iOS 19 may introduce rounded icons and glassy visionOS-inspired design to iPhone

Apple is set to unveil iOS 19 at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, scheduled for June 9-13. Early rumors suggest that this update could mark one of the most significant visual overhauls in Apple’s history, drawing inspiration from visionOS, the operating system used by the Vision Pro headset.

According to leaks from Jon Prosser of FrontPageTech, iOS 19 will introduce a "glassy, visionOS-themed" aesthetic, influencing everything from app icons and menus to buttons and the keyboard. The interface is expected to feature rounded edges for a softer, floating look, alongside semi-transparent, glossy effects, giving the UI elements a "pop-up" appearance. The new design could also include a redesigned keyboard that floats above the screen, enhancing the overall depth effect.

While mockups based on early footage of iOS 19 have surfaced, Prosser mentions that there’s still a possibility that Apple might switch to circular app icons before the final release. These visuals, created in collaboration with 3D artist Asher Dipprey, provide a glimpse of the major design changes in store.

In addition to the UI overhaul, significant updates are expected for core apps like Camera and Messages. The Camera app could feature a simplified toggle for switching between photo and video modes, with quick-access buttons for settings such as Depth, Spatial, and Frame Rate placed at the top for ease of use. The Messages app might see a more streamlined layout, with improved interactive bubbles and smoother animations, all in line with the visionOS-inspired theme.

However, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has cautioned that these leaked images might not fully reflect what will be showcased at WWDC. Gurman suggests that the mockups might be based on outdated builds, lacking important features, and that Apple might unveil even more groundbreaking changes in June.

If these rumors are true, iOS 19 could become a transformative update, bridging the iPhone with the Vision Pro’s immersive, spatial design language. Apple’s last major redesign was iOS 7 in 2013, which introduced a minimalist, flat look. iOS 19 could follow suit with a similar shift in design, potentially adding customizable home-screen layouts, advanced AI features, and visionOS-like interactions.

Until the official reveal at WWDC, all we can do is speculate about how extensive these changes will be.