WWDC25 kicks off in lower than per week, and we’re going to get our first take a look at the brand new iOS, macOS, and watchOS options that’ll land on our units later this yr. Rumors recommend there are tons of modifications in retailer, together with a common person interface throughout all Apple working methods and a brand new naming scheme. However the greatest modifications might be for the iPad.
Ever since Apple rebranded iOS on the iPad as iPadOS, there have been a handful of unique pill options annually, however this yr would possibly carry some actual sweeping interface modifications that carry it nearer to the Mac. Listed here are the 5 most fun options anticipated to reach in iPadOS 19.
A futuristic imaginative and prescient
iPadOS 19 will reportedly pack a big UI overhaul, providing your pill a brand new take a look at least partially impressed by visionOS. The design refresh will possible characteristic translucent, glass-like components and retire the stable buttons which were prevalent since iPadOS arrived in 2019.
We count on stated redesign to unfold throughout iOS, macOS, watchOS, and even tvOS, which is able to streamline Apple’s units with a well-recognized, matching look. So, when you’re working in your Mac and iPad concurrently, finding the identical icons and menus on each units ought to grow to be easier. And to tie all of it collectively, Apple can also be rumored to be leaping all monikers to 26 to ensure everybody is aware of which model they need to be working.
Imminent Mac-ification
When energy customers requested correct multitasking help on the iPad, Apple pacified them with Stage Supervisor again in iPadOS 16. In idea, it’s a neat characteristic, letting you resize apps, stack home windows, or place apps facet by facet. In observe, Stage Supervisor isn’t very intuitive, and most customers have caught with the extra predictable Cut up View and Slide Over instruments.
For iPadOS 19, Apple is alleged to be engaged on Mac-like productiveness options that elevate the prevailing multitasking expertise on the pill. These might embody Stage Supervisor 2.0, a extra versatile window administration system that unshackles a few of the present restrictions. These with a related Magic Keyboard may obtain a menubar on their iPad for the primary time. All of it sounds very thrilling for iPad customers and will lastly transfer the pill out of its iPhone shadow.
iPadOS 19 will reportedly carry some necessary Stage Supervisor updates.
Foundry
Extra AI? Aye!
Final yr, Apple kickstarted its critical AI efforts when it launched iOS and iPadOS 18.1. These builds packed the very first batch of Apple Intelligence options, letting customers generate textual content, summarize content material, cut back interruptions with a brand new Focus mode, and many others. Apple adopted that up with subsequent AI updates, together with picture technology capabilities and the ChatGPT integration.
Whereas iPadOS 18.4 was initially set to introduce Siri 2.0, Apple pushed the characteristic to a future replace, and a few studies recommend Apple could should rebuild the complete challenge from scratch. So, in some unspecified time in the future through the iPadOS 19 cycle, we must always count on Siri on the iPad to achieve on-screen content material consciousness and help for superior in-app actions. The digital assistant must also have the ability to pull private knowledge out of your calendar, notes, messages, and emails once you inquire about previous occasions.
iPadOS 19 will reportedly bake Google Gemini into the system as a substitute for OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The OS may also reportedly have a characteristic that makes use of synthetic intelligence to scale back power consumption and predict how lengthy a full battery cost will take. Elsewhere, iPadOS 19 could present AirPods customers with a stay translation characteristic, much like that on Google’s Pixel Buds, in addition to an AI-powered well being coach to information customers by providing way of life ideas.
And we count on much more AI goodies to be baked in, even when the massive Siri overhaul is delayed one more yr.
Considering exterior the Xbox
Each couple of years, Apple promotes some AAA video games on stage in an try to ascertain its units as correct gaming platforms. Whereas the sport libraries on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV are quickly increasing, they’re nowhere as considerable as these on PCs and consoles—and so they’re undoubtedly not taken as significantly (by players and builders alike).
To additional attraction to players, Apple will reportedly reveal a new gaming app for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS. The preinstalled app on iPadOS 19 might home customers’ put in video games, Sport Middle leaderboards, the Arcade storefront, and extra. Whether or not this new technique truly performs out stays to be seen. But when it does, the iPad might grow to be a killer gaming gadget to rival Steam Deck.
Arabic calligraphy will reportedly be one of many Apple Pencil’s new methods in iPadOS 19.
Foundry
Pencil it in
In keeping with rumors, iPadOS 19 and the Apple Pencil will help calligraphy designed for the Arabic script in addition to cater to MENA customers with a brand new bidirectional software program keyboard. This is able to make it simpler for sure multilingual people to rapidly change between the Arabic and English languages and write of their native language.
What about {hardware}?
Different iPadOS 19 perks might embody revamped Well being, House, and Translate apps, along with cross-device sync for captive Wi-Fi community login credentials. There’ll even be a slew of recent accessibility instruments designed for these with various wants.
However aside from the brand new software program, you could be questioning if WWD25 will characteristic any iPad-related {hardware} bulletins. Nicely, the iPad, iPad mini, and iPad Air had been all lately refreshed, so new iterations for these specific fashions are off the desk.
Conversely, the iPad Professional’s final improve occurred greater than a yr in the past—in Could 2024. Whereas the iPad Professional M5 is reportedly within the works, it’ll possible launch in the direction of the top of this yr. It wouldn’t utterly shock us if the M5 and the iPad Professional debuted at WWDC, however we’re not betting on it.
However there will certainly be sufficient iPadOS modifications to make your pill really feel prefer it’s new. You’ll have the ability to obtain the primary iPadOS developer beta after the primary WWDC25 keynote concludes on Monday, or when you’d relatively wait until the secure launch, Apple will ship the completed model in mid-September. Be sure that to test Macworld throughout and after the occasion and subscribe to our every day e-newsletter to maintain up with all the most recent bulletins.
