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Apple's staggered release of iOS 18 features is reportedly causing delays in the development of iOS 19, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Generic-iOS-19-Feature-Mock-Light.jpg

Historically, Apple has unveiled new software features at WWDC in June and then released fully complete software updates in September alongside new iPhone models. However, thanks to the gradual rollout of Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18, iPhone users look set for a long wait before they get to use many of the new iOS 19 features that Apple will inevitably promote at WWDC 2025.

In a new post on X (Twitter), Gurman said that he continues to hear that engineers who would typically be transitioning to work on the next major iOS version are still occupied with implementing features for iOS 18 updates through iOS 18.4, expected in the spring.

Gurman reports that this extended rollout of iOS 18 features through various point releases is creating a cascading effect on iOS 19's development timeline. The situation is unfortunately expected to result in a similarly staggered deployment of features in the next iOS cycle that is likely to frustrate many Apple users.

The latest development follows a report from Gurman last month that iOS 19 will include a significant Siri upgrade powered by large language models, making the assistant more conversational and similar to ChatGPT. Apple is expected to preview this enhancement at WWDC 2025 in June, but it won't be available until iOS 19.4 in the spring of 2026.

The current focus on iOS 18 updates appears to be affecting more than just the Siri upgrade, though. Gurman in November said that "a larger-than-usual number of features" initially planned for iOS 19's release are now postponed until iOS 19.4.


Apple on Wednesday released iOS 18.2, introducing several new Apple Intelligence features that it has been advertising since September when the iPhone 16 series launched. iOS 18.2 is the last iOS update of 2024, with iOS 18.3 and iOS 18.4 set to bring on-screen awareness to Siri, deeper per-app controls, and several other enhancements.

Article Link: iOS 18 Updates Continue to Cause Delays in Apple's iOS 19 Plans
 
I’m ok with 2 year/longer release cycles for a more refined experience. Sounds like they’re playing catchup nowadays. The OS is really mature so it’s not like the days of iOS4 where each OS was a big leap forward compared to the previous.
It is a strange combination of mature and not mature as the same bugs somehow manage to crop up over and over again. It is like they don’t have test cases.
 
They would never do this, but I'll say it anyway: keep iOS 18 around another year. Take the development energy that would've been put into iOS 19 and use it to continue adding the Apple Intelligence features they love so dearly through 18.X upgrades and focus on removing bugs and cleaning up the OS. Win-win.
 
Have a feeling iOS 19 is going to be a very minor update, bug fixes and trickling out more AI enhancements..... Apple is probably saving any major headlining features for iOS 20 which is a major milestone release... 20th anniversary
 
Every single year, the same story. In fact, “Hello Apple Intelligence” is just a joke! Some countries received it yesterday (after announcing it 6 months ago), and in Europe, it’s still a pipe dream.

Apple is lucky it doesn’t have a competing ecosystem; otherwise, it would be struggling to survive.
 
They would never do this, but I'll say it anyway: keep iOS 18 around another year. Take the development energy that would've been put into iOS 19 and use it to continue adding the Apple Intelligence features they love so dearly through 18.X upgrades and focus on removing bugs and cleaning up the OS. Win-win.

Then you would neds some new emoji.
Also make it a option for pro users no need helt to discribe what Bluetooth is under settings and that take 1/3 of screen
 
I'm fine with this. I'd rather have stablity than having issues, and I'd rather they take their time to ensure items work. I haven't used many of the Apple AI features, and understand thats where most of their development went, but I don't constantly need updated features.
 
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Instead of yearly monolithic releases, what if Apple just announced a roadmap during WWDC and rolled major features out as they became operational? That’s kind of what they’re doing with iOS 18 anyway. Forcing the software to align rigidly with iPhone purchase cycles is not sustainable.
 
We get this "leaks" each year – new release will be minor, bigger features rolled out in future, etc. It's nothing new at this point.

What I find, both as a user and as a developer, is that all companies are focusing on gimmicky AI features, while sacrificing resources from delivering bug fixes and actually useful features, that can enhance productivity. The AI focus is good for the shareholders, but not necessarily for the users. This is a good example of when user needs and what brings value to the company is misaligned.
 
I think this is a nice change from some of the recent versions of iOS, where the updates were so minor that I can't remember what they did without looking it up. For example, I know that iOS 15 added a bunch of new features, but I'd have to Google them to even remember what any of them actually were. 🤪

(edit: I looked it up. iOS 15 included spatial audio in FaceTime, AR walking directions in Maps, redesigned notifications... thrilling stuff, man...)
 
Software used to be Apple's core strength. Now it's its achilles heel.

People don't trust updates not only because of bad design choices, but new added bugs that weren't there with previous versions and deal breaking levels of battery drain on their year old or even shiny brand new device.


Frogs who have been boiling in the pot just realized where they are and it aint a jacuzzi.

Has Craig Federighi gone rogue, have their standards lowered to the point of non existent - do they have any internal awareness of any of this?

AI is a nothing burger of a value prop for the average consumer. If anything, sketchy and a bit of a negative that has been forced upon us (yes, you can opt out, but I'm talking about branding wise - their big push)

How I would love to better understand what's really going on at Cupertino these days, if only I had the ability to.
 
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