Apple's Massive OS Overhaul Coming in 2025?

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In a recent episode of Tech News Weekly, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman joined Mikah Sargent to discuss what could be Apple's most significant software overhaul in its modern history. According to Gurman, Apple is preparing to completely reimagine the user interfaces of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 — representing the biggest change to iPhone and iPad software ever, and the most substantial update to macOS since the transition to OS X over 20 years ago.

A Fundamental Redesign for the AI Era

This isn't just a visual refresh like iOS 7 was back in 2013. Gurman emphasized that this redesign will change "how the interface works, down to buttons, menus... what is a button, what do panels look like."

The driving force behind this massive overhaul? Apple's desire to create simpler, more intuitive interfaces that appeal to a new generation of users. As Gurman noted, Apple wants to make its devices "more of an extension of who [users] are" while enabling more cohesive movement between multiple Apple devices.

Taking Inspiration from Vision Pro

Interestingly, Gurman revealed that much of the design inspiration for these updated operating systems is coming from VisionOS, the operating system powering Apple's Vision Pro headset. Elements like translucent menu items, new panels, and button sections from VisionOS will be adapted for the 2D interfaces of iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

However, Gurman clarified that this won't be a direct copy of VisionOS, as Apple will "pick and choose" elements that make sense for each platform. The goal is to bring more cohesiveness across Apple's ecosystem while modernizing interfaces that have become increasingly bloated over time.

Addressing Interface Bloat

During the interview, both Sargent and Gurman acknowledged that Apple's interfaces have become cluttered over the years. "They've been adding new features on top of the existing user interface paradigms... for years, for decades," Gurman explained. Instead of continuing to layer new features onto old frameworks, Apple is "taking a step back" to rethink how these interfaces should work.

The redesign aims to recapture the simplicity of the original iPhone, where the interface was intuitive and users felt confident it would work as expected. This back-to-basics approach, focused on Apple's core competency of creating slick user interfaces, may help the company strengthen its position even as it plays catch-up in the AI arena.

Expected Learning Curve

While Gurman doesn't expect the redesign to be polarizing, he does anticipate a significant adjustment period for users. He compared it to the learning curve experienced when the original iPhone was introduced, noting that "it took you two weeks to learn how to type on that thing."

Importantly, Gurman stressed that this isn't a case of Apple making things worse — unlike what some felt happened with the recent Photos app revamp. Rather, it's about users needing time to adapt to what he believes will ultimately be a better way of doing things.

Apple Intelligence Integration

When asked about how this redesign will integrate with Apple's AI efforts (branded as Apple Intelligence), Gurman indicated that deeper integration is planned but will take time. The design overhaul and AI development have been separate initiatives within Apple, with the redesign work beginning even before Apple's push into AI.

According to Gurman, Apple's immediate priority is to roll out the design changes, with deeper Apple Intelligence integration to follow later. This suggests that while the interfaces will be transformed in the near term, their full potential may only be realized as Apple's AI capabilities mature.

What This Means for Users

For the more than two billion Apple device users worldwide, this redesign represents both an opportunity and a challenge. The learning curve may be steep initially, but the promise of more intuitive, cohesive experiences across devices could make the transition worthwhile.

As Apple prepares to reveal these changes — likely at WWDC in June — users should brace themselves for what Gurman calls a "shocking change" in how they interact with their devices. However, if Apple executes this vision successfully, it could set the stage for the next generation of Apple product users and potentially help the company reach "the next 2 billion" users.