Every year, we discover a new version of iOS (alongside Apple's other operating systems) at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. It then goes through an extended beta testing period before being released in September.
But there are often plans to introduce some of the key iOS features in later updates. With iOS 18, the key Apple Intelligence feature only arrived with iOS 18.1, with additional AI features in iOS 18.2, and even more in iOS 18.4, almost six months after the initial iOS rollout 18.
Although Apple hasn't announced iOS 19 yet, the company has been working hard on the major iPhone upgrade for a while and some rumors have started trickling in, and it's starting to look like iOS 18 will be sort of a preview of how iOS 19 will go. Based on the most reliable leaks and rumors, here's what you can expect when it arrives later this year.
Updated January 17, 2025: Jon Prosser says the Camera app will get a complete overhaul in iOS 19, with lots of transparency and condensed controls similar to Apple Vision Pro's interface elements.
iOS 19: release date
Apple typically released the latest version of iOS to the public on the Monday following the iPhone launch. Here are the release dates for the most recent versions of iOS:
- iOS18: Monday September 16, 2024
- iOS17: Monday September 18, 2023
- iOS16: Monday September 12, 2022
- iOS15: Monday September 20, 2021
Based on recent history, we expect iOS 19 to be released to the public on either Monday September 15th or Monday September 22nd.
iOS 19: New features
More Apple intelligence with an LLM Siri
The biggest change in iOS 19 so far is what some are calling an LLM (large language model) update to Siri.
The idea is to make Siri truly conversational, much like advanced voice mode on ChatGPT is today, but with the added benefit of having access to all device data and history to your iPhone and Apple services.
This would be combined with a further expansion of App Intents, which are hooks for developers to enable Siri to interact and perform actions within their apps. These app intents get a huge boost in iOS 18.4 to accompany Siri's “personal context” update, and iOS 19 would expand the concept even further.
One caveat: this next big evolution for Siri isn't expected to arrive until 2026, as part of an update to iOS 19. In other words, just like iOS 18.4 is “the big Siri update” For iOS 18, we can expect iOS 19.4 (or something like it) to be “the big Siri update” for iOS 19.
Home app upgrades
Although not specifically mentioned in current leaks or rumors, we find it hard to believe that Apple won't have significant improvements to the Home app, HomeKit, and related services in iOS 19.
For what? Well, Apple is expected to release a wave of new smart home products throughout 2025 and 2026. A new smart home hub is first: it's an affordable 7-inch tablet that runs its own custom operating system (codenamed Pebble) featuring an interface similar to StandBy on iPhone. It will support Apple Intelligence, FaceTime and tie into other Apple services, but is not expected to have an App Store.
After that, probably in 2026, Apple is reportedly working on a new smart indoor security camera and smart doorbell that would use Face ID to unlock your door the same way it unlocks your phone. Later, there are rumors of a smart home product with a moving screen on a robotic arm, which will require deep integration with the iPhone and the Home app.
It's hard to imagine Apple making such a big push into top-tier smart home products without updating the somewhat aging and clunky Home interface or introducing new features to it.
Updated Camera app
Jon Prosser claims to have seen the Camera app in iOS 19, which is completely redesigned with a design somewhat inspired by visionOS. The options are condensed, the viewfinder takes up more space and there is a lot of transparency.
iOS 19: beta
Every year, the new iOS is announced at WWDC with a developer beta test released immediately (or at most a day later). It often takes 4-6 weeks for the first public beta to be released, coinciding with the second or third developer release. Apple is releasing the developer beta immediately after the WWDC keynote, which is scheduled to take place on Monday, June 9.
- iOS 18: Monday June 10, 2024
- iOS 17: Monday June 5, 2023
- iOS 16: Monday June 6, 2022
- iOS 15: Monday June 7, 2021
What follows is a series of beta releases, usually around eight in total, before the software is released in September. We expect the same schedule this year with iOS 19. You can prepare for the beta by signing up for the iOS beta program now.
iOS 19: Compatibility
We expect iOS 19 to be compatible with all iPhones that support iOS 18. This includes:
- iPhone16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhoneX
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
Of course, it will also support the new iPhone 17 models that launch around the same time, as well as the new iPhone SE 4 (which may be called iPhone 16E).
As always, some features will not be available on older models because they do not have the necessary hardware resources. However, we believe that the Apple Intelligence and Siri improvements will be available for all iPhone 16 models and later.
Table of Contents
