Insights from Gurman: iOS 18 Visual Changes Not Expected to Mirror visionOS Overhaul
As anticipation builds for the release of iOS 18 later this year, Bloomberg’s renowned tech analyst Mark Gurman offers insights into what users can expect from Apple’s upcoming operating system update. According to Gurman, iOS 18 is poised to introduce a fresh visual redesign, aimed at enhancing user experience and modernizing the interface of iPhones worldwide. With a focus on incorporating new artificial intelligence (AI) features, Apple seeks to align its mobile platform with evolving industry standards, as competitors like Google and Samsung continue to innovate in this space.
In his subscriber-only Power On newsletter, Gurman sheds light on Apple’s plans to revamp UI elements within iOS, signaling a departure from the familiar design language of previous iterations. While speculation has swirled regarding the extent of these changes, including rumors of a potential overhaul inspired by the aesthetics of Apple’s visionOS operating system, Gurman tempers expectations, suggesting that the visual updates may not be as comprehensive as initially speculated.
Despite this, the impending arrival of iOS 18 heralds a new chapter in the evolution of Apple’s mobile ecosystem, promising incremental improvements and refinements that reflect the company’s commitment to innovation and user-centric design.
Recent reports have hinted at the integration of translucent UI elements and a blur effect across various system apps, signaling a departure from the static design principles of previous iOS iterations. However, Gurman’s insights suggest that while these changes may indeed be forthcoming, they may not constitute a radical departure from the established design paradigm.
As Apple continues to fine-tune the iOS user experience, users can anticipate a blend of familiarity and novelty in iOS 18, as the tech giant strives to strike a delicate balance between innovation and continuity in its mobile operating system.
Meanwhile, Gurman says that Apple is also working on updating the macOS interface, alongside its operating system for smartphones. Unlike the iOS 18 update, however, it looks like users will have to wait until macOS 16 or macOS 17 to see these changes as the company has just begun the work on its upcoming operating system.
Last year, Apple reportedly paused the development of iOS 18 for around a week, in order to weed out bugs in the operating system that were previously undetected. Due to a lack of major hardware upgrades on the purported iPhone 16 series, Apple is said to be equipping its next major iOS version with AI features in order to convince customers to upgrade to the successors of the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max models, which are expected to arrive later this year.