iOS 19 leak shows new design with rounder app icons
The YouTube channel Front Page Tech is back today with another video offering a closer look at the alleged design changes in iOS 19. The video features newly created renders of iOS 19, reportedly based on actual footage of the software update provided by sources within Apple. Overall, the new operating system is expected to have a more glass-like, visionOS-inspired design with added transparency for user interface elements such as buttons, menus, notifications, and more.
The most notable new detail in today’s video is that Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser now believes Apple will introduce rounder app icons, although he isn’t sure if they will be completely circular like visionOS.
Prosser said the rounder app icons are hidden by default in internal iOS 19 builds. Apparently, a long press on the squircle app icon switches to the rounder design after a short animation. It’s possible that Apple is trying to hide this obvious design change from the public until iOS 19 is announced at WWDC in June.
Another rumored change is the addition of a pill-shaped tab bar at the bottom of many built-in apps, including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, News, and Phone apps, among others. The Search tab features an extended search bar with a circular button to its left that you can tap to return to the expanded tab bar. The video shows a new animation when switching between tabs in the bar.
In the Messages app, the search bar appears to be permanent.
The renders also show that Apple has adopted more rounded corners for some elements, including the Haptic Touch menus that appear when you long-press an app icon, as well as the volume and display brightness sliders in the center of the Control panel. The permission prompts for camera and microphone access also have an updated appearance. Prosser previously shared recreated mockups of the alleged iOS 19 camera app.
The alleged design changes also extend to the Settings app, which appears to have slimmer switches, and to the standard keyboard.
iOS 19: Glass Design with Lighting Effects
Finally, Prosser said that iOS 19 adds a subtle lighting effect to some elements, contributing to the alleged glass-like appearance. For example, he said that the standard flashlight and camera controls at the bottom of the lock screen shimmer when you move the iPhone.
The first beta version of Apple’s latest operating system should be available immediately after the WWDC keynote on June 9, and the update should be released in September.
