Major Overhaul: Apple’s Biggest Software Revamp Since iOS 7

Apple’s cooking up a major redesign for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac that might rival the seismic shift seen with iOS 7 more than a decade ago. According to insiders, this revamp—set for iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16—aims to streamline how these devices look and feel, so it’s less jarring to switch between screens. The operating systems won’t merge, but users can expect unified icon styles, smoother navigation tools, and menu tweaks loosely modeled on the sleek Vision Pro interface.

The project, reportedly code-named “Luck” (for iOS and iPadOS) and “Cheer” (for macOS), goes well beyond cosmetic polish. Apple’s teams have been busy rethinking system buttons, windows, and even the fundamentals of how you interact with each device. They hope that giving the iPhone, iPad, and Mac a harmonious design language will bring renewed enthusiasm to a market that’s seen some cooling sales in the aftermath of the pandemic-driven spike in tech spending. While Apple’s also grappling with uncertain AI upgrades to Siri, they’re confident this ambitious software effort can energize both longtime fans and newcomers.

This overhaul is said to be managed by design chief Alan Dye, whose team is known for pushing bold transformations—sometimes stirring controversy among users who grow attached to the old way of doing things. Yet Apple’s betting heavily that a fresh look, combined with thoughtful usability tweaks, will reignite excitement for their hardware lineup. With billions of devices currently in people’s hands, this massive update could shape the next wave of Apple’s ecosystem, blending the best of Vision Pro’s futuristic design with the familiar feel of iOS and macOS.