iOS enhancements through the years have made the iPhone extra customizable, extra helpful and extra enjoyable. However iOS 19 may increase the bar even larger by including the options on my want listing.
Leaks strongly counsel the iPhone’s subsequent working system replace will introduce a daring new visible design, drawing heavy inspiration from visionOS, which powers the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional headset. However that visible overhaul — a part of a mission reportedly known as Solarium that may unify the appear and feel of all Apple working techniques — shouldn’t be the only speaking level through the iOS section of subsequent Monday’s WWDC25 keynote.
From long-overdue interface modifications to smarter multitasking and higher system controls, iOS 19 (or iOS 26, if Apple goes forward with a rumored change to its naming system) has the potential to push the iPhone expertise ahead in significant methods.
With WWDC25 simply days away, right here’s what I hope Apple delivers with its subsequent massive replace.
iOS 19 options want listing
The reported lack of main new Apple Intelligence options in iOS 19 might be a significant speaking level. However Apple could make up for it by including some long-missing options to iOS 19, giving customers issues they’ve been requesting for years.
Desk of contents: iOS 19 options want listing
Clipboard supervisor
Higher RCS messaging expertise
Cut up-screen multitasking
Customized quantity ranges for media, alerts and system tones
Extra customizable Motion button
Deeper third-party AI integration
Devoted quantity row for keyboard
1. Clipboard supervisor
Amongst all of the apps I take advantage of on my Mac, a clipboard supervisor sees probably the most motion. It’s one of many high options on my iPadOS 19 want listing, and I hope Apple brings it to iOS 19 as properly.
On Android, I’ve pinned my identify, deal with, cellphone quantity and e-mail deal with to Gboard‘s clipboard. Plus, it may well maintain copied gadgets in reminiscence for as much as two hours. This makes copying and pasting content material throughout apps a breeze, particularly when replying to emails and referencing a number of paperwork.
With out superior clipboard help, this activity turns into a irritating chore on iPhones, requiring repeated copying and pasting of things throughout apps. If Apple’s frightened about safety, the corporate may implement strict restrictions and solely permit clipboard apps to make their technique to the App Retailer after correct verification.
2. Higher RCS messaging expertise
Apple jumped on the RCS messaging bandwagon with iOS 18 in 2024. That mentioned, its preliminary implementation leaves a lot to be desired. The difficulty primarily stems from Apple utilizing an older model of GSMA’s Common Profile 2.4. Because of this, RCS texting between iPhone and Android misses out on end-to-end encryption.
Fortunately, iOS 19 will change this, as Apple plans so as to add cross-platform end-to-end encryption help later this 12 months.
One other ache level: cross-platform Tapback reactions stay inconsistent, particularly when responding to shared media. Hopefully, with Apple adopting Common Profile 3.0 for RCS texting in iOS 19, all these issues will change into issues of the previous.
In as we speak’s world, there’s no excuse for the messaging expertise between iPhone and Android to nonetheless be this damaged. With iOS 19, I hope Apple will take a step in the appropriate route to bridge this hole.
3. Cut up-screen multitasking
Virtually yearly, I hope Apple provides higher multitasking capabilities to iOS, however to no avail. The corporate doesn’t must reinvent the wheel or deliver full-blown windowed multitasking to iPhones. But it surely does want to supply a more practical technique to multitask on the machine.
Cut up-screen multitasking, as seen on Android, may work on the Professional Max, particularly now that they sport bigger 6.9-inch shows. Even the smaller iPhone 16 Professional now comes with an even bigger 6.3-inch display. These telephones have sufficient display actual property for split-screen multitasking with out compromising usability. The one cause I can’t use the Messages app whereas searching in Safari on my iPhone is Apple’s unwillingness to make it occur.
Efficiency shouldn’t be a problem, contemplating how highly effective the A-series chips inside iPhones are.
If something, Apple may restrict split-screen multitasking to its Professional fashions, pushing extra customers towards them.
4. Customized quantity ranges for media, alerts and system tones
While you press the quantity buttons on the iPhone, it modifications the ringer and alert quantity. In any other case, when audio or video is taking part in, urgent the button controls the media playback quantity. In the event you don’t need the bodily quantity buttons to vary ringer and alert quantity, you possibly can flip off the “Change with Buttons” possibility by going to Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
Nonetheless, the larger downside is that the system and alarm volumes are linked on the iPhone. On Android, you possibly can set separate quantity ranges for calls, media, notifications and alarms. Even higher, there’s no want to leap into the Settings menu for this. You merely press the bodily quantity button and develop the quantity panel that seems to entry these particular person controls.
None of that is attainable on the iPhone in iOS 18. It’s time for Apple to repair this in iOS 19 and provides customers correct management over particular person quantity ranges. There’s no cause why my iPhone’s ringtone, alarm and notification sounds are all tied to the identical quantity setting.
5. Extra customizable Motion button
Time to make the Motion button extra customizable.
Picture: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
The iPhone’s Motion button already provides considerably extra customization choices than Apple’s standard method. You should utilize it to toggle the flashlight, open the Digicam app or, extra importantly, set off a shortcut. But, Apple’s implementation drastically limits the Motion button’s capabilities. You’ll be able to solely assign an motion to a single press of the button.
Ideally, Apple ought to let customers assign completely different actions to a double press or perhaps a triple press of the Motion button. That will open the door to much more prospects.
Think about assigning one shortcut to a single press of the button and a unique one to a double press. Apple already does this with the iPhone’s facet key, so there’s no cause it can’t deliver the identical performance to the Motion button.
If something, this could assist compensate for the Motion button’s poor placement, particularly on the Professional Max fashions.
6. Deeper third-party AI integration
ChatGPT integration in iOS 19 must get higher.
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple Intelligence lags behind different AI instruments and companies in the marketplace. Worse, Apple lately rejigged its AI and Siri management, and the outcomes of those efforts seemingly gained’t bear fruit so quickly. No surprise the corporate won’t speak about Apple Intelligence a lot at WWDC25. Till Apple can type out its AI mess, it ought to open up iOS 19 to extra third-party AI platforms.
iOS 18 already provides ChatGPT integration, however Apple can do higher. It ought to allow the AI assistant to combine extra deeply into the OS, offering quick access to its voice mode and different options. Till Siri will get its act collectively, Apple ought to permit ChatGPT to regulate system settings and apps.
Moreover, the corporate ought to associate with Google and convey Gemini AI to iPhones with iOS 19. Rumors point out Apple will permit a minimum of iPhone customers in Europe to ditch Siri for a wiser assistant, due to an upcoming directive from the European Union.
7. Devoted quantity row for keyboard
The iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max ship with greater shows than earlier iPhones. The smaller mannequin now packs a 6.3-inch show, whereas the Professional Max sports activities a 6.9-inch display. But, each telephones present the identical expertise as their predecessors, with Apple doing little to make the most of the extra display actual property.
On the naked minimal, iOS 19 ought to introduce a devoted quantity row for the keyboard. This is able to assist pace up textual content enter and extra successfully make the most of the additional display house.
With no AI, iOS 19 must ship on different features
Apple’s AI struggles are exhausting to overlook. None of the present Apple Intelligence options supply actual on a regular basis worth. In distinction, OpenAI and Google have rolled out a slew of options designed to streamline every day workflows and improve productiveness.
Since AI seemingly gained’t take heart stage at WWDC25, iOS 19 provides Apple the right alternative to sort out different long-standing limitations of the iPhone’s working system.
