iOS 26/iOS 19: Here are the biggest rumors
With the major design overhaul coming this year, Apple plans to rename all of its operating systems, according to Bloomberg. iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS will be named by year rather than version number. So we won’t get iOS 19, but iOS 26. iOS 26 will be accompanied by iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26, instead of iPadOS 19, macOS 16, tvOS 19, watchOS 12, and visionOS 3.
The name change of the operating systems ensures consistency across the entire product range, instead of using several different version numbers. Apple chooses the year of the coming year, so the next firmware will be called iOS 26 and not iOS 25, as the update covers both 2025 and 2026.
The names reflect Apple’s efforts to create a more consistent design across all operating systems on different devices. The redesigned, visionOS-like design update is coming to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Apple plans to announce the new naming scheme at WWDC 2025, the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference. WWDC begins on Monday, June 9, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
iOS 26/iOS 19: These are the biggest rumors
During the keynote, Apple is expected to announce iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and other software updates, as well as new Apple Intelligence features. Some years, WWDC also features hardware announcements, but there are no rumors yet about new devices for this year’s conference. Below, we summarize the most important rumors about iOS 26.
New design with floating tab bar
iOS 26 is expected to introduce a new design that is more reminiscent of the visionOS operating system of the Apple Vision Pro headset.
According to Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech, iOS 26 will have a glass-like appearance, with added transparency for menus, buttons, and more. He also expects a new floating tab bar to appear at the bottom of some of Apple’s built-in apps.
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg also expects iOS 26 to have a visionOS-like design, saying the design changes would be the biggest since iOS 7. The design changes should affect iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26.
Stage Manager for iPhones
In April, a tipster named Majin Bu claimed that iOS 26 will support at least a limited version of Stage Manager on iPhone models with a USB-C port.
In a blog post citing sources, Bu explained that users of an iPhone with a USB-C port and an external display can use a Stage Manager-like interface with multiple apps open on the screen at the same time. However, he pointed out that there may be more limitations compared to Stage Manager on iPads.
iPhone models with a USB-C port include all models from the iPhone 15 series onwards. iPhones with Lightning and USB-C ports can already be connected to external displays, but only for simple screen mirroring.
New Battery Mode
According to Gurman, iOS 19 will include a new AI-powered battery management mode for all iPhone models compatible with the software update. He said this improvement will “analyze how a person uses their device and make adjustments to save energy,” paving the way for longer battery life.
End-to-End Encryption for RCS
In March, Apple announced that the Messages app would add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages in future software updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. This probably means iOS 26, macOS 26 and other corresponding updates.
Apple’s promise of end-to-end encryption for RCS messages indirectly confirms adoption of the RCS Universal Profile 3.0 specification, which also includes several iMessage-like improvements originally introduced in version 2.7 of the specification. iOS 18 supports RCS Universal Profile 2.4.
Here are five new features for RCS conversations in iOS 26:
- End-to-end encryption, which prevents Apple and other third parties from reading messages and attachments as they are sent between devices.
- Inline replies
- Edit messages
- Unsend messages
- Full Tapback support for RCS messages so they always work.
iMessage conversations with blue bubbles have supported end-to-end encryption by default since iOS 5. Additionally, iMessage has supported inline replies since iOS 14, while the options to edit and unsent iMessages were introduced with iOS 16.
Apple hasn’t yet announced which iOS version will update RCS, but iOS 26 or a subsequent update like iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2 seem to be a safe option.
New Accessibility Features
Earlier this month, Apple also unveiled new accessibility features, expected to arrive with iOS 26 and other software updates.
An overview of some of the new features:
- New nutrition labels on the App Store highlight accessibility features in apps and games.
- Apple is expanding its Magnifier app to the Mac. Users can now connect an iPhone or USB camera to magnify surrounding objects and read text.
- Vehicle Motion Alerts are expanding to the Mac to help reduce motion sickness in the car.
- A new system-wide Accessibility Reader tool on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro makes it easier for users with low vision or dyslexia to read text. This feature offers users new ways to customize text and focus on the content they want to read—with extensive options for font, color, and spacing.
- Live Captions are coming to Apple Watch, allowing users to read a transcription of what their iPhone hears on their wrist.
- An improved zoom feature on the Apple Vision Pro allows users to magnify everything in view, including their surroundings, using the device’s main camera.
- Braille Access transforms iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro into a full-fledged braille note-taking app.
- Personal Voice will be faster and easier to use on the device thanks to advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Apple claims the feature can recreate your voice more smoothly and naturally in less than a minute using just ten recorded sentences.
- CarPlay supports the Large Text option, and Sound Detection can detect a crying baby and passing sirens.
Live Translation with AirPods
According to Gurman, at least some AirPods models will receive a new live translation feature with iOS 26 and a corresponding firmware update. Here’s how the feature will work, according to his report:
“The feature will work like this: When an English-speaking user hears someone speaking Spanish, iPhone translates the speech and streams it in English to the user’s AirPods. The English-speaking user’s words are simultaneously translated into Spanish and played back by iPhone.”
Google already offers a similar live translation feature. He also said that iOS 26 will improve translation features, likely including improvements to Apple’s Translate app.
The first beta of iOS 26 should be made available to developers immediately after the WWDC keynote. The update is expected to be released in September.
