Apple prepares major interface revamp for iPhone, iPad and Mac for new generation of users

Apple is preparing one of the most dramatic software overhauls in the company’s history, aiming to transform the interface of the iPhone, iPad and Mac for a new generation of users.

The revamp – due later this year – will fundamentally change the look of the operating systems and make Apple’s various software platforms more consistent, according to people familiar with the effort. That includes updating the style of icons, menus, apps, windows and system buttons.

As part of the push, the company was working to simplify the way users navigate and control their devices, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the project had not been announced. The design was loosely based on the Vision Pro’s software, they said.

Apple is betting that a breakthrough new interface can help spur demand after a sluggish stretch. Its revenue slowed following a pandemic-era surge in technology spending, and growth is only returning gradually. Apple’s iPhone – its biggest moneymaker – suffered a surprise dip in sales during the most recent holiday season.

The changes are coming as part of iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 – code-named “Luck” – and macOS 16, which is dubbed “Cheer”. They go well beyond a new design language and aesthetic tweaks. The software will mark the most significant upgrade to the Mac since the Big Sur operating system in 2020. For the iPhone, it will be the biggest revamp since iOS 7 in 2013.

An Apple representative declined to comment.

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