Overlook fancy new options, it is time for Apple to guarantee that iOS simply works once more

[ad_1] Nothing within the Apple world has the affect of the annual iPhone launch, however the firm’s yearly WWDC developer convention comes shut.

Final yr noticed the launch of iOS 18, which introduced with it a revamped Management Middle, a brand new Passwords app, in-depth Residence Display customization, and way more. But iOS 18 additionally continued a worrying pattern for Apple when it comes to stability.

I’ve used the iPhone for over a decade, and whereas I really like the course Apple is taking with new options, the soundness of iOS has me involved. An rising variety of bugs and a extra basic feeling of complexity go towards the explanations I fell in love with iOS within the first place, and in the end make the iPhone far much less aggressive.

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Apple is rumored to be launching a redesign of iOS 19 at WWDC 2025, presumably shifting its branding forward to iOS 26 to partially align with the replace's launch yr. Right here’s why I hope the corporate's subsequent software program overhaul is excess of only a redesign, and that Apple rebuilds iOS with a deal with stability, not simply aesthetics.

iOS now not 'simply works' <img alt="WWDC" srcset="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9hAqAUj63GLPsTGeNDB6Y5-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9hAqAUj63GLPsTGeNDB6Y5-480-80.jpg 480w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9hAqAUj63GLPsTGeNDB6Y5-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9hAqAUj63GLPsTGeNDB6Y5-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9hAqAUj63GLPsTGeNDB6Y5-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9hAqAUj63GLPsTGeNDB6Y5-1200-80.jpg 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)" loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9hAqAUj63GLPsTGeNDB6Y5.jpg" data-pin-media="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9hAqAUj63GLPsTGeNDB6Y5.jpg"/>

The redesigned Images app in iOS 18 (Picture credit score: Apple) The success of the iPhone over the previous 18 years has undoubtedly been as a result of Apple’s strategy to each {hardware} and software program. Android telephones are extensively famend for having higher specs, at the least if one appears on the specs on paper, however Apple has confirmed that software program optimization is simply as vital.

Legendary founder Steve Jobs famously described the Apple ecosystem as “it simply works”, however the stability of iOS 18 has continued a worrying pattern that bucks that phrase. Lots of the new hero options had been considerably buggy at launch, and crucially, when you transferred from an outdated iPhone into the iPhone 16 collection, these bugs impacted the general expertise.

My iPhone 16 typically freezes and both wants a restart, or I've to attend for it to reply. This isn't an remoted difficulty, for the reason that similar complaints are being made by lots of of customers in communities like Reddit. I've additionally observed vital battery drain on my iPhone 16, and enabling battery saver has a detrimental affect on efficiency.

Then there’s Apple Images and the common dislike for its full overhaul in iOS 18. It’s uncommon that Apple prospects universally dislike an official Apple app, however the redesigned Images app leaves loads to be desired, particularly when Google Images is such a compelling various. Sure, there are methods to make Apple Images extra just like the earlier model, however this expertise is but extra indicative of Apple’s software program challenges.

Software program and {hardware} are now not in sync <img alt="Apple Intelligence being demonstrated at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2024." srcset="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SKg4Wz5sG84jaV9fBYRdEg-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SKg4Wz5sG84jaV9fBYRdEg-480-80.jpg 480w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SKg4Wz5sG84jaV9fBYRdEg-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SKg4Wz5sG84jaV9fBYRdEg-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SKg4Wz5sG84jaV9fBYRdEg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SKg4Wz5sG84jaV9fBYRdEg-1200-80.jpg 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)" loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SKg4Wz5sG84jaV9fBYRdEg.jpg" data-pin-media="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SKg4Wz5sG84jaV9fBYRdEg.jpg"/>

Apple introduced Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024 (Picture credit score: Apple) The success of Apple’s merchandise has been extensively attributed to the corporate's exceptional capacity to combine software program and {hardware} right into a seamless expertise.

Over the previous few years, although, the corporate’s {hardware} ambitions haven't been matched by the identical stage of success in software program, which grew to become obvious with the launch of Apple Intelligence.

The A18 Professional processor within the iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max is extremely highly effective, and builds upon the success of Apple's M-series computing chips. The cameras used within the iPhone can seize nice pictures, and the Digital camera Management characteristic is surprisingly helpful. However a yr on from Apple’s large AI debut, lots of the highlighted options that had been famous as coming inside a yr have been considerably delayed.

The steadiness of iOS 18 has solely partially improved a yr later, regardless of being on the fifth main launch construct. Conversely, the Motion Button and Dynamic Island are two uncommon {hardware} options the place the software program completes the {hardware} expertise, proving that Apple can nonetheless ship a compelling bundle.

A have a look at historical past suggests iOS wants a rebuild <img alt="A Galaxy smartphone running TouchWiz" srcset="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1ea3c375fe443f90844e5449a6790f35-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1ea3c375fe443f90844e5449a6790f35-480-80.jpg 480w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1ea3c375fe443f90844e5449a6790f35-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1ea3c375fe443f90844e5449a6790f35-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1ea3c375fe443f90844e5449a6790f35-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1ea3c375fe443f90844e5449a6790f35-1200-80.jpg 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)" loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1ea3c375fe443f90844e5449a6790f35.jpg" data-pin-media="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1ea3c375fe443f90844e5449a6790f35.jpg"/>

The Samsung Galaxy Word 7 working TouchWiz Apple’s present software program challenges really feel acquainted, and that’s as a result of we’ve seen this story earlier than. To search out the reply to its personal issues, Apple must look no additional than its chief rival, Samsung.

I’ve reviewed telephones for almost 20 years, and whereas Samsung’s One UI is likely one of the finest person experiences on Android proper now, this wasn’t at all times the case. Earlier than the launch of One UI in 2018, Galaxy telephones ran TouchWiz, and whereas I used to be a fan of Samsung’s software program on the time, I recall being within the distinct minority.

The largest problem going through Samsung’s software program staff on the time can also be a cautionary story for Apple and different telephone makers.

TouchWiz was launched simply two years after iOS, and each platforms have undergone appreciable modifications as smartphone customers advanced and new habits fashioned. Like Microsoft has confronted with Home windows, this normally results in software program that's frequently being added to, and the expertise will inevitably undergo.

The Imaginative and prescient Professional and Imaginative and prescient OS present that Apple can nonetheless construct an exceptional built-in expertise.

The reply for Apple is similar strategy that Samsung took again in 2018: a whole rebuild. One UI took years to develop, and it eliminated giant parts of the legacy expertise in favor of the options required for present and future smartphone type elements, such because the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

For Apple to efficiently launch new {hardware} and software program type elements, such because the rumored iPhone Fold, the corporate must rebuild iOS from the bottom up, not simply redesign the present codebase.

The Imaginative and prescient Professional and Imaginative and prescient OS present that Apple can nonetheless construct an exceptional built-in expertise – now it simply must do the identical for the iPhone.