iOS is renowned for its consistent design, strong security features, excellent integration with other Apple products, and robust app ecosystem. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. With the iOS 19 beta rumored to come in June after Apple’s WWDC showcase, I’ve thought long and hard about potential changes and additions, and these are the five features I want to see most in iOS 19.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
1. More Home and Lock Screen Customization Options
Apple is on a roll with screen customization improvements, but it needs to maintain that momentum by offering more control over app appearances, colors, and sizes in iOS 19. Take widgets, for example. I want true floating widgets that overlay onto other apps, with tweakable themes and color gradients. Likewise, the upcoming operating system should give the freedom to place apps and widgets anywhere, rather than adhering to a rigid grid layout. Better color suggestions that suit the background wallpaper would be nice, too.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
2. Revision History for the Notes App
Notes is a wonderful iOS 18 app that I use extensively for brainstorming ideas, creating lists, scanning documents, and quickly jotting down thoughts. I especially like its Writing Tools, which are AI-powered editing features for refining notes. They proofread my words and even check for tone, which is incredibly handy.
However, Notes lacks one big feature: a revision history. I would love to view and revert to previous edits, improving my productivity. For example, I rewrite lines I don’t like, but sometimes the new words aren’t to my liking, either. Currently, there’s no way to go back to the original version. Numbers, an Apple iWork app, lets you browse and revert to previous spreadsheet versions. Let us do that within Notes, too, Apple!
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
3. A Universal Back Gesture
A universal back gesture is long overdue. With Android, you can swipe from the left or right screen edge toward the center to navigate back to the previous screen or app. This is especially useful because it lets you quickly return to a previous screen without remembering button placements or app gestures. Because this function is universal, you know that the same gesture (swiping) works the same way across the entire system.
Get Our Best Stories!
Love All Things Apple?
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
With iOS, back gestures are much more inconsistent because they appear on a per-app basis. If an app lacks it, you must tap the on-screen back button, which is clunky. Ironically, Google Calendar is a prime example of an iOS app with back gestures, as it uses the Android-style swipe. Swiping back is so simple and useful that it’s almost silly that Apple hasn’t picked it up. Here’s hoping it’s a systemwide feature in iOS 19.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
4. Expanded Apple Intelligence
With AI permeating every aspect of our digital lives, I hope Cupertino gives Apple Intelligence the resources and time needed to flourish within iOS 19. It should take a hard look at the competition and deliver enticing features, such as an AI-powered image editor on par with Google’s Magic Editor or Samsung’s Portrait Studio. Apple is on the right track with Clean Up for touching up photos, but it lacks generative capabilities, and Image Playground is far too juvenile and underpowered for the task.
Recommended by Our Editors
Apple delaying Siri’s AI enhancements is fine, provided the assistant can handle advanced queries and tasks like Google Gemini when the update eventually goes live. I particularly like Gemini’s ability to summarize website and video content, and would love for Siri to be able to do the same without leaning on ChatGPT as a crutch.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
5. A Revamped Photos App (Again)
The Photos app was redesigned in iOS 18, for better and worse. I appreciate being able to customize and reorder my photo collection around memories, people, pets, recent days, trips, and other criteria, but I strongly dislike how tedious navigating the app has become. The tab interface (Library, Albums, For You, Search) was removed and condensed into a single scrolling view, making it cumbersome for large photo libraries.
In short, Photos needs another overhaul with iOS 19. Apple should bring back the tab-style interface to alleviate the tedious scrolling, or let you customize albums as you see fit. In addition, I would welcome more integrated photo-editing capabilities, like a blemish remover or retouching tools. Apple is getting lapped by Google Photos in this regard, but thoughtful additions could bring it up to the competition’s level.
iPhone 16e compared to iPhone SE and iPhone 16
About Gabriel Zamora
