart. Here's the full rundown before Apple lifts the curtain at WWDC 2025.
Why you should care
Biggest visual rethink in a decade: Expect translucent menus, layered icons, and more screen real estate in core apps.
Siri 2.0 at last: Apple's large‑language‑model version of Siri is now pegged for iOS 19 after missing the iOS 18.4 cut.
Live Translate for AirPods: Real‑time, in‑ear language translation is coming in a firmware update tied to iOS 19.
Google Gemini joins ChatGPT: A Google‑Apple deal means you'll pick between Gemini and ChatGPT when you ask Apple Intelligence for help that Siri can't answer itself.
Some older iPhones get left behind: The A12‑based iPhone XR/XS family is widely rumored to lose support.
Release dates
Codenamed "Luck," iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 are being developed in parallel with macOS 16 ("Cheer"), watchOS 12 ("Nepali"), and visionOS 3 ("Discovery"). They will make their first public appearance at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, followed by beta software.
Introduction: Apple will preview the new software in the keynote of WWDC 25 on Monday, June 9, 2025.
Developer beta: The first developer betas will be available on the same day WWDC 25 starts, shortly after the keynote.
Public beta: The first public betas will appear in mid‑July, roughly four to six weeks after the reveal — Apple's usual cadence. The iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 public betas will likely coincide with the second or third developer beta releases.
Final release: The stable build will hit devices in mid‑September alongside the iPhone 17 lineup's release.
Apple's iOS 15–18 schedule followed the same pattern, so don't expect surprises. Here's how those looked (developer beta » public beta » stable release):
Supported devices
If the leak that puts the cutoff at Apple's A13 Bionic is accurate, iOS 19 will run on every iPhone 11 or newer, plus the 2nd‑ and 3rd‑generation iPhone SE (and the upcoming 4th gen). That means the iPhone XR and iPhone XS family finally fall off the feature list, though they'll keep getting security‑only patches.
iPhones expected to get iOS 19
iPhone 14 / 14 Plus, 14 Pro / 14 Pro Max
iPhone 15 / 15 Plus, 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max
All expected iPhone 17 series models (2025)
iPads expected to get iPadOS 19
On the tablet side, iPadOS 19 is tipped to drop only the A10‑based 7th‑generation iPad, keeping every A12‑equipped model and newer in the mix.
iPad Pro
13‑inch and 11‑inch (M4, 2024)
12.9‑inch (3rd gen, A12X) and later
11‑inch (1st gen, A12X) and later
iPad Air
Air 6 (M2)
Air 5 (M1)
Air 4 (A14)
Air 3 (A12)
iPad (base)
10th gen (A14)
9th gen (A13)
8th gen (A12)
iPad mini
mini 7 (A17 Pro, rumored)
mini 6 (A15)
mini 5 (A12)
Apple will continue shipping security updates to any devices left behind (like the iPhone XR/XS line and A10‑class iPads), but they won't see the new iOS 19 or iPadOS 19 features.
A visionOS‑inspired design overhaul
Bloomberg calls it "one of the most dramatic software overhauls in company history." Expect:
Layered, glass‑like app icons that animate with subtle depth.
Translucent sidebars and pop‑up panels in core apps, starting with Camera and Settings.
Redesigned Control Center with larger, pill‑shaped toggles and an inline volume slider.
Rounded window chrome in multitasking views, mirroring visionOS.
Apple will preview the new look in a handful of apps first, then roll it out more broadly in 19.x point releases.
Siri gets the LLM upgrade it missed in iOS 18
After multiple delays, the large‑language‑model version of Siri — nicknamed "LLM Siri" inside Apple — should finally ship in beta form. This upgrade aims to make Siri more conversational and capable of handling complex tasks.
On‑screen awareness: Ask Siri to "save this address" or "summarize this PDF," and it knows what "this" is.
Multi‑step app actions: Chain commands like cropping a photo, renaming it, and dropping it into Files.
Personal context: Siri can pull flight numbers, passport info, or a recipe your friend texted last month.
Apple says the revamped assistant will roll out gradually through iOS 19.1 and beyond.
Apple Intelligence 2.0: ChatGPT, Gemini, and more
Apple Intelligence first appeared on iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 and has been getting new features with subsequent updates. The upcoming software will finally bring the Siri we all expected to initially show its face with iOS 18.4.
Model choice: OpenAI's ChatGPT shipped first; Google's Gemini is next, giving you a second chatbot option in the Siri hand‑off for requests Siri alone can't handle.
Dynamic playlist artwork in Apple Music moves out of beta — and code hints Apple is testing AI‑generated tracklists, too.
Priority Notifications expand beyond Mail, letting Apple Intelligence float urgent texts and app alerts to the top of your stack.
Live Translate for AirPods
A firmware update for AirPods Pro 2 and upcoming AirPods Pro 3 will let you hear real‑time translations piped straight into your ears — perfect for face‑to‑face conversations while traveling.
The Camera app remake
Front Page Tech and MacRumors agree the Camera UI is going visionOS‑style:
Single Photo/Video mode switch hides every shooting mode behind one tap. So, Portrait, Spatial, and Pano will be under Photo, and Depth, Spatial, Slo-Mo, and Time-Lapse under Video. Adjustments such as Action, Style, Aspect, Exposure, and Timer adjustments will also be available here.
Floating control strip for resolution and frame rate.
Bigger unobstructed viewfinder thanks to translucent overlays.
Dual‑camera video recording (front + rear simultaneously) is being tested for iPhone 17 Pro models.
A longer rollout of new features
iOS 19 still looks poised to deliver the eye‑candy overhaul many iPhone owners have been craving since iOS 7 — and, just as important, the long‑promised, AI‑powered Siri that never quite made it out of the lab in 2024. If your iPhone is newer than the XR, you're in; if not, 2025 might finally be upgrade time.
But temper the day‑one hype. Apple may gate‑keep several headline features for later point releases, so expect the real fireworks to arrive in iOS 19.1, 19.2, 19.3, and even 19.4, most of which won't land until 2026. These might be in the late push:
Full‑system design sweep (all built‑in apps)
Siri file‑management commands
Third‑party App Intents catalog
Spatial video capture tools for non‑Pro phones
For the impatient, signing up for the iOS Beta Program (and the equivalent iPadOS track if you have a tablet) will put you first in line when the early builds drop — even if some of the most exciting features don't show up until the 2026 updates.
Don’t Miss: iOS 18.5 Brings Small but Smart Upgrades to iPhone — Here's What's New
Cover image by Gadget Hacks; GIFs via Front Page Tech.
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