Everything we know so far about iOS 19’s wacky-looking rounded icons

Summary

Apple’s iOS 19 reportedly will be “one of the most dramatic software overhauls” in the iPhone’s history.
Apple might switch to circular app icons, embracing the Vision Pro’s visionOS design style. However, a new leak indicates it might not be fully circular.
iOS 19’s design is expected to be fully unveiled at WWDC 2025 in June.

A few weeks ago, news broke about Apple’s next major software update, iOS 19, with Bloomberg reporting it will be “one of the most dramatic software overhauls” in the history of the iPhone. This echoes memories of iOS 7, which, back in 2014, completely refreshed the design of iOS with new app icons, Siri, and a redesigned notification center.

Since the news of iOS 19’s design overhaul surfaced, there has been a lot of speculation about what Apple has in store for users. Apple reportedly intends to refresh the appearance of “icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons,” for iOS 19, with a design style “loosely” inspired by the Vision Pro’s visionOS.

What does this mean exactly? Well, for starters, it could mean circular app icons instead of rounded square ones. This visionOS concept for iOS 19 has led to many renders and images circulating the internet depicting mock-ups of iOS 19 with circular app icons. However, there is some dispute in the tech world about how far Apple is actually going with this. While all will be revealed at WWDC in June, these leaks could provide a good indication of what is planned for iOS 19 and whether circular app icons will soon bless every iPhone user’s home screen later this year.

iPhone 16

This year’s iPhone 16 line blurs the line between the “Pro” and the base-level iPhone by offering a new camera button and the Action Button, alongside the A18 chip.

Brand: Apple
SoC: A18 (3nm)
Display: 6.1-inch 2556 x 1179 pixel resolution Super Retina XDR, 2000 nits, 60Hz
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Ports: USB-C

Apple has big plans for its 20th anniversary iPhone, but tariffs cast a shadow

Apple reportedly has “bold” plans for its 20th anniversary iPhone, while tariffs raise concerns for the foreseeable future.

How far will Apple go?

The app icons could be circular, but not fully circular

Last month, Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech posted a YouTube video showcasing renders of iOS 19 based on information gathered from sources at Apple. However, the most anticipated design change, the so-called circular app icons, were absent from that leak, as Prosser had not yet seen any evidence of them from his sources.

Shortly after Prosser published his video on iOS 19 in late March, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, one of the most reputable Apple news sources globally, posted on X that “iOS 19 images floating around aren’t representative of what we’ll see at WWDC” and that “they look to be based on either very old builds or vague descriptions, missing key features.” Many viewed this as a challenge to what Prosser had presented in his latest video. So circular app icons, possibly, were back on the table.

I believe Apple should fully commit to the circular app icons, similar to its approach with VisionOS.

Jumping forward to now, Prosser released a new video on Front Page Tech about iOS 19, which he claims to be the “most complete build of iOS 19 yet” that he’s seen, featuring app icons that are indeed rounder, though not fully circular. Prosser indicates that the corner radius of the icons is approximately 30 degrees, making them neither a complete circle nor square. However, from the renders, it’s clear that the app icons appear more circular than ever before. Prosser believes that the icons could be completely circular by the time iOS 19 debuts at WWDC.

In addition to the circular app icons, there are a few other changes, including a glass/transparent effect applied to some elements of iOS 19 and the relocation of the search bar in the Messages app from the top to the bottom of the screen, similar to what Apple did with Safari.

iOS 19 could redefine Apple’s iPhone experience with major design changes

A new report says that Apple is planning a major design overhaul for iOS 19.

WWDC is still two months away

Apple should go all in on the circular app icons

Apple

The design choice Apple will make for iOS 19 will be unveiled soon at WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) 2025, scheduled for June 9 to 13. As in previous years, you’ll be able to stream the conference online to watch iOS 19 be revealed to the world.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind if Apple decided to go all in on circular app icons, but the design Prosser presented in his latest video feels incomplete because they’re not fully circular. I believe Apple should fully commit to the circular app icons, similar to its approach with VisionOS. Visually, this would be striking and offer a refreshing change from Apple’s designs over the last decade.

Another burning question about iOS 19 is what features Siri will be getting, given that Apple announced recently that some of Siri’s more personalized Apple Intelligence features have been delayed until later this year.

With the rumored design changes for iOS 19 and Apple playing catch-up with Siri features it announced at last year’s WWDC, this year’s conference is sure to be an interesting one, especially with tariffs casting a shadow on Apple’s supply chain.