Apple is reportedly planning for iOS 19 to introduce the biggest visual overhaul to the iPhone in over a decade. Here’s why a big iOS 19 redesign is a risky move, but one that could pay off nicely for Apple.
Why iOS 19’s redesign is a risky move for Apple
iOS 7 was the last time Apple introduced a major redesign to the iPhone’s software. That means it’s been 12 years since a big software revamp.
I remember iOS 7 igniting tons of excitement among the Apple community for its fresh, modern design. But there was also a heaping dose of criticism.
Not everyone liked the Jony Ive-led new design direction. Common criticisms were that it prioritized form over function, making text and buttons hard to read or identify in favor of a ‘more aesthetic’ look.
Apple has never since introduced a redesign that’s anywhere near the scale of iOS 7.
Why? It’s anyone’s guess. But my suspicion is that the company’s massive user base is the reason.
2025 Apple is so much more wildly successful than 2013 Apple. It has billions of iPhone users, not millions.
And those billions of users rely on their iPhone more than ever.
Which means that any time Apple makes changes to iOS, the impact can be huge.
Apple’s massive success is the very reason why the iOS 19 redesign will be a big risk for the company.
If the broad, global iPhone user base finds iOS 19 confusing or frustrating, it could do tremendous harm to Apple’s reputation, and by extension, its business.
While I’m personally very excited by the prospect of a redesign, I suspect a large number of iPhone users would get nervous if they heard about it.
Redesigning iOS is a risky move, but it’s also important for at least two reasons.
Two reasons why the risk might be worth it
One good reason Apple has for moving forward with the iOS 19 redesign is something my colleague Ben has already addressed.
It’s essentially this: a shiny new iOS look is a great way to distract from Apple’s ongoing Siri and AI struggles.
More than just distract, it’s the kind of change that a lot of iPhone users—especially younger ones, perhaps—will find more appealing than new Apple Intelligence features.
There’s another reason worth considering though.
If iPhone software has gotten too risky to change and improve in significant ways, that’s a big problem for Apple in the long run.
iOS may play a key role in many users’ lives today, but if Apple can’t experiment and innovate with it, then the iPhone will eventually be surpassed by something else.
Sure, Apple adds new features to iOS each year. But adding new capabilities is a different matter than changing the fundamental user interface.
No UI is perfect, and while iOS certainly has a lot of strengths, Apple needs to be able to improve and modernize its software—even when that means big visual changes.
I’ve written previously that I believed the days of iOS 7-style redesigns were over. Making changes to a single app at a time, like Apple did in iOS 18 with Photos, is a safer move.
But if the latest rumors prove true, apparently Apple believes the time is right for a larger, whole-OS kind of transformation.
After years of iOS working largely the same as always, maybe the company is right.
Do you think Apple redesigning iOS 19 is risky? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.
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