iOS 18 would be the greatest iPhone replace ever launched. That’s what Apple sources who’re reportedly acquainted with iOS 18 instructed Mark Gurman a number of days in the past. I speculated that there’s just one factor that would elevate iOS to such standing: the inclusion of so-called Apple GPT AI options in iOS. With out AI, iOS 18 can’t be the large leap ahead that we’re all ready for.
Working programs have turn into boring, and that’s completely wonderful. It’s not like Apple or Google can ship main redesigns or revolutionary new options yearly.
Nevertheless, there’s one different side I didn’t think about when assessing Gurman’s take: a possible iOS 18 UI redesign. A more moderen report says that’s very a lot within the playing cards. iOS 18 will supposedly look extra like visionOS, which powers the Imaginative and prescient Professional spatial laptop.
That may sound unusual, and it’ll actually trigger a fuss amongst iPhone customers if it’s true. Change is tough, in any case. However I’m right here to let you know that all of it is sensible. Not solely that, however iOS has to ultimately look extra like visionOS, even when it doesn’t occur this yr.
The rumor comes from Israeli weblog The Verifier. They discovered Apple needs to carry design components and UI adjustments to the iPhone that may mimic the Imaginative and prescient Professional software program expertise.
The report factors to some clues that Apple would possibly undertake components of visionOS UI into iOS 18. To begin with, the tvOS 17.2 replace introduced a floating, translucent sidebar that’s just like what you’d see in visionOS.
The Verifier additionally factors out the iMessage design makeover in iOS 17. The app comes with a brand new floating menu that features all of the apps and components you’d see on the backside of the app earlier than iOS 17. It’s a a lot cleaner look, for certain, one which I respect. The weblog notes the design of that floating meu, full with spherical app icons, appears nothing like the remainder of the iOS expertise.
The rounded app icons are extra according to what you’d discover in visionOS. Then once more, the Imaginative and prescient Professional software program expertise relies on iOS and iPadOS, although it has its distinctive particularities. In any case, we’re taking a look at spatial computing right here, so the consumer interface can’t be a replica of the iPhone or iPad.
The Verifier gives no proof to show the iOS 18 redesign is actual. Moreover, MacRumors says the report is sketchy because the Israeli weblog has a blended monitor report with Apple rumors.
However I’ll say that the take is sensible. Even when iOS 18 won’t see the large UI adjustments the report mentions, I anticipate Apple to do it down the street. The Imaginative and prescient Professional is the precursor of Apple AR glasses that may work with the iPhone sooner or later. Ultimately, the glasses might substitute the iPhone utterly. That’s, we’d not use the display screen of the machine as a lot because the glasses’ spatial computing UI.
In such a future, iOS has to look nearly similar to visionOS, particularly as soon as the first-gen AR glasses arrive, so we will seamlessly transition between the 2 experiences.
