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Apple’s WWDC 2024 is just a few months away. As with all his WWDCs, we’ll see what Apple has in store for the next generation of software across its hardware portfolio, including the iPhone with iOS 18.
Rumors are flying around about iOS 18 and how it will be “one of the biggest updates ever.” We know that some features are definitely coming, like his RCS support in Messages, and big changes to home screen customization are being whispered about, among other things.
All of that sounds great, but there’s one change I’m most excited about.
iOS is getting old
When the first iPhone was introduced in 2007, the skeuomorphic interface of iPhone OS was iconic. It was clear that Apple paid close attention to the design of each individual app icon, from the textured notepad in the Notes icon to the camera lens in the Camera app. Each is carefully designed to mimic its real-life counterpart.
Then iOS 7 came along and flattened everything. Beautiful details, textures, and vibrant icons have been replaced with bland, gradient-filled squares with basic icons inside. Even the buttons are gone, and the typography is thinner than ever.
And this flat, lifeless interface has become the norm over the past decade. Even the design of Material You on Android is flat and unimaginative to my eyes. He went through seven iterations of iOS until it looked significantly different. And now we’ve had that whole aesthetic for 10 years.
Changes I’m looking forward to in iOS 18
Recent reports suggest that iOS 18 may take inspiration from visionOS design elements. This comes from a leaked image of what appears to be an iOS 18 camera app, first reported by MacRumors. However, it has since been revealed that the image may be fake.
This image shows the Camera app with clear glass-like gray bars at the top and bottom instead of the usual black bars in iOS 17. I’d love to see iOS inspired by visionOS, even if the original “leak” was fake. design. I tried out the Apple Vision Pro at my local Apple Store. Although he didn’t buy it, he particularly enjoyed Apple’s software design, although it was a brief experience.
visionOS floats in front of you, so when you focus your eyes on icons and menus, they create depth. Personally, I like the clear glass aesthetic, which reminds me a bit of the old OS X Aqua interface.
Take a look at this image of various visionOS design elements. I love the rounded corners of pop-up boxes and notifications, and at least they have a little more depth than what currently exists on iOS. It’s more visually interesting than the current iOS look. We’ve seen some accessibility issues with transparent designs, but if addressed correctly, this could be a huge step forward for iOS design.
Apple has already tweaked some design elements in tvOS 17.2, including adding a transparent navigation bar similar to the one found in visionOS. It wouldn’t be surprising to see similar visual tweaks, if not a complete overhaul, when iOS 18 launches with the iPhone 16 this fall.
Please keep it this way, Apple.
There’s a lot to look forward to in iOS 18. I’m excited that iOS 18 might allow you to place app icons anywhere on your home screen. RCS support is long overdue, and the rumored AI features are a possibility. I hope it’s really interesting.
But beyond that, I can’t help but think about the potential for a visual refresh. iOS is in dire need of a revamp, and considering the other big changes Apple has planned for this year’s updates, iOS 18 seems like the perfect time to finally get it done.
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